Illinois Senate Floor Debate — April 29, 2025

Senate Journals of Friday, April 11th, Monday, April 14th, Wednesday, April 23rd and Friday, April 25th, 2025.

Senate Resolution 247, offered by Senator Villa and all Members and Senate Resolutions 251 and, 250 and 251, offered by President Harmon all Members. They are both - They are all 3 celebration of life resolutions, Madam President.

Senate Resolution 249, offered by Senator Halpin and Senate Resolution 254, offered by Senator Ellman. They are both congratulatory. Senate Resolutions 248, offered by Senator Villa. Senate Resolution 252, offered by Senator Sims. Senate Resolution 253, offered by Senator Sally Turner. Senate Resolution 255, offered by Senator Belt. Senate Resolution 256, offered by President Harmon. Senate Resolution 257, offered by Senator Faraci. Senate Resolution 258, offered by Senator Fine and Senate Joint Resolution 33, offered by Senator Fowler. They are all substantive.

Senate Bill 2654, offered by Senator Lightford, an Act concerning health. Senate Bill 2655, offered by Senator Loughran Cappel, an Act concerning appropriations. 1st Reading of the bills.

Appointment Message 1040191, Governor's salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Human Rights Commission, Gregory E. Vaci. Appointment Message 1040192, Governor's salaried appointment, to be the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, Theodore Donald Berger. Appointment Message 1040193, Governor's non-salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Employment Security Advisory Board, Megan Bates. Appointment Message 1040194, Governor's salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Lottery Control Board, Sara Barnett Bruckmann. Appointment Message 1040195, Governor's salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Melissa Neddermeyer. Appointment Message 1040196, Governor's salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Scott Paddock. Appointment Message 1040197, Governor's salaried appointment, to be a Member of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Gary Perinar. Appointment Message 1040198, Governor's salaried appointment, to be a Member and Chair of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Arnaldo Rivera. Appointment Message 1040199, Governor's non- salaried appointment, to be a Member of the State Universities Retirement System Board of Trustees, Jeanine Jiganti.

House Bill 2464, offered by Senator Fine, an Act concerning regulation. House Bill 3657, offered by Senator Cunningham, an Act concerning public employee benefits. And House Bill 3772, offered by Senator Lightford, an Act concerning education. 1st Reading of 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 4/29/2025 the bills.

Point of personal privilege.

It -- it just seems like once we move from one tragedy and then there's another and another. So, I am standing to really ask for your support and prayers with the tragedy that happened in Chatham yesterday. Whenever we drop off our kids or grandkids to school or an after-school program, you just expect that you're going to go, you're going to go to work, and then you're going to go pick them up, and then you're going to go home and everything's going to be fine. And unfortunately, for the community of Chatham yesterday, that didn't happen. There was a horrific accident where a driver -- this is really difficult, a driver hit 3 children that were outside. They were all three deceased. She ran through the building and hit another child who was deceased. And there are 7 children that are now -- that were airlifted, and they're in intensive care. Three of them have injuries that are related to brain and head trauma. So, as we right now, those parents are in the life saving mode, but then soon they will be into the quality- of-life mode. And so, we ask for your prayers for those families. It -- it -- when I first heard about it, I of course reached out to the Mayor, reached out to the State Police to say, what can I do? How can we wrap our arms around those families? And I thought then it was just a horrific, horrific accident. But then as I 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 4/29/2025 learned more and started peeling back those layers, I found that I knew -- I had friends who's one of them's granddaughter was killed and two others where they have, children that are in intensive care. So, I think that just shows us how even though we are a large State, we're all connected and interconnected in in some way. And when something happens in one part of our State, it impacts people in other parts of our State. So, Chatham is known as a very tight, community centered around giving -- volunteering and giving back to their neighbors. And so, I would ask at this time that you embrace that sense of community and support and, wrap your hearts and your arms around the community of Chatham. Thank you. And I'd ask for a moment of silence for those four children.

For an announcement.

