104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned for the week. The House was in session Tuesday through Friday. Meanwhile, the Senate was in Session Tuesday through Thursday; Friday’s session was canceled. Today is the 3rd Reading Deadline in both chambers. Deadline extensions will be monitored: The Senate is likely to continue to issue deadline extensions, while the House may issue them on a case-by-case basis.
The Illinois Senate created an Agreed Bill List to expedite the passage of 62 noncontroversial bills on a single roll call.
This week, 135 bills passed the Senate; 201 bills passed the House.
The House will return to session Tuesday, April 21, through Thursday, April 23. The Senate is off again next week.
Cell Phone Ban in Schools: SB 2427 (Castro/Mussman), as amended, requires Illinois school districts to adopt policies by the 2027-2028 school year that ban the use of wireless communication devices, such as cellphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices, during school hours. The legislation would enact a complete ban on elementary and middle school students’ use of devices during school hours, while allowing districts the option to permit high school students to use their devices during lunch and passing periods. The measure also provides carve-outs for students with medical needs, caregivers for family members, and those who need their phone for English translation services. School officials can also permit device use if it’s for educational purposes. This is an initiative of Governor Pritzker. SB 2427 passed the House 102-3-1 and now returns to the Senate for concurrence.
Environmental Justice: By a vote of 11-2, the Senate Executive Committee approved SFA # 1 to SB 3772 (Villanueva), which strengthens environmental justice protections by directing that state regulators who are reviewing pollution control permits must consider the potential impacts on communities that have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens. Specifically, the bill would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate environmental justice factors when reviewing certain air pollution construction permit applications. The proposal would require IEPA to assess if a proposed facility is in an area of environmental justice concern and determine if additional safeguards may be needed. These evaluations could include assessing opportunities to reduce emissions, conducting additional air-quality modeling, and requiring permit enhancements (like improved air and odor monitoring or pollution-prevention techniques). The measure would also require permitting decisions to consider an applicant’s history of environmental violations and other relevant factors. The IMA testified it is neutral on the bill as amended and that it primarily codifies the IEPA’s current policy. The amended bill is now pending before the full Senate, and the sponsor noted she plans to call it for a vote when the Senate returns to session at the end of April.
Prescription Drug Advisory Board: HFA #4 to HB 1443 (Syed) passed the House Healthcare Availability and Accessibility Committee 9-5. The legislation creates a Prescription Drug Advisory Board, which can set maximum, state-regulated price limits on certain drugs. The amendment makes numerous changes to the underlying bill, the sponsor said, including allowing the state’s Medicaid program and State Employees Health Programs to “opt in,” adjusting the number of medications subject to upper payment limits, and placing a 5-year sunset on the statute. The sponsor called the bill on 3rd Reading late Thursday evening but ultimately pulled it from the record before a vote was taken. As of this writing, the legislation is pending before the full House. It is unknown if any deadline extension will be granted. Read more here.
Identical legislation was positioned on companion legislation, SB 66 (Guzman), in the Senate. The sponsor filed SFA # 4 (which is identical to the version that passed the House committee), now pending in the Senate Assignments Committee. Earlier drafts of amendments were assigned to the Executive Committee but were not heard this week.
Children’s Social Media Protections: HB 5511 (Gong-Gershowitz) creates the Children’s Social Media Safety Act. As amended, the bill establishes default settings for apps and websites designed to prevent addictive algorithmic feeds for children, prevents location sharing on platforms, and averts scam transactions with strangers online. According to the sponsor, it does not mandate age verification; instead, parents simply declare their child’s age when setting up a device. Users must consent to any app requesting age data, which will provide only a general age range rather than specific details, thereby enhancing privacy. While the bill seeks to protect children from addictive content, it does not include provisions for content moderation or parental monitoring of online activities. Passed the House 82-27.
Below are highlights of legislation that passed the House this week. These bills now move to the Senate for consideration.
HB 4868 (Elik) amends the Nursing Home Care Act to strengthen incident reporting requirements. It requires facilities to notify the Department of Public Health’s regional office of reportable incidents within 24 hours (or the next business day) and to submit a narrative summary within 5 days. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4687 (Ford) repeals the Educational Loan Default Act, which authorizes penalties against individuals who are in default on state-guaranteed student loans. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4722 (Jimenez) allows counties to create a will depository. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4373 (Jones) establishes the Motor Vehicle Glass Repair Act. This legislation outlines the notification process that a motor vehicle glass shop must follow when informing an insured party. It also addresses motor vehicle glass repair claims and practices, specifies prohibited actions, and affirms the insured’s right to select their preferred motor vehicle glass repair shop. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4207 (Morris) expands health insurance coverage for coronary calcium scans. Note that the bill excludes the state employees’ health plan, a point of contention for critics. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4649 (Gong-Gershowitz) amends the Adult Protective Services Act to combat financial exploitation of eligible adults by allowing the courts to issue temporary injunctions (ex parte) to immediately halt suspected exploitation, preventing irreparable harm while a full hearing is pending. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4793 (Ryan) allows pharmacists to use their professional judgment to add missing ancillary non-pharmaceutical devices or durable medical equipment (such as spacers for inhalers or syringes for insulin) to a prescription if it helps patients use their medication correctly. Currently, pharmacists must contact the prescriber to add such items to the prescription. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4382 (Spain) amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide for a 6-month license suspension for graduated driver’s license holders under 18 who cause bodily harm, permanent disability, or death while violating laws regarding passenger limits. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 4456 (Faver Dias) amends the Public Utilities Act to codify and enable the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to approve comprehensive low-income discounts on utility bills. The measure sets eligibility for the new program and the LIHEAP program at 300% of the federal poverty level and provides funding mechanisms for the new discounts through utility-imposed surcharges. Passed the House 74-37.
