Latest news with #JulieMorrison
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Changes coming to Illinois after Pritzker signs multiple bills
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The Governor's office announced Monday that JB Pritzker signed a variety of bills, ranging from an expedited FOID card process, changes to the Illinois Medicaid program and the approval of the FY26 Budget. Governor Pritzker signed HB742 on Monday. According to his office, this will delay the date the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act would be enforced until July 1, 2026. The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act would ban banks or credit card companies from charging businesses a fee for the tipped or taxed portion of a transaction. 'Illinois has always been kind of a transactional state': Political science professor weighs in on Madigan sentencing HB1075 was signed by Pritzker on Monday, and creates a 'more transparent and expedited process' for those who have had their Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards revoked or denied because they were deemed a 'clear and present danger.' Before the bill was signed, individuals could lose their FOID card if they were reported as a danger to themselves or others to the Illinois State Police. State Senator Julie Morrison said that there is a process to appeal a FOID revocation or denial, but often the person is unable to challenge the decision because information from the original report is often not disclosed. Now, the FOID Card Review Board will be able to expedite the appeals process and share information with the individual about their 'clear and present danger' determination. HB850 also requires the Illinois State Police to publish data about incidents involving stolen guns or firearms with serial numbers that are missing. Bill banning AI therapy bots in Illinois awaits signature On Monday, Pritzker signed HB1075, which will go into effect immediately. HB1075, also known as the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Implementation Act creates changes in state programs that are 'necessary to implement the state budget for this upcoming fiscal year. Some changes include: Funds from the Small Business Environmental Assistance Fund transferred to the Clean Air Act Permit Fund To promote State campground use, the state will offer coupons that waive camping fees for one night, when residents purchase at least one additional night of camping The Supreme Court Indirect Cost Fund is established as a federal trust fund in the State treasury. Money received by the Supreme Court from any federal department or agency as an indirect cost reimbursement shall be deposited into the Fund For a full list of the changes, click here Illinois bill ending scam gym membership tactic heads to governor's desk Pritzker also signed HB1075, which creates several different changes in Illinois taxes. The FY26 Revenue Omnibus legislation goes into effect immediately. Some acts that will see changes from this year's budget include: Tax Delinquency Amnesty Act amendment Illinois Income Tax Act amendments The Illinois Municipal Code Preventing Youth Vaping Act The Prevention of Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Sales to Persons under 21 Years of Age Act You can find more changes, and read about the changes in detail here HB2771, which goes into effect immediately, modifies and makes the the Hospital Assessment Program permanent. Pritzker originally extended the program through 2026. It helps hospitals who serve a large number of patients with Medicaid to receive additional revenue. It also includes a provision for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to collect unpaid assessments from delinquent hospital providers. Illinois bill on governor's desk would require law enforcement to work with federal gun tracing database Pritzker also signed HB3374, also known as the Bond Authorization Act of 2025. The Bond Authorization legislation will begin January 1, 2026 and amends: The State Finance Act The General Obligation Bond Act The Build Illinois Bond Act SB2437 makes various changes to the Illinois Medicaid program and was signed on Monday. It goes into effect July 1, 2025. Some of these changes include: Hospitals with birthing centers will be required to create policies allowing a patient in a medical assistance program to have an Illinois Medicaid certified doula accompany them before, during and after labor and childbirth The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health will develop screening guidelines for tardive dyskinesia for providers serving patients who have been prescribed antipsychotic medication After Jan. 1, 2026, over-the-counter choline dietary supplements for pregnant people will be covered under the medical assistance program To find out more about the new changes, click here Bill creating Office of State Public Defender heads to Pritzker's desk SB2456 was signed on Monday by Pritzker and makes several changes by extending various legislation or by repealing various statutes. It goes into effect immediately. Some of the changes Illinoisians may see include: Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera Act are exempt from inspection and copying until July 1, 2028 (rather than July 1, 2025) The creation of the Access to Voting for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Task Force The creation of the Illinois Elections and Infrastructure Integrity Task Force Repealing the provision calling for the state to create a program so that individuals under 18 can purchase lottery tickets For more changes coming to Illinois law, click here SB2510 represents the FY26 Budget. It was signed by Pritzker, and was approved with 'certain line items reduced,' according to his office. It adds, changes, and reduces different funding appropriations from last year's budget. Some of these changes include: Increases funding for K-12 education Small increase to higher education Cuts the number of funded hours for support professionals in group homes for people with disabilities Cuts the program giving non-citizen adults access to state sponsored healthcare Further details can be found here Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
