Senator Fine bill to expand transparency for health insurance plans passes the Senate

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation by State Senator Laura Fine to improve health insurance plan transparency for consumers passed out of the Senate today. The bill ensures consumers receive important information about changes to their insurance plans.

“Providing consumers with information about legislative changes to their health care plans can make a difference in their medical and financial planning,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Enrollees must have access to this essential information to ensure their medical needs are covered.”

Currently, health insurance providers are required to provide enrollees with a list of in-network providers and a description of their coverage annually upon request. Senate Bill 1346 would expand the list of required information to include any newly enacted state coverage mandates. The Illinois Department of Insurance would be required to post an annual report on its website with this information.

Read more: Senator Fine bill to expand transparency for health insurance plans passes the Senate

Guzmán measure incentivizing purchase of community land trusts one step closer to becoming law

SPRINGFIELD —More people may soon have the opportunity to become homeowners through community land trusts, thanks to a new initiative from State Senator Graciela Guzmán that passed the State Senate on Thursday.

“Community land trusts are a people-first plan driven by communal power that help give everyday folks the opportunity to become homeowners and build generational wealth,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “It’s important for us to make this model more commonplace, and continue to build on its ingenuity, and this legislation will help us on that path.”

Read more: Guzmán measure incentivizing purchase of community land trusts one step closer to becoming law

Walker advances bill to strengthen consumer protections from digital asset fraud

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mark Walker’s bill to weed out the bad actors in the digital currency industry would help protect thousands of Illinois consumers from predatory practices and expand digital coin businesses.

“The digital assets industry is an exciting economic opportunity, but it attracts many bad actors,” said Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “This bill would create reasonable guidelines for crypto companies to follow without limiting their growth and opportunity.”

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Halpin effort to crack down on human trafficking passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – Though many Illinoisans may not be aware, human trafficking occurs in every part of the state, from Rock Island to Chicago. To crack down on the statewide scourge, State Senator Mike Halpin passed a measure through the Senate Thursday.

“We must empower our local governments and law enforcement to keep tabs on businesses to make sure every instance of human trafficking is accounted for and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” said Halpin. “By allowing localities to monitor hotels, restaurants and truck stop training, we can create a more targeted approach to combatting these terrible crimes.”

While current law requires human trafficking recognition training at hotels, restaurants and truck stops, this legislation would give municipalities the legal authority to act if a business is not complying the training laws. In addition, the new law would allow local governments to issue fines of up to $1,500 per offense.

Read more: Halpin effort to crack down on human trafficking passes Senate