Springfield News
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MAY 17, 2018
ERA advances - On Wednesday, the Illinois House Human Services Committee advanced legislation carrying the Equal Rights Amendment, SJRCA4, from Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). Supporters signed witness slips for the hearing totaled 3,397 and opponents 569. The measure cleared the panel 7-5 along party lines, and now moves to the House floor. The hearing was the panel’s second on the matter, following a four-hour no-vote hearing last week. At a press conference after the hearing, Lang said he continues to seek wider Republican support and may call the measure for a House vote next week. Lang added that while his goal was to see the measure passed by the end of session, the process may extend into summer as he still faces some Republican opposition.
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MAY 16, 2018
Sports betting - On Tuesday, Illinois took its first tiny step on sports betting legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling Monday striking down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. SB3432, from former NFL linebacker and state Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey), emerged from the Senate Assignments Committee where it has been parked since May 3 and was sent back to the Senate Gaming Committee. The bill had only one reading in the Senate and has not cleared a committee. It would allow casinos to offer in-person and online sports betting to Illinois residents. Casinos would pay a $10,000 license fee, an annual $5,000 renewal fee as well as a 12.5 percent tax on gross wagering receipts plus a 1 percent “integrity fee” to fund sports governing bodies.
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MAY 15, 2018
Volkswagen Settlement - At 3:30 p.m. in Stratton room 413, the House Environment Committee is slated to take up SB3101 from Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). The bill would require the Illinois EPA to create a state beneficiary mitigation plan and a Volkswagen Settlement Task Force. The task force would open up the settlement process for more public hearings, be required to keep the public informed, and would have to produce a public report on its findings and recommendations by January 2019. The measure passed the Senate 31-21 on April 26.
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MAY 14, 2018
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MAY 14, 2018
The General Assembly re-assembles in Springfield Tuesday to dive into its second week of the last month of session. Budget negotiations are expected to pick up steam as top lawmakers continue meetings with Gov. Bruce Rauner. A number of high-visibility bills are still circulating in the statehouse at a rapid clip and election pressures are mounting for candidates in the crosshairs.
Committee times and bill hearings are always subject to change, but here are some of the key ones we’ll be watching this week:
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MAY 11, 2018
Victim protection - The Illinois Senate approved a bill Thursday which would extend the statute of limitations on adult sexual assault charges to a full year after the sexual assault is discovered by the victim. Sen. Jill Tracy (R-Quincy) said SB2271 came about after a woman who was drugged later discovered video evidence that her assailant had sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. Tracy said a loophole in the current statute of limitations left the woman unable to press charges. The bill cleared the chamber 50-0 and now moves to the House.