04-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Record budget continues Democrats' tax-and-spend spree
If Illinois smokers needed a reason to quit the evils of tobacco, the legislature's hike in the state's tax on cigarettes has been handed to them. Or it gives them a chance to visit Kentucky and Indiana to stock up on their smoking supplies. The tax increase on anything with tobacco — cigarettes, cigars, vaping devices, snuff, chewing tobacco — is part of the rushed budget the Democratic-controlled legislature adopted last week. The jump in the tobacco tax from 36% to 45% for cigarettes, and 15% for vaping products, takes effect July 1, when the state's fiscal year begins. Taxing the shrinking number of state smokers — revenue officials expect to raise $50 million — is one easy way to fund the largest budget in Illinois history. Current state tax on a pack of smokes is $1.98, and the current cost averages $7.56 per pack, according to the 'Sales Tax Handbook.' Another taxing target is gambling now that most of the Land of Lincoln is replete with gaming devices and casinos. To that end, the budget bill creates a tax of 25 cents per wager for a sports betting licensee's first 20,000 wagers accepted, and 50 cents per wager above that. That is expected to generate $36 million in the new fiscal year. There are other increased taxes, $1 billion worth, in the $55.2 billion spending plan, which totals 3,000 pages. Wonder how many Lake County lawmakers actually read this document that received little public review and was hastily adopted in the last 48 hours of the session? But lawmakers did read enough of the document to increase their salaries, sending their pay to nearly $100,000 a year for what is supposed to be a part-time job. State legislators who happen to be lawyers also got an added perk thanks to the Illinois Supreme Court: They can collect credits for continuing education classes just by attending legislative events. Yet, Illinois property owners again did not receive property tax relief, while lawmakers kicked the can down the road when it came to funding regional mass transit, while including $8.2 billion in new spending on infrastructure projects. Regional Transportation Authority officials claim they need a $770 million funding injection or cuts are coming at the CTA, Metra and Pace. Legislators also failed a push for more renewable energy sources, like solar and wind. In the power department, Illinoisans served by ComEd will see a nearly 11% increase on their utility bills come July 1. Democrats seem overjoyed with the allegedly balanced budget bill, which is nearly 4% more than the current year's. However, it appears to be stuffed with spending that the state can't afford. One estimate is that since Gov. JB Pritzker took office in 2019, Democrats have jacked up state spending by $15 billion. That totals about $1,170 more per resident every year. Something to remember next April 15. Three Lake County Democratic state senators — Julie Morrison of Lake Forest, Mary Edley Allen of Libertyville and Adriane Johnson of Buffalo Grove — voted for the budget bills. Their Democratic counterparts in the Illinois House — Rita Mayfield of Gurnee, Laura Faver Dias of Grayslake, Bob Morgan of Deerfield, Daniel Didech of Buffalo Grove and Nabella Syed of Palatine — also were all in on the whopping budget bill. Legislative Republicans voted against the measure. Their excuse for having to vote in favor of the budget, they maintain, is because of President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. Pritzker, too, blamed the president, pointing to Trump's tariff policies. 'In a year where limited revenue and shifting federal support presented real challenges, we passed a budget that aligns with our core values and the needs of Illinois families,' Morrison commented in a statement after her vote. 'At a time when chaos from the federal administration is causing uncertainty and fear within our communities, Illinois presented a compassionate budget that reflects our priorities and values, including supporting the working middle class and those seeking quality education,' Edley Allen said in a statement, echoing other county lawmakers' stances. Didn't hear of any sightings of President Trump or his minions in Springfield last week, twisting arms to vote for the bloated state budget. Lawmakers can try to blame an obvious scapegoat. They are accountable only to themselves for their votes for a record Illinois budget.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill to classify compulsive gambling as a substance abuse disorder passes Illinois Senate
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois lawmakers are working to classify compulsive gambling as a substance abuse disorder with a bill in the state capitol. If gambling disorder is categorized under the Substance Use Disorder Act, the Illinois Department of Human Services would be able to create programs for the prevention, recognition and treatment of the disorder and fund grants for local intervention programs. Illinois bill aims to limit suspensions for students in preschool through 2nd grade 'Gambling releases dopamine and can quickly escalate from a fun pastime to a serious issue,' said State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest). 'By recognizing gambling disorder as a health condition, we are breaking down barriers to treatment and recovery.' IDHS found in a 2021 statewide report 3.8% of adult Illinois residents experienced problems with gambling, with an additional 7.7% of Illinoisans at risk of developing a gambling problem. 'When gambling gets out of hand, it can have a snowball effect on a person's life,' said Morrison. 'It's important that a system of care is in place to support individuals without judgement as they recover.' The bill passed the Senate last week unanimously. The full text of the bill can be found on the Illinois General Assembly's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