· HB 3190 (Rita) prohibits public entities from restricting the use of drones at recreational/conservation sites when they comply with FAA regulations, ensuring that professional engineers and surveyors can operate drones. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 5492 (Stuart) mandates health insurance plans to cover the cost of a one-year supply of hormone replacement therapy. Passed the House 74-37.
· HB 5091 (Crawford) creates the Permanent Punishment Review Task Force Act to analyze “permanent punishments” — disadvantages or penalties imposed on individuals with criminal records that are separate from their actual sentences, such as barriers to housing or employment. Passed the House 73- 32.
· HB 3811 (Deuter) establishes requirements for private professional guardians. Passed the House 81-28.
· HB 4758 (Johnson) prohibits employers with more than 15 employees from refusing to hire or discriminating against applicants solely because they do not have a driver’s license, unless driving is an essential job function. Passed the House 82-30.
· HB 5196 (Morgan) extends the COLA pension buy-out program for two years. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 5045 (Mayfield) allows the State Treasurer Act to establish a Non-profit Investment Pool and an electronic payment processing program to enhance investment opportunities and provide secure payment options for eligible not-for-profit corporations in the state. Passed the House 69-32-1.
· HB 4725 (Hoffman) is an initiative of the Illinois Attorney General that strengthens the Attorney General’s Worker Protection Unit by granting it greater investigative authority, including powers to issue subpoenas, inspect workplaces, conduct employee interviews, and obtain search warrants to target businesses violating labor laws, like wage theft or unsafe working conditions. Passed the House 79-23.
· HB 4948 (Deuter) establishes the Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) Program for drivers who have been convicted of multiple reckless driving or high-speed offenses (exceeding 26 mph over the limit) within a 12-month period, requiring them to install speed-limiting technology in their vehicles or have their license suspended. Passed the House 77-24-1.
· HB 4966 (Cassidy) creates the SECURE Act, which enhances protections for youth in the Department of Children and Family Services care, including strengthening interstate placement procedures for youth aged 8 or older, prohibiting consent to conversion therapy, and ensuring access to lawful healthcare. Passed the House 71-34.
· HB 4379 (Briel) requires public buildings to have an adult changing table. The bill applies to public buildings constructed after January 1, 2029, that hold 1,500 people or more with a minimum square footage of 40,000. Passed the House 72-18-4.
· HB 5425 (Canty) creates the Natural Organic Reduction Regulation Act. The bill legalizes and regulates “human composting” — a process known as natural organic reduction — as a form of final disposition of human remains, allowing licensed facilities to turn remains into soil over 30 to 45 days. Passed the House 64-36.
· HB 2273 (Spain) represents a trailer bill to the mobile driver’s license legislation passed last year. The bill makes several changes, including clarifying that motorists do not have to give up physical possession of their phones to law enforcement. Passed the House unanimously.
· HB 624 (West) creates the Home For Good Program to provide housing and services for individuals leaving prison. Passed the House 63-34.
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Below are highlights of legislation that passed the Senate this week. These bills now move to the House for consideration:
· SB 3020 (Johnson) strengthens protections for domestic violence survivors by updating state laws to address modern digital harassment and stalking. It expands the legal definition of harassment to include electronic tracking, doxing, and AI-generated sexual imagery, while easing access to remote court hearings for victims. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3196 (Collins) strengthens support for youth transitioning out of DCFS care, enhances accountability measures, and allows youth in care to actively participate in their transition planning. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3048 (Morrison) strengthens the rights of crime victims and provides additional resources for medical facilities that perform forensic examinations. Read more here. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3815 (Ellman) prohibits insurers from denying coverage to individuals or employers due to unpaid premiums from prior, separate policies. The bill amends the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to protect consumers from coverage denials based on past-due debts. The legislation does not apply to “grandfathered” health plans. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3336 (Villivalam) represents comprehensive legislation to address micromobility. The bill defines devices, preserves the current electric bike framework, brings high-powered vehicles in line with motor vehicles (titles, registration, insurance, and drivers’ licenses), and applies DUI laws. It further prevents manufacturers from engaging in deceptive marketing. Read more here. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 2968 (Johnson) allows the State Treasurer to establish a Non-profit Investment Pool and an electronic payment processing program to enhance investment opportunities and provide secure payment options for eligible not-for-profit corporations in the state. Passed the Senate 41-16.
