Beyond Legal Aid executive director Lam Ho and Era Laudermilk from the Cook County Public Defender’s office advocated for a bill Wednesday that would allow the public defender to represent non-citizens.

A Senate committee on Wednesday advanced a proposal that would formally let the Cook County Public Defender’s office represent non-citizens in immigration cases.

The bill (HB 2790) comes after the Cook County Public Defender’s office launched a new Immigration Unit late last year. Funded through a private-public partnership between Cook County and the JB and MK Pritzker Family Foundation, the unit seeks to ensure clients are fully informed of potential immigration consequences during criminal cases.

Illinois Department of Human Services Inspector General Peter Neumer appeared before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

Illinois Department of Human Services Inspector General Peter Neumer on Tuesday rejected the notion that state officials influenced the audit he released this month that panned the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs handling of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. 

Although the audit was ordered by Gov. JB Pritzker last fall, Neumer said the administration did not receive any advance notice of his findings or request any alterations to the audit.

 

Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell presented The Consumers and Climate First Act to a committee of House legislators Tuesday, highlighting its overall environmental impact and goals related to equity and job retention.

House lawmakers agonized on Tuesday over equity concerns and the cost of decarbonization during a marathon subject matter hearing called to discuss The Consumers and Climate First Act (SB 2896/HB 4074), Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed overhaul of the state’s energy laws.

Sen. Mattie Hunter presented HB 3099 to the Senate Education Committee, which passed out of the hearing with almost no discussion Tuesday. Tito Quiñones testified in support of the measure on behalf of Chicago Public Schools.

Chicago Public Schools is one step closer to eliminating its department of truancy after HB 3099 passed out of the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new $250 million round of capital funding grants for municipalities around the state.

Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) said last week that Democrats’ decision to draw new redistricting maps behind closed doors was “an injustice to democracy.”

Republican lawmakers held a news conference last week in a clutter-filled hallway and pointed to a doorway, saying House Democrats were operating in secret on the other side to determine legislative boundaries for the next decade.

“This room…is the secret room behind closed doors that maps get drawn that the public is not allowed into,” said Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield).

Lawmakers on Friday wrapped up what was likely one of their final slow weeks before the current legislative session accelerates toward its May 31 conclusion. In total, the Senate approved 17 bills while the House voted on resolutions rather than approve any bills.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday pointed to his energy overhaul as evidence of his effort to address ethics reform.

When Gov. JB Pritzker outlined his vision for Illinois and issues for lawmakers to address in his State of the State speech in February, he stressed the importance of taking action on ethics reform, energy legislation and addressing so-called “corporate loopholes.”

While there have been signs of movement on his proposed tax change and energy legislation — the governor introduced a 915-page energy overhaul proposal (SB 2896/HB 4074) last week that a House committee will consider on Tuesday — Pritzker has been less involved in ethics legislation. The governor demurred last week when asked if he would champion an ethics bill, pointing instead to ethics guardrails “embedded” in his energy legislation.

• MOORE ENTERS SOS RACE — Chicago Ald. David Moore (17) became the latest candidate to enter the race for Secretary of State over the weekend. Moore, who has served on the City Council since 2015, announced his candidacy late Friday. An Englewood resident, Moore joins former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago Clerk Anna Valencia, Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) and Ald. Pat Dowell (3) in vying for the Democratic Party’s nomination to succeed retiring Secretary of State Jesse White. As he heads into the race, Moore is at a significant disadvantage in terms finances. His latest campaign finance disclosures indicate he has nearly $74,000 available to spend. Giannoulias leads the way with more than $2.1 million in his campaign coffers. (Joel Ebert)

Gov. JB Pritzker said Thurdsay the state could enter its ‘bridge’ phase to reopen as early as next week.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday said efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois have been successful enough in recent weeks that the state can begin relaxing mitigations next week with a broader goal of fully reopening by early June.

Speaking at an in-person news conference alongside Illinois Department of Public Health director Ngozi Ezike and other doctors, the governor said the state could enter the so-called “bridge” phase starting May 14.