SPRINGFIELD – Families with specific dog breeds may face home or renter insurance discrimination because insurers perceive their breed as dangerous. State Senator Linda Holmes wants to prohibit that insurance practice, and her House Bill 1049 to amend insurance code to this effect has been signed into law today.

"For years, harmful stereotypes of certain dog breeds have allowed insurers to punish families for owning a specific dog breed, resulting in cancelation or stiff premiums for their policies,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This measure will help ensure that all dog owners are treated fairly in the insurance market.”

SPRINGFIELD – On Feb. 15, 2019, a mass shooting took place at Henry Pratt Company in Aurora. Within 90 minutes of the shooter’s arrival, five people had been killed by the gunman. Five police officers were injured along with another civilian. The Aurora Police Department began reviewing the case for opportunities to use their drones at events; over the next three years, a plan was formed.

On Wednesday, Aurora’s State Senator Linda Holmes brought the work of law enforcement agencies who studied how the use of drones could play a role in protecting the public in mass shooting events, and House Bill 3902 – the Drones as First Responders Act – was heard and passed in the Senate.

“This measure gives police and other first responders critical information in a chaotic situation where lives are at stake,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This capability could spare another community the suffering and trauma we experienced here.”

Creates a framework for the Illinois EPA to approve the use of limestone residual for additional means beyond what is currently permitted

SPRINGFIELD – Limestone quarries provide a number of products encountered every day: on our roads, in our homes and businesses, and in agriculture. One such lime product is used to treat drinking water and remove particulates. Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes is the sponsor of legislation to allow the return of the limestone residual back to a limestone mine after that use, projected to save the city an estimated $7 million over 10 years.

“Aurora’s Water Treatment Plan has used limestone in its processes since it was built in 1992, but disposing of the residual product was problematic,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “The City of Aurora initiated this legislation, as it cost the city quite a bit of money to dispose of it in landfills or to apply it on farmland. Putting that material back into an underground mine cavity 250 feet below ground will save significant taxpayer dollars.”

House Bill 3095 creates a framework to allow limestone residual material to be deposited safely back into unused mines. Under this measure, the Pollution Control Board is tasked with adopting rules to ensure the material is regulated and stored in a manner that best protects the health of the environment.

“For the sake of preserving our natural world, it’s vital that we not immediately dispose of materials so reactively termed ‘waste products,’” said State Representative Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), who sponsored the measure in the House. “As we work to build a greener future, it’s time to stop overlooking the potential to reclaim resources that can be valuable to the community.”

A measure in the works for several years with Holmes’ leadership, House Bill 3095 has now passed the Senate.

Paint Stewardship Act passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – Many homeowners have something lurking in their basement or garage that could be disposed of, but there hasn’t been a means to get rid of it safely: unused household paint. Legislation sponsored by State Senator Linda Holmes that would establish a program to dispose of household paint passed the Senate on Friday.

The Paint Stewardship Act in Senate Bill 836 creates a means for consumers to dispose of household paint in Illinois. No state resources are in place today to deal with this waste. Under this law, manufacturers of architectural paint will create and submit a plan to the Illinois EPA to establish the program.

SPRINGFIELD – After a new law to prohibit pet stores from using installment contract loans took effect last year, most of the stores affected ended the practice. However, a small group of pet stores have chosen to continue predatory loan practices — and selling puppy mill animals — in spite of these laws.

State Senator Linda Holmes passed House Bill 3236 out of the Senate, which prohibits any sales finance agency from purchasing or making a loan secured by retail pet stores for the sale of a canine or feline. It amends current law to prohibit these transactions and agreements and provides that changes made to each of the amended sections shall apply going forward and not to prior contracts.

SPRINGFIELD – Right now, families with specific dog breeds sometimes face home or renter insurance discrimination solely because their breed is perceived to be dangerous, resulting in cancelation or stiff premiums for their policies. Longtime animal welfare defender State Senator Linda Holmes wants to prohibit that insurance practice, and her House Bill 1049 to amend insurance code to this effect has passed in the Senate.

"Families should not be punished for owning a specific dog breed, and insurance discrimination only perpetuates harmful stereotypes,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This measure will help ensure that all dog owners are treated fairly in the insurance market.”

SPRINGFIELD – Right now, 65.1 million U.S. households own a dog. From companionship to emotional support, pets are a vital part of their owners’ lives. In fact, 85% of dog owners consider their pets to be a member of the family. Unfortunately, families with specific dog breeds sometimes face insurance discrimination solely because their breed is perceived to be dangerous, resulting in cancelation or stiff premiums for their policies.

Longtime animal welfare defender State Senator Linda Holmes wants to prohibit that insurance practice, with exceptions only for specific dogs involved in documented incidents of dangerous or vicious behavior. Her House Bill 1049 amending insurance code to this effect was heard and passed in Tuesday’s Senate Insurance Committee.

AURORA – State Senator Linda Holmes is pleased to announce that the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Five-Year Plan includes $400,000 in funding to improve five railroad crossings in the 42^nd District.

The plan includes funding from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund and the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan to address at-grade crossings where a public highway crosses the railroad. These funds are intended to address longstanding safety concerns.

“Railroads are vital to our local and state economies and play a big role in public transit, so improved crossings will ensure these daily moves occur safely and smoothly,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This is yet another stage of the Rebuild Illinois program in which we’ve invested millions in repairing, replacing and building new roads, bridges and transit to keep Illinois prepared for the future.”

Four crossings in Kendall County are planned for improvements in Fiscal Year 2023 in Bristol, Montgomery and two in Yorkville, while one in Plainfield is set for Fiscal Year 2024.

More information on the plan can be found on ICC’s website: https://www.icc.illinois.gov/.