· SB 3449 (Cunningham) represents a trailer bill to the mobile driver’s license legislation passed last year. The bill makes several changes, including clarifying that motorists do not have to give up physical possession of their phones to law enforcement. Passed the Senate 46-11.
· SB 2741 (Holmes) updates Illinois’ harassment laws to reflect today’s use of technology. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3445 (Cunningham) establishes new protocols for delegating medical tasks within kidney disease treatment centers. Passed the Senate 54-1.
· SB 2909 (Belt) regulates the use of AI in teacher evaluations, emphasizing that human judgment must remain central to assessing teacher performance. The bill prohibits the use of AI in performance ratings and allows evaluators to use AI solely for administrative support purposes. Meanwhile, teachers are not allowed to use AI as evidence in their performance evaluations and must disclose its use if they employ it for administrative purposes in their evaluations. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3223 (D. Turner) requires pharmacies to post information to help patients access recall notices for prescriptions. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3897 (Glowiak Hilton) represents the annual IDFPR sunset omnibus. Passed the Senate unanimously.
· SB 3917 (Fine) establishes new monitoring requirements for PFAS in wastewater discharges, sludge, and biosolids at major facilities and land application sites. Also requires periodic sampling and reporting under certain water control permits. Passed the Senate unanimously.
Other Action:
· HB 3213 (Moeller) increases the threshold for implementing non-competes to $300,000 and establishes a mileage radius (rather than a wage limit) for certain medical professionals. Passed the House Labor Committee 18-7 and is pending on the House Floor. It is unknown if the deadline will be extended for this bill.
· SB 3329 (Villanueva) represents a trailer bill to Karina’s Law, which enacted protections for victims of domestic violence. The measure prohibits any third party from knowingly transferring a firearm to a respondent in an order of protection action or from allowing the respondent access to a firearm. It would also require law enforcement to take reasonable steps to notify petitioners of domestic violence cases if the agency seeks to correct or nullify a search warrant for a respondent’s firearms. Passed the Senate Executive Committee, as amended, 10-2, and is now pending before the full Senate.
· SB 2772 (Ventura) establishes the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board within the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to advise on training programs, ethical standards, and licensing requirements related to psilocybin. During a two-year program development period, the board would issue recommendations on health and safety regulations to agencies responsible for regulating psilocybin production and use. SFA #2 passed the Senate Executive Committee 9-4 and is now pending before the full Senate.
· SB 3341 (Guzman) allows minors to give consent for contraception and related supplies. Passed the Senate Executive Committee 9-4 and is now pending before the full Senate.
Data Centers: This week the House Executive Committee held its second hearing on data centers, focusing on their energy demand. The hearing featured testimonies from utility companies, consumer advocates, and the Illinois Power Agency regarding the impact of data centers on energy supply, demand, and prices. This was the second of three planned hearings; the first addressed community impacts, and the third will discuss water issues. Representatives discussed the increased energy demand from data centers, cost control measures, and the implications for the state’s clean energy goals and renewable energy future. Read more here.
Key 2026 Session Dates:
April 17: Deadline — 3rd Reading Substantive Bills in First Chamber
May 8: Deadline — Substantive Bills out of Committee in Second Chamber
May 22: Deadline — 3rd Reading Substantive Bills in Second Chamber
May 31: Adjournment
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
DCEO Awards Tourism Grants: More than $4.85 million in grant funding has been awarded to 66 grantees through three grant programs – the Tourism Attractions Grant Program ($2 million), Tourism Marketing Partnership Grant Program ($2.25 million), and Tourism Private Sector Grant Program ($598,900). Read more here.
OTHER NEWS:
Albertsons’ Preliminary National Opioid Settlement: Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a preliminary national settlement with Albertsons, requiring the grocery chain to pay more than $773 million to address its role in the opioid crisis. The final agreement depends on reaching consensus on significant changes to business practices and will apply only to states where Albertsons operates, including Illinois, where it owns Jewel-Osco. Although a potential payment amount has been agreed upon, further negotiations regarding injunctive relief terms are still needed. Read more here.
Federal Authorities Weigh in on Interchange Fee Legislation: According to a federal posting released this week, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — an independent bureau within the U.S. Department of the Treasury — announced plans to issue an “Order Preempting the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act.” Enacted in 2024 as part of the end-of-session budget package, the state law prohibits certain interchange fees—also referred to as swipe fees—applied to the tax and tip portions of customers’ bills, aiming to reduce charges imposed by credit card companies on retailers. Legislation to delay implantation of the Act by one year passed the General Assembly last session. The Act is currently due to take effect on July 1, 2026. Financial institutions argue that enforcing the law would impose significant burdens and costs, with potential implications not only for their sector but also for small businesses and consumers. Read more here.