FATHER GEORGE NELLIKUNNEL: (Invocation)
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Please remain standing. Senator Johnson, would you please lead us in the Pledge.
SENATOR JOHNSON: (Pledge of Allegiance)
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Lisa Yuscius from the Blueroomstream seeks leave of the Body to video. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, March 4th, 2025.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Senator Glowiak Hilton.
Thank you, Mr. 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 KOEHLER) Senator Glowiak Hilton moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, depending {sic} (pending) on the arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 Senate Resolution 153, offered by Senator Guzmán and all Members. It is a celebration of life resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Resolutions Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 152, offered by Senator Glowiak Hilton. It is congratulatory.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Mr. Secretary, Introduction and Reading of Senate Bills for the first time.
Senate Bill 2622, offered by Senator Rose, an Act concerning appropriations. 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Loughran Cappel, Chair of the Committee on Education, reports Senate Bills 1616, 1799 and 2057 Do Pass, Senate Bill 1584 Do Pass, as Amended and Senate Joint Resolution 2 Be Adopted. Senator Villa, Chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services, reports Senate Bill 1774 Do Pass, Senate Bill 32 directed to Appropriations Health and Human Services Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Villivalam, Chair of the Committee on Transportation reports, Senate Bill 14 -- Senate Bills 14 -- 1941, 1999, 2019 and 2040 Do Pass, Senate Bills 1467, 1922 and 2179 Do Pass, as Amended and Senate Joint Resolution 12 Be Adopted. Senator Morrison, Chair of the Committee on Insurance reports, Senate Bill 2105 Do Pass and Senate Bill 69 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Peters, Chair of the Committee on Labor reports, Senate Bill 2164 and 2175 Do Pass 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 and Senate Bill 67 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Edly-Allen, Chair of the Committee on Higher Education reports, Senate Bill 2039 Do Pass and Senate Joint Resolution 13 Be Adopted. Senator Walker, Chair of the Committee on Financial Institutions reports, Senate Bill 1994 Do Pass, as Amended. And Senator Fine, Chair of the Committee on Behavioral and Mental Health reports, Senate Bills 188 and 1844 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 1040092, Governor's non-salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Thomas H. Morsch, Jr. Appointment Message 1040093, Governor's non-salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Illinois State University Board of Trustees, Robert L. Navarro, Jr. Appointment Message 1040094, Governor's non-salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees, Montel Michael Gayles.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Senator Faraci, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to take this opportunity to introduce a very special guest to our Senate Floor today. This is Doni or Donica, which we never call her Donica. She's a Legislative Assistant in our Champaign District Office. She's a senior at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and plans on graduating in May of 2025. She's going to have a Bachelor of Art in political studies and global studies. Doni's first -- first interned in our Champaign office in June 2023. After college, she plans to go to 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 graduate school. She has two offers pending from University of Southern California and NYU. However, she is still awaiting a third school offer. That never happened for me, so that's pretty, pretty powerful. Third school offer before deciding which school to attend, as -- as you all know, we are only as good as the folks that we surround ourselves with. And so, Doni has been a powerful influence on me, and I'd also like to say hello to our Chief of Staff, Atha Winston, is here. So yes, I'm -- I'm lucky to surround myself with some really strong, smart young women. They teach me a lot every day. And so, if I -- if I could get the Senate's attention and have them wish a warm welcome to Doni and Atha, I'd really appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Morrison, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
The purpose of an introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Please state your introduction.
Today we are joined with very special guests in the gallery behind us. They represent Illinois' 53 Magnet hospitals through the American Nurses Credentialing Center{sic} (Center's) Magnet Hospital Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing Services that makes Illinois a leading State with all 53 of those Magnet hospitals in the United States. Achieving this status is a marker of excellence in nursing practice and patient care. Nearly ten percent of all hospitals in the United States have earned this distinction. Nurses have an essential role in patient well-being, 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 the patient experience, and optimal patient outcomes and the Illinois' Magnet hospitals are dedicated to a strong nursing workforce and an environment that promotes excellence. Please join me in welcoming our talented nurses from across Illinois to the Springfield Capitol.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Rose, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Personal -- point of personal privilege, if I may?
