Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD—A plan to update driver’s license services in Illinois to follow federal ID rules was signed into law Friday.

State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr., a Chicago Democrat, sponsored the plan, which puts in place the REAL ID standards established by the federal government. Adopting the plan would prevent major travel difficulties for Illinoisans, as air travel security standards are set to mandate REAL ID standards for IDs.

“Updating Illinois IDs to REAL ID standards will prevent confusion and, more importantly, help to protect the people of Illinois as they travel,” Sims said. “The new law will help people avoid headaches as they go through airport or any other federal security.”

Illinois is compliant with the REAL ID Act. Current non-Real ID compliant driver’s license and identification cards will be accepted at airports until October 1, 2020.

After this date, people with Illinois driver’s licenses and identification cards will need to provide additional documentation in order for their cards to become REAL ID compliant.

House Bill 2315 takes effect on Jan. 1.

SPRINGFIELD – A new bipartisan task force will be created to find ways to save taxpayers money under a new law sponsored by State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

Senate Bill 1932 creates the Property Tax Relief Task Force, which will explore potential solutions to reducing Illinois’ high property tax rates and make recommendations to the General Assembly.

“For years our state had a regressive school funding formula that drove up rates and placed the majority of the burden on property owners,” Manar said. “Taxpayers have been forced to pay these exorbitant rates for far too long and it’s time to take a serious look at ways to resolve this problem.”

The task force will be made up of a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both the Senate and House of Representatives as well as individuals appointed by the governor.

The following Democratic senators will serve on the task force: Sen. Christopher Belt, Sen. Melinda Bush, Sen. Cristina Castro, Sen. Rachelle Crowe, Sen. Tom Cullerton, Sen. Bill Cunningham, Sen. Laura Ellman, Sen. Laura Fine, Sen. Anne Gillespie, Sen. Suzy Glowiak, Sen. Don Harmon, Sen. Napoleon Harris, Sen. Linda Holmes, Sen. Mattie Hunter, Sen. Toi Hutchinson, Sen. Terry Link, Sen. Andy Manar, Sen. Iris Martinez, Sen. Robert Martwick, Sen. Julie Morrison, Sen. Laura Murphy, Sen. Robert Peters, Sen. Elgie Sims, Sen. Steve Stadelman, Sen. Heather Steans and Sen. Ram Villivalam.

CHICAGO – A bill sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) that would give employers a tax break for assisting apprentices with tuition was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker today.

“When I came to Springfield, I wanted to provide young people with affordable, alternative learning opportunities,” said Gillespie. “This credit will incentivize employers to make meaningful investments in their labor force and give young people marketable job skills.”

Senate Bill 1591 creates a tax credit of $3,500 to incentivize employers to assist apprentices with tuition at Illinois community colleges. The credit is limited to employers engaged in a registered apprenticeship program with the U.S. Department of Labor. This measure is an initiative of the Office of the Governor.

Senate Bill 1591 is effective immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure to prevent more tragic losses of emergency responders and highway workers, co-sponsored by State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), was signed into law this week.

“This initiative’s purpose is to encourage drivers to slow down and move over whenever any vehicle is stalled on the side of the road,” Crowe said. “Our first responders are losing their lives because of carelessness, and we can’t tolerate it.”

This year, Troopers Christopher Lambert, Brooke Jones-Story and Gerald Ellis were killed in the line of duty when vehicles hit them while their vehicles were stalled on the side of the road. The law was initially passed in memory of Lieutenant Scott Gillen.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) that seeks to increase Illinois’ Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rate became law after being signed by Gov. JB Pritzker today.

“We need to make sure every student is aware of what the FAFSA is and the benefits they can derive from it,” Manar said. “Tuition rates are skyrocketing and students should be empowered to use every tool they have to deal with increasing costs.”

House Bill 2719 would require all students graduating high school to complete the FAFSA.

If a student does not wish to fill out the FAFSA, he or she has the option to fill out a waiver acknowledging that they know what the FAFSA is and they have chosen not to file it. Students are also exempt if they are unable to meet the requirement due to extenuating circumstances as determined by a principal.

“Not every student wishes to complete the FAFSA and that’s why we wanted to make sure we included a provision allowing students to opt out of the requirement,” Manar said. “This measure would allow us to maximize the number of students who apply for and receive federal student aid without creating an undue burden that stops some students from graduating.”

SPRINGFIELD – Living organ donors in Illinois would have increased protections under the law under a proposal passed by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that was signed into law today by Gov. Pritzker.

“Across Illinois, thousands of residents are awaiting a kidney transplant. Sadly, less than a quarter of patients who were on the organ donation waiting list last year actually received an organ transplant,” Morrison said. “We must do more to incentivize individuals willing to give so much of themselves for the health of another.”

Morrison’s new law – contained in House Bill 2847 – would prohibit insurance companies from refusing to insure or limiting the kind of coverage available needed for care solely because an individual was a living organ donor.

The law also includes protections in the workplace, making it unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee for requesting a leave of absence to donate an organ. Lastly, the bill creates an organ and tissue donor registry under the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.

SPRINGFIELD—A proposal to make Illinois more attractive to film companies was signed into law today.

The plan, sponsored by State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago), extends the length of the state’s film production tax credit with the aim of raising Illinois’ national standing in the film and television industry.

“This move will help put Illinois a step above our competition,” Sims said. “We have seen exponential growth over the years, and this tax credit would boost that by making the state more attractive to film and television companies around the world.”

The new law extends the end of the Film Production Tax Credit from Jan. 1, 2022 to Jan. 1, 2027.

GLENVIEW – The statute of limitations on civil actions related to certain financial crimes will be changed from 5 years to 10 years under legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) that was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Some seniors may not realize they are victims of financial crimes until after the statute of limitations has expired,” Fine said. “This legislation will give seniors and other victims of these types of crimes ample time to seek justice.”

Under House Bill 2287, the following crimes will have the statute of limitations raised to 10 years:

• Theft of property exceeding $100,000 in value;
• Identity theft;
• Aggravated identity theft;
• Financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability

The legislation takes effect immediately.