SPRINGFIELD – If a store closes due to bankruptcy or other shortcomings, customers who have credit cards with the company would not be negatively impacted under legislation being led by State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
“A person’s credit score follows them everywhere,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “One credit card mishap can take years to recover from. Consumers must be protected.”
Under Senate Bill 2121, if a customer’s credit account is closed due to the business closing or inactivity on the account, the business must notify credit reporting agencies of the reasoning so it is not assumed the customer failed to pay the balance of the account.
Read more: Sims protects consumers from credit card issues stemming from business closure
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce co-sponsored a measure that would increase renewable energy procurement and promote environmental conservations by adding a framework to the Illinois Power Agency Act.
“Hydropower is a clean and reliable energy source that has the potential to help Illinois meet its renewable energy goals,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “However, we need to make sure that we are not encouraging the construction of new dams, because this can lead to negative impacts on our environment and natural resources.”
Under this legislation, the Illinois Power Agency would be required to procure a percentage of its renewable energy credits from hydropower dams. This would help increase the use of this renewable energy source, while also promoting environmental conservation by using dams that already exist.
Read more: Joyce-backed measure advances to promote environmental conservation
SPRINGFIELD – A new measure created by State Senator Dave Koehler would create the Rural Education Advisory Council.
“This legislation promotes local discussion to address the needs of our schools,” said Koehler (D – Peoria). “Giving more local control to the decisions made in and out of the classroom promote a productive environment for our teachers and students.”
The Rural Education Advisory Council would create the opportunity for rural districts to discuss the specific needs and challenges they face within their schools. The council would then give feedback on critical issues facing rural communities and generate improvement ideas to the State Superintendent and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Read more: Koehler led measure creates Rural School Advisory Council
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen recently introduced legislation to crack down on abusive and harmful use of digital imitations known as “deepfakes”.
“We must protect victims of this digital harassment by providing them with a new avenue to seek justice,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “With these new technologies being rapidly developed to perfectly imitate others, we have to find ways to combat identify theft and defamation toward its victims.”
Senate Bill 1392 would create the Civil Digital Forgeries Act, causing individuals who create digitally forged material with intent to distribute and cause harm to face legal consequences. The measure further helps victims of these harmful acts to seek justice by compensation for emotional distress damages.
Read more: New Edly-Allen bill cracks down on harmful, abusive “deepfakes”
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