PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The regular Session of the 104th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Reverend Jim Sporleder Hillside Church of Faith, Effingham, Illinois. Reverend Sporleder.
REVEREND JIM SPORLEDER: (Invocation)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Johnson, please lead us in the Pledge. SENATOR JOHNSON: (Pledge of Allegiance).
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Lisa Yuscius, Blueroomstream request permission to video. Leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, February 25th, 2025.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Glowiak Hilton.
Thank you, Madam President. I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcripts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Glowiak Hilton moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending approval of the printed transcripts, there being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Senate Resolutions 132 through 135, offered by Senator Anderson and all Members. They are all celebration of life resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Resolution Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Introduction and Reading of Senate Bills for the first time.
Senate Bill 2618, offered by Senator Feigenholtz, an Act concerning appropriations. Senate Bill 2619, offered by Senator Chesney, an Act concerning State government. And Senate Bill 2620, offered by Senator Sims, an Act concerning appropriations. 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Loughran Cappel, Chair of the Committee on Education, report Senate Bills 1555 and 1740 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 28, Recommend Do Adopt; Senate Resolution 5, Be Adopted; and Senate Resolution 31 Be Adopted, as Amended. Senator Simmons, Chair of the Committee on Public Health, reports Senate Bills 291 and 1814 Do Pass. Senator Villivalam, Chair of the Committee on Transportation, reports Senate Bill 1249, Do Pass, as Amended and Senate Resolution 26, Be Adopted. And Senator Walker, Chair of the Committee on Financial Institutions, reports Senate Bill 1301 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 1040083, Governor's salaried 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 appointment, to be a Member of the State Board of Education, Sherly Chavarria. Appointment Message 1040084, Governor's salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Human Rights Commission, Demoya Renee Gordon. Appointment Message 1040085, Governor's non-salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Employment Security Advisory Board, Mark Denzler. Appointment Message 1040086, Comptroller salaried appointment, to be a Commissioner in the Executive Ethics Commission, Marty Castro.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Sally Turner, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) State your point.
Thank you. Today I have with me someone shadowing me, Garrett Chinowth. He's from the fifth generation grain farm in Central Illinois. And he's currently a junior at University High School in Normal, Illinois. Garrett is a member of the high school Senate organization. And he competes in a national horse shows all across the United States and he also holds three Reserve National Champion titles. Garrett is currently in the process of deciding on which four-year university he -- he plans to go to, and he'd like to major in international business with a minor in political science. I'd like the Senate to give a warm welcome to Garrett today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Welcome to the Illinois General Assembly -- for joining us. Senator Martwick, for what purpose do you rise?
3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Thank you, Madam -- Thank you, Madam President. I rise for the purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your announcement.
Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I have some special visitors from my district that are joining me here on the Floor today. One of the things that I do in my district, is I offer young people an opportunity to visit and be Senator for the Day. Today, I am blessed to have four Senators for the Day, all from the same family. With me, I have from tallest to shortest, here I have Clark O'Donnell, who's in eighth grade at Thorpe Elementary; Everett, who's in fifth grade at Thorpe Elementary; Whitman, who's in third grade; and Langston here, is in first grade, all at Thorpe Elementary. Their mom, Margaret, is up in the gallery and they're joining us here in our State Capitol. Would you please give them a warm Senate welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Welcome to the Illinois General Assembly. Nice to have you here. Leader Aquino, for what purpose do you rise?
Hi, Madam President, for an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your announcement, Senator.
I have some very special guests with me from the 2nd District. But before I introduce them, I wanted to give some context. They say for raising a child, it takes a village. Raising twins as the -- the folks that have twins know that it takes about 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 a mid-sized city. And thankfully, in our mid-sized city, we have a lovely lady of Iiona Schwaemmle who is always helping the Aquino family in taking care of these two great guests of mine in their first time -- I think, on this Floor, in their time. And that is my beautiful daughter, Isabel Aquino, and my beautiful son, Omar Aquino. If we can all give them a warm welcome to the Senate Floor. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Welcome to the Illinois General Assembly, little Aquino's. Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise.
Just to say hello, Madam President. It is so exciting to see you today. It's been a while. We're back. I just want to convey. Hello. Good seeing you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Pleasure to see you also. Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
For purpose of introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. State your announcement.