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Please state your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would ask that you welcome me, in welcoming, some good friends from my hometown of Mahomet. We've got Mr. Keith Pogue and his State and local government class, who's been with us today from Mahomet-Seymour High School to learn more about what we do here. So, if you guys would stand up and let's give them a welcome to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Ellman, for what purpose do you seek recognition? I guess you don't. Senator Villa, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Please state your point.
Thank you so much, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Today 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 alongside me, I have Jorja Reddoch, who is one of my college interns, and also my Page for a Day. She is a student at Aurora University, double majoring in social work and criminal justice. After graduation, she hopes to continue her journey in public service through State government. In my Aurora Office, Jorja is known for being an amazing advocate to all of our constituents who walk through the doors. She works on diverse -- a diverse portfolio of cases and subjects ranging from worker's rights, immigration, housing and mental health access. Additionally, Jorja is a key member of our district's Senior Advisory Committee, where she gets to work with our senior citizens from across the 25th Senate District on issues and challenges that are impacting our seniors in Illinois. Jorja is a great example on how social workers can get involved in public policy. And while she only has a couple more months in our office, I know that she will continue serving the people of Illinois with compassion, leadership, and understanding. I ask that you all give her a warm welcome to the Senate. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Doris Turner, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President, an introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Please state your introduction.
I have with me today, Soleil Edmondson. She is a fifth grade student at Harvard Park Elementary School in Springfield, and for their Black History Month presentation they -- the school did a 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 wax museum. And Soleil did a phenomenal, phenomenal job of researching and doing a phenomenal speech and guess who she decided to represent in the wax museum? She did such a great job that her principal took her all around the school for her to recreate her, her, project. So, she is a straight A student and very excited about being here in the Illinois State Senate today. So, if we could all give her a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator DeWitte, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you Mr. -- Thank you, Mr. President. For the purposes of two brief introductions, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Make your introductions, please.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm very pleased to welcome two groups visiting us here in the Illinois Senate this morning. First off, in the gallery with the -- the red jackets and surrounding participants, students, from Central High School in the far western suburbs of Burlington, Hampshire visiting us here at the Illinois Senate this morning. I'd also like to welcome a group from Buffalo Grove, which I believe is Senator Murphy's district doing work for the Illinois Prevention Network. These students doing wonderful mentorship work in their high schools, dealing with kids having problems with bad habits for lack of a better description. This is great work that they do for their colleagues in school and for their community. So, I'd like to ask the Senate to give a warm welcome to our students from Central 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 High School and our students from Buffalo Grove, representing Illinois Prevention Network. Stand up folks.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Will the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President’s Anteroom. The Committee on Assignments. Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Lightford, Chair of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been Assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Resolution 149. Signed Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) We will start on 2nd Readings. If you go to the top of page 2, we'll just go down the row in order. Senate Bill 28, Leader Lightford. Senate Bill 83, Senator Doris Turner. Senator Doris Turner, on Senate Bill 83. Do you wish to move it to 3rd? Senate Bill 103, Senator Feigenholtz. Senate Bill 175, Senator Fine. Senate Bill 1231, Senator Loughran Cappel. Senator Loughran. Senate Bill 1241, Senator McClure. Senate Bill 1249, Senator DeWitte. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1249, an Act concerning transportation. 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Transportation adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 No amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1288, Senator Sally Turner. Senate Bill 1301, Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please go back to Senate Bill 1288. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1288, an Act concerning health. 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1301, Senator Hunter. Senator Hunter on 1301. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1301, an Act concerning State government. 2nd Reading of the bill. No -- the Committee on Financial Institutions adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration.
