PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) 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 Father George Nellikunnel from Saint Cabrini and Saint Aloysius Churches here in Springfield. Father.
FATHER GEORGE NELLIKUNNEL: (Invocation)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Thank you, Father. Please remain standing for the Pledge. Senator Johnson will lead us.
SENATOR JOHNSON: (Pledge of Allegiance)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Lisa Chess-Yuscius from BlueRoomStream seeks leave to video today's proceedings. Without objection, leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of February 3rd, 2026.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Senator Glowiak Hilton.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Senator Glowiak Hilton moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary, there being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, February 17th, 2026. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 74th Legislative Day 2/18/2026
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) 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 CUNNINGHAM) Senator Glowiak Hilton moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 619, offered by Senator McClure and all Members. It's a celebration of life resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Resolutions Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 621, offered by President Harmon. It is congratulatory. Senate Resolution 620, offered by Senator Fine and Senate Joint Resolution 53, offered by Senator Plummer. They are both substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Loughran Cappel, Chair of the Committee on Education reports - Senate Bills 2909 and 3224 Do Pass and Senate Resolution 542 Be Adopted. Senator Simmons, Chair of the Committee on Public Health reports - Senate Bills 2774, 2782 and 2790 Do Pass and Senate Resolution 571 Be Adopted. Senator Morrison, Chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services reports - Senate Bills 2797, 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 74th Legislative Day 2/18/2026 2939, 2944, 2987, 3103, 3179, and 3207 Do Pass. And Senator Morrison, Chair of the Committee on Insurance reports - Senate Bill 2799 Do Pass, Senate Bills 2878 and 2910 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Mr. Secretary, Introduction and Reading of Senate Bills for the first time.
Senate Bill 4056, offered by Senator Koehler, an -- an Act concerning regulation. Senate Bill 4057, offered by Senator Napoleon Harris, an Act concerning government. Senate Bill 4058, offered by Senator Belt, an Act concerning government. Senate Bill 4059, offered by Senator Preston, an Act concerning appropriations. 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 1040426, Governor's salaried appointment, To be a Member of the Illinois State Board of Education; Luvia Moreno. Appointment Message 1040427, Governor's unsalaried appointment, To be a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee; Anusha Thotakura. Appointment Message 1040428, Governor's unsalaried appointment, To be a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee; Lila Valinoti.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Senator Rose, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Other than the -- welcome Leader Koehler to our side of the aisle, I do have a point of personal privilege, if I may? 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 74th Legislative Day 2/18/2026
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Please state your point.
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, behind me in the gallery, I'm pleased and privileged to introduce Leadership Crawford County, which is a community development program that develops leaders by directly engaging them in business, education, health care, government and nonprofit sectors, which within Crawford County, which I'm fortunate to represent. One of the special programs that they run is called the Crawford County CEO, which is a yearlong high school entrepreneurship program that immerses students in the real-world business experiences. We've asked them to come up today to watch our State Budget Address and joining us in the gallery, if you wouldn't mind standing our Darby, Resa, Hayley, Mark, Erin, Paige, Austin, Danyelle, Rendi, Hadlee, Jacob, Maura, Joshua, Brylee, Katelynn and Stacey. Can we please welcome them to Springfield? PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM Will the Members of the Committee on Assignments please assemble, right now, in the -- President’s Anteroom? Committee on Assignments.
Senator Villa, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of privilege, Mr. President.
Please state your point.
Today, I am proud to recognize someone very special joining 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 74th Legislative Day 2/18/2026 us on the Floor, Isaid Soto. Isaid is not only a dedicated constituent, but he was also an intern in my office. Right now, he is a student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, working hard and following his dreams. Isaid is passionate about comparative politics and public policy. When he's not studying, you can find him playing tennis or reading. He is determined to keep going, maybe even earning a master's degree and or a law degree. He wants to serve our community through a career in politics, law, or diplomacy. Please join me in giving Isaid a warm welcome to the Illinois Senate today.
Welcome to the Illinois State Senate. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Lightford, Chair of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been Assigned: refer to Judiciary Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3066; Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Resolution 621, Senate Joint Resolution 20, Senate Joint Resolution 28, Senate Joint Resolution 29, House Joint Resolution 6, House Joint Resolution 8, House Joint Resolution 17, House Joint Resolution 19, House Joint Resolution 30, and House Joint Resolution 33. Signed, Senator Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we are going to go to page 2 of your printed Calendar near the top of that page where we have resolutions. House Joint Resolution 51 from Senator Lightford. She indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 74th Legislative Day 2/18/2026
House Joint Resolution 51, offered by Senator Lightford.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Leader Lightford, on your resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I move to adopt House Joint Resolution 51 so that we can convene in our Joint Session to hear from the Governor our State of the State Address.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CUNNINGHAM) Is there any discussion? Seeing none. The question is, shall Joint -- House Joint Resolution 51 pass? All those in favor say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, in a few minutes at precisely 11:45, we'd like everyone to assemble outside the House Chamber for the State of the State and Budget Address. At 11:45, please meet in the hallway outside of the House Chamber, and the Senate Chamber will go into the House Chamber together. The following Senators are appointed to the Committee of Escort to escort the Governor to the House of Representatives for the Joint Session. They are Senators Aquino, Johnson, Ventura, Hills, and Erica Harriss. The Committee will meet at the front of the House Chamber prior to the Joint Session to escort the Governor in. There being no further business to come before the Senate. The Senate stands adjourned until 11 a.m. on the 19th day of February 2026. The Senate stands adjourned. 6