Thank you. I just want to say I represent a piece of Chatham, along with Senator Turner and this is a -- This is a tragedy that doesn't just affect those families and those kids. And we had six other kids taken to the hospital. One remains in critical condition. Kathryn, Alma, Ainsley and Rylee passed away. And this is something that everyone involved in the situation is going to deal with for the rest of their lives. We had a lot of first 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 4/29/2025 responders and county officials that had to see these kids and had to try to help them, and they couldn't in some cases. And so, you know, as Senator Turner said, keep these families in your prayers and these kids. And one, Rylee was 18. But also keep the first responders in your prayers please, because they're not going to get over this for the rest of their lives. And so, you know, please continue to pray for the people of Chatham and we just -- when we see something like this, it just makes all of our hearts ache. And that ache never goes away. And so, you know, just keep them in your prayers, please. And -- and I thank the State Police for taking over the investigation and the Chatham Police Department and the Mayor. Everyone's been doing everything they can, and it's just a horrible situation. Thank you.

I have an introduction.

I'm happy to be joined today by my Page for the Day, Ellia Barud. She is a sophomore at O'Fallon Township High School. She's a member of Model UN, She's the Vice President of the O'Fallon Township High School book club, she's a member of the French club, on the honor roll, and interested in government. So, if you could please join me in welcoming her to the Senate Floor today.

Senate Resolution 259, offered by Senator Sims and all Members, it is a celebration of life resolution, Madam President.

Senate Bill 191, an Act concerning transportation. 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.

Senator Cunningham, Chair of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 710, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3760; refer to Appropriations Committee - House Bill 3067, House Bill 3323, Committee Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1262 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1851; refer to Appropriations Education - House Bill 2466 and House Bill 2927; refer to Appropriations Health and Human Services - House Bills 872, 1872, 2584, and 2682; refer to Appropriations Public Safety and Infrastructure - House Bill 3781; refer to Behavioral and Mental Health Committee - House Bill 3645; refer to Child Welfare Committee - House Bills 871, 2907, and 3446; refer to Commerce Committee - House Bill 3187; 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 4/29/2025 refer to Criminal Law Committee - House Bill 3572 and Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2690; refer to Education Committee - House Bills 1787, 2337, 2390, 2685, 2801, 2802, 2962, 2994, 3039, 3096, 3097, 3275, 3377, 3772 and Committee Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 2986; refer to Energy and Public Utilities Committee - House Bills 1056, 2435, 2863, 3312, 3399, 3499, 3510, 3541, and 3725; refer to Environment and Conservation Committee - House Bills 30 -- 2366 and 2419; refer to Executive Committee - Senate Bills 2037, Senate Bill 23 -- 2037, House Bills 32, 742, 1225, 1843, 2458, 2894, 2947, 3177, 3574, and 3646; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - House Bill 3352; refer to Health and Human Services Committee - House Bills 2774, 2877, 3160, 3328, 3718, 3761 and Senate Resolution 214; refer to Higher Education Committee - House Bills 3062 and 3385, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3300 and Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3522; refer to Insurance Committee - House Bills 2425, 2464, 3796 and 3800; refer to Judiciary Committee - Senate Bill 2109, House Bill 1083, 1605, 1842, 2462, 3148, 3281, 3566, and 3616; refer to Labor Committee - House Bills 2409, 3200, and 3638; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - House Bill -- House Bills 1598, 2517, 3373, 3462, 3487, and 3850; refer to Local Government Committee - House Bill 663, 1615, 2139, 2142, 2757, 3141 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2303; refer to Pensions Committee - House Bill 1648; refer to Public Health Committee - House Bill 1754, 2346, 2418, and Senate Resolution 241; refer to Revenue Committee - House Bill 643 and 2380; refer to State Government Committee - House Bill 1631 and 3493; refer to Transportation Committee - House Bill 1502, 1821, 2362, 3388 and Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 848. Be Approved for Consideration - House Bills 3078, Senate Bill 324, and Senate 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 4/29/2025 Resolution 256; re-referred from Health and Human Services Committee to the Committee on Assignment - House Bill 1715; re- referred from Insurance Committee to the Committee on Assignments - House Bill 1908. Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8 (b-1), the following amendments will remain in the Committee on Assignments - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 633. Signed, Senator Bill Cunningham, Chair.