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1331, Senator Doris Turner. Senator Doris Turner. Senator Doris Turner, on Senate Bill 1331. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1331, an Act concerning education. 2nd Reading the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1348, Senator Cunningham. Mr. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1348, an Act concerning local government. 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1417, Senator McClure. Senate Bill 1420, Senator Rose. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1420, an Act concerning State government. 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1422, Senator Halpin. Senate Bill 1441, Senator Peters. Senate Bill 1555, Senator Loughran Cappel. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1555, an Act concerning education. 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1563, Senator Collins. Senate Bill 1605, Senator Doris Turner. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1605, an Act concerning education. 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1614, Senator Porfirio. Senator Porfirio. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1614, an Act concerning finance. 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1675, Senator Belt. Senator Belt, 1675. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1675, an Act concerning state government. 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1814, Senator Anderson. Mr. Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1814.
Senate Bill 1814, an Act concerning health. 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. We'll go back to the top of page 2. Senator Lightford, on Senate Bill 28. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 28, an Act concerning education. 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Mr. Secretary, any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Lightford.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Senator Lightford, to explain your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Is there any discussion? All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) 3rd Reading. We will now go to page 5; we'll go to the Secretary's Desk Resolutions. We have Senate Resolution 61, Senator Johnson. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 61, offered by Senator Johnson.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Senator Johnson, to explain your resolution. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025
Thank you, Mr. President. The demands of the 21st Century require a new approach to education to fully prepare our State's youth for college, careers, and residence ships{sic} (citizenship); a whole child approach to education addresses students' comprehensive needs through the shared responsibility of students, families, schools, and communities. The goal of such an approach is to ensure that each child is challenged, supported, healthy, safe, and engaged. The children of Illinois are our future and will provide the leadership, creativity, and productivity to sustain and strengthen the quality of life in our State. The State of Illinois has a responsibility to ensure our children have every possible opportunity for a quality education. Each student in Illinois deserves to be challenged academically and prepared for college, meaningful employment, in our global economy, and lifelong success. Each student in Illinois deserves to be supported to -- by qualified, caring adults and to receive access to personalized learning. And with all of that said, Therefore, the Senate of the 104th General Assembly has declared March 2025 as Illinois Whole Child Month to recognize the value of assuring that each student is challenged, supported, healthy, (safe), and engaged. And we want to further Resolved, That we urge parents, educators, and community members to support a whole child approach to education for each student, and we urge that every school in Illinois to celebrate Whole Child Month by adopting at least one of the whole child tenets to promote and encourage throughout the month. And we will provide a suitable copy of this resolution to the Illinois Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. Thank you. 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, shall Senate Resolution 61 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Sims, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. For point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Please state your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, for two points. Point of information and also a point of personal privilege and introduction. As many of you know, I have had the honor and privilege of being named the National Chair of the Council of State Governments for 2025. Thank you. Well, the bigger honor and privilege is that Illinois will host the National Conference here in Chicago December 9th through the 13th. So, in honor of that, we will get started with a reception in honor of our efforts to bring the national conference here to Chicago, to Illinois with a reception tonight, Wednesday, March 5th at 6 o' clock at W.M. Van's Coffee House, 107 West Cook Street in Springfield. If you do not have invitations, we'll make sure we get them to you. But you should have all of these in your offices. But I'm also privileged to do a point of introduction. A friend of mine, a former colleague of all of ours, I feel once a Senator, even if it's in another state, always a Senator. David Atkins, who was the Executive Director of the Council of State Governments, former Member of the Kansas State Senate, is joining us here with us. Can we give him 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 22nd Legislative Day 3/5/2025 a round, a round -- a rousing round of applause?
PRESIDING OFFICER:(SENATOR KOEHLER) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Just a reminder that committees will start at 1:30, 1:30 for committees. There being no further business to come before the Senate. The Senate stands adjourned until 11 a.m. on the 6th day of March, 2025. The Senate stands adjourned. And anyone who -- any Senate Members who want to stay behind for the Alzheimer's picture, it's right here, and Craig is going to take it right now. 15