Anybody recognize that we have former Senator John Sullivan sitting up right there. Welcome back to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Welcome, John. Always a pleasure to see you, Senator Sullivan. Senator DeWitte, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) State your point, Senator.
Thank you very much, Madam President. I rise this morning with a very sad announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen, one moment Senator. Thank you, Members. Senator DeWitte.
Madam -- thank you, Madam President. I rise this morning with a very sad announcement. As many of you may have heard, our former colleague Dan McConchie lost his lovely wife last Friday. Milena McConchie, wife of retired Illinois State Senator Dan McConchie, passed away on February 21st, at the age of 51. Milena grew up in the seaside town of Varna in the country of Bulgaria, just north of Greece. And even though her homeland was controlled by communists, Melina was a lover of freedom and wanted to see the world. Communism collapsed in Bulgaria in 1990, when Melina was just 16 years old, and the freedom she yearned for was now hers. She knew she would go to college and decided on one particular school, the American University in Bulgaria. During her collegiate tenure she went to a summer program on free market economics in Prague, offered by the fund for American Studies. It was there she met our friend Dan in downtown Prague, surrounded by amazing architecture, attending a university that was more than 600 years old and drinking beer that only cost a quarter. It was easy to see how they fell in love. And they did. Six months later, they were engaged, but shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with cancer, linked to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that had happened a decade 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 prior. They both committed to, the for better or worse part of their relationship and got married right in the middle of her cancer treatments. They both became accomplished professionals and had two wonderful daughters together. She let her husband chase his dreams, including what he would say was the honor of a lifetime becoming an Illinois State Senator. She would always send him to work with containers of homemade food for his lunch because, as she told him, that's how I participate. During those good years, there were bad times too. She suffered immensely over the years, but rarely let on just how she was suffering. Unfortunately, the health troubles that plagued her since Chernobyl were not to be outrun. Milena passed away from heart failure due to the cancer, the radiation and the chemotherapy treatments that we now know caused the heart muscle to harden. Fortunately, she is now free of those troubles and is finally in a place where there is no sickness and there is no death with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In lieu of flowers, Senator McConchie has requested people donate to a scholarship fund in Milena's name that will help send young students from Bulgaria, Ukraine and the rest of Eastern Europe to the fund for American Studies program on free market Economics in Prague, where they met nearly 30 years ago. Madam President, I would ask for a moment of silence in memory of Milena McConchie. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Please rise for a moment of silence. (Moment of silence observed) Mr. Secretary, Introduction and Reading of Senate Bills for the first time.
Senate Bill 2621, offered by Senator Sims, an Act concerning 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 appropriations. 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) To fulfill our responsibilities under Article V, Section 9 of the Constitution, we will now proceed to the Order of Advise and Consent. Senator Murphy.
Thank you, Madam President. I move the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on the Appointment Messages set forth in Appointment Message 372, 399 to 403, 405 to 408, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 419, 421, 424 to 428, 430, 432, 433, 434, 436, and 437 of the 103rd General Assembly, and the Appointment Messages 102 -- 002, 003, 033 of the 104th General Assembly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Senator Murphy moves that the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on the Appointment Messages just read. All those in favor will say, Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senate is Resolved into Executive Session. Mr. Secretary, are there any Motions in Writing?
I have a motion in writing from Senator Murphy, Chair of the Committee on Executive Appointments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, print the motion on the Calendar. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Messages 103-372 (1030372).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 appointment, to be a Member of the Chicago Transit Authority Board, Neema Jha.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made? All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay and 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senate elected concurring by a record vote. The Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 103-400 (1030400).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board, Lionel R. Craft.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nominations just made. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 103- 401 (1030401).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board, Joseph John Duffy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 103- 402 (1030402).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Concealed -- Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board, Jon H. Johnson. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Madam President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote. The Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 103- 403 (1030403).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be the Chair {sic} (Member) of the Illinois Commerce Commission, Douglas P. Scott.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Madam President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 43 voting Yea, 9 voting 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 103- 405 (1030405).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, Julieta LaMalfa.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Madam President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate -- the nomination just made. Does the Senate consent to the nomination just made? All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 103- 417 (1030417).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, Melody Spann Cooper. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Madam President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote. The Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 104002{sic} (1040002).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Employment Security Board of Review, Brittany Bene't Kimble.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Madam President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made? All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 1040003.
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Employment Security Board of Review, Teresa Ramirez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Madam President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, please read Appointment Message 104- 033 (1040033).
Madam President, the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommends that the Senate Do Consent to the following salaried appointment, to be an Arbitrator {sic} (Commissioner) on the Workers Compensation Commission, Raychel A. Wesley.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Senator Murphy.
Madam President, I move the Senate consent to the nomination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the nomination just made? All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish. Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote. The Senate does consent to the nomination. Mr. Secretary, motions in writing. Appointment messages.
I have a motion in writing from Senator Murphy, Chair of the Executive Appointments Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 10-1(c) is {sic} (as) the Chair of the Executive Appointments Committee. I move to compile the following Appointment Messages to be acted on together by a single vote of the Senate. Appointment Message 1030399, Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board. Appointment Messages 1030406 and 1030407, Illinois Forensic Science Commission. Appointment Message 1030408, 1030419, 1030436 Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee. Appointment Message 1030411, Illinois Housing Development Authority. Appointment Message 1030412, Illinois State Medical Board. Appointment Messages 1030413, 1030415, 1030421, 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 1030426 Illinois State Museum Board. Appointment Message 1030424, Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure Funding and Policy. Appointment Message 1030416, Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Appointment Message 1030425, Southwestern Illinois Development Authority. Appointment Message 1030427, Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. Appointment Messages 1030428, 1030432 and 1030437 Capital Development Board. Appointment Message 1030430 State Board of Health. Appointment Message 1030433 Energy Workforce Advisory Council. Appointment Message 1030434 Criminal Justice Information Authority. Dated February 26th, 2025. Signed Senator Laura Murphy, Assistant Majority Leader, Executive Appointments Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy moves to compile the Appointment Messages to be acted upon together by a single vote of the Senate. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. Mr. Secretary, print the motion on the Calendar. Supplemental Calendar 1 has been printed and distributed. Mr. Secretary, please read the compiled appointments.
To be a Member of the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board, Jennifer Akhter, Appointment Message 1030399; to be Members of the Forensic Science Commission, Ponni Arunkumar, Appointment Message 1030406, Jodi Hoos, Appointment Message 1030407; to be Members of the Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee, Paula Campbell, Appointment Message 1030408, Wendy Netter Epstein, Appointment Message 1030419, Lila Valinoti, Appointment Message 1030436; to be a Member of the Housing Development Authority, 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Salvatore Tornatore, Appointment Message 1030411; to be a Member of the Illinois State Medical Board, James Brooks, Appointment Message 1030412; to be Members of the State Museum Board, Chris Pappan, Appointment Message 1030413, Ashish Sharma, Appointment Message 1030415, Wanza Davis, Appointment Message 1030421, and Michael Murphy, Appointment Message 1030426; to be a Member of the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure Funding and Policy, Eileen Chin, Appointment Message 1030424; to be a Member of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, Darryl Arrington, Appointment Message 1030416; to be a Member of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority, Antonio Baxton, Appointment Message 1030425; to be a Member of the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, Seth Limmer, Appointment Message 1030427; to be Members of the Capital Development Board, Saul Morse, Appointment Message 1030428, Beverly Potts, Appointment Message 1030432, and Eileen Rhodes, Appointment Message 1030437; to be a Member of the State Board of Health, Esther Sciammarella, Appointment Message 1030430; to be a member of the Energy Workforce Advisory Council, Shaneal Clayborne, Appointment Message 1030433; to be a Member of the Criminal Justice Information Authority, Eric Echevarria, Appointment Message 1030434.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy.
Nominations just read. Want me to do it again? Madam President, I move that the Senate Do Consent to the compiled nominations just read.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Seeing none. The question is, does the Senate consent to the compound nominations? All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by a record vote. The Senate does consent to the compiled nominations. Senator Murphy.
Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and Gentlemen, I move the Senate arise from Executive Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Murphy moves that the Senate arise from Executive Session. All those in favor will say, Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senator -- the Senate has arisen from Executive Session. Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
For purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) State your announcement, Senator.
Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a staff member, Michael Beatty, and this is his last week with us. And for those of you that don't know, Mike, he has kept Executive Appointments running for the past several years. He's responsible for ensuring everything runs smoothly, works within my mistakes with a sense of humor, and is just really done an outstanding job. He's moving on to bigger and better, and I think it's really 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 important. He's worn a number of hats here, but I just want to acknowledge all that you've done, and I know the great things that you're going to continue to do in your new job and wish you all the best, Mike. Thanks for all your …
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Congratulations, Mike. I'm sure we'll see you around. Leader Cunningham, for what purpose do you rise.
For an announcement, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your announcement, Senator.
Thank you, Madam President. Today is kind of a special day in the Illinois Senate, a landmark day, an anniversary. We are at the 20-year anniversary of the Senate Parliamentarian's tenure here with the Illinois State Senate, Giovanni Randazzo. And -- and you can see by the daggers he is staring at me right now that he does not approve of this, but it's kind of impossible for us to let this day go by without recognizing Gio, our unofficial historian of the Senate. If you want to know what happened even before he was here, you can ask Gio and he'll know about it for any of us, Madam President, as you know, who sit in that chair, Gio is the ultimate security blanket. None of us want to be up there without him. It's been a pleasure throughout my tenure, to work with Gio, just one of the best people to ever set foot in this Chamber, in my point of view and we like to thank him for his 20 years of service. And I'm trying to calculate in my head, so another 20 years -- would -- you up? Doesn't -- I don't know if Gio is up for that, but thank you and congratulations. 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Woo hoo! Congratulations, Giovanni. 20 years. God bless you. Great work. Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator.
I apologize, I understand Laura -- Senator Murphy had already recognized Mr. Beatty on the Floor. Mike comes from my district, and he lives down the block from our family, and I just -- I want to tell the story, and I apologize for not being present for this part but Mike's really special, and I -- and I want to share a story of why. Mike's dad is friends with one of my best buddies, and he had called Mr. Durkin and said, "Hey, my son needs a job. He just graduated from the University of Iowa." And -- and I told him, I said, "If you show up at 4:30 for this event and you work hard, more than likely you'll be able to come into the team and work, you know, and then have a job and be productive." And he's escalated to a level to where now he's leaving us for a private company that's very reputable. But the one interview question I asked him, and this is -- I want to just -- this reflects on Mike's character. I said, "Mike, why do you want to work for government? And he goes, you know, "My dad had lost his job, and they couldn't afford college for me anymore. And so, I chose to come home. I went to go work part-time at a food preparation place. My mom's working at Kohl's." He went through this whole and he goes, "And I want to go work for government because I don't want what happened to my family to happen to anybody else." That's Mike Beatty. And 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 as Mike Beatty goes on to other organizations throughout his life, I hope that he can reflect back on the fundamentals of a lot of different areas of the government that you've learned, Mike. But I want you to reflect back on the Senate and know that this is your family and that the lessons you learn here, you'll be able to apply the rest of your life and this place helped make you a successful person. As a Senator, I can only say that you've been one of the -- one of the best young people that we've brought down here from the neighborhood. That's why they call you Aces back home. By the way, that's in the history books. That's all being recorded, that -- that's your nickname back home. But I want to say that as a person, and as an individual, and as a father, I hope my little kid, my -- my son grows up to be like you. I hope that other people look to you for an example and we're really proud of you, Mike, and thank you very much for your service to the State. I'm sure we'll see you back in one form or fashion. God bless you, buddy. Thank you, again.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you. Great work. President Harmon, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. As much as I admire Senator Hastings applauding Mr. Beatty, I'd like to return to the Order of Randazzo.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Yes.
Thank you, Madam President. There are very few of us who have been here for the 20 years that Giovanni has and in standard 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 19th Legislative Day 2/26/2025 Senate time, we're celebrating several months late. I believe your -- your formal anniversary was at the beginning of December. I was a young Member when Giovanni arrived, and I echo what Senator Cunningham said, "There is nobody who loves this institution more." There are very few indispensable people in this business, but Giovanni would certainly be up for debate. And while some other Members have celebrated anniversaries like this, this is appropriate that we celebrate this on the Senate Floor. Your -- your roost there at the President's podium is as familiar a place to you and for all of us who see you there. I am incredibly grateful for your counsel, I am incredibly grateful for your service, and I -- I hope that you're sticking around for a good long time. Thank you. All the best to you and your family.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Yay, Giovanni! Woo-hoo! There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until 11:30 a.m. on the 27th day of February, 2025. The Senate stands adjourned. 22