The Senate was in Springfield for this week's first day of session while the House will not return until tomorrow. The early afternoon was spent on floor action, including the movement of numerous bills to third reading and bill passage. A number of amendments were adopted in committees today as well.
The House and Senate will both return tomorrow, April 10th with the Senate beginning floor action at 11 am. Committee hearings will begin at 8 am.
Floor Action of Note:
SB 56, Medicare Enrollment passed out of the Senate 53-0-0. This bill provides that if an individual is at least 65 years of age but no more than 75 years of age and has an existing Medicare supplement policy, then the individual is entitled to an annual open enrollment period lasting 45 days, commencing with the individual's birthday, and the individual may purchase any Medicare supplement policy with the same issuer or any affiliate authorized to transact business in the State (instead of only the same issuer) that offers benefits equal to or lesser than those provided by the previous coverage. January 1, 2026 effective date.
SB 2743, Water Plan Task Force passed out of the Senate 55-0-0. This bill establishes the State Water Plan Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be chaired by the Director of the Office of Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources and composed of the directors, or their designee, from various other State entities. Requires the Task Force to identify critical water issues, to develop and implement recommendations that address the critical water issues, and to reevaluate critical water issues and needs. Requires the Task Force to publish a State Water Plan not less than every 10 years.
SB 2849, Drone Regulation passed the Senate 50-3-0. This bill amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. In provisions concerning the regulation of unmanned aircraft systems, provides that nothing in those provisions shall be construed to deny a unit of local government the right to adopt reasonable rules related to the use by a private party of airspace that is above ground level of public property owned or controlled by that unit of local government. Provides that the provisions apply to publicly owned or controlled property that is intended or permitted to be used for recreational or conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, parks, playgrounds, aquatic facilities, wildlife areas, or other recreational facilities. Provides that reasonable rules adopted pursuant to the provisions do not supersede any administrative rules adopted by the Department of Transportation or any federal laws, rules, or regulations.
SB 3265, Food Access passed the Senate 55-0-0. This bill provides that the Department of Agriculture shall conduct an access to nutritious food program to establish and operate projects and strategies within food deserts that focus on: (1) distribution of fresh and nutritious food; and (2) education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall promote the sharing of information concerning best practices and programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall convene an annual meeting of nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to share best practices and information on programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition.
SB 3362, Retailers' Occupation Tax Changes-Support passed out of the Senate 41-13-0. This bill provides that a retailer that makes retail sales of tangible personal property to Illinois customers from a location or locations outside of Illinois is engaged in the occupation of selling at retail in Illinois for the purposes of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act under specified conditions. Provides that a retailer maintaining a place of business in this State that makes retail sales of tangible personal property to Illinois customers from a location or locations outside of Illinois is engaged in the business of selling at the Illinois location to which the tangible personal property is shipped or delivered or at which possession is taken by the purchaser.
Committee Action of Note:
SB 771, Wetlands-Opposed was adopted in committee 6-3-0. This bill, as amended, creates the Wetlands Protection Act (rather than the Wetlands and Small Streams Protection Act). Removes references to streams. Exempts prior converted cropland unless there has been a change in use out of agricultural or conservation use and the area regains wetlands attributes (rather than exempts converted cropland). In an exemption for an artificially irrigated area that would revert to upland if the irrigation ceased, provides that this also includes pumping water for waterfowl hunting or waterfowl habitat. Exempts wetlands created by the construction of stormwater facilities in upland areas, provided that the facility was not created for the purpose of wetland mitigation. Provides that no person may discharge dredged or fill material into a wetland protected by the Act (rather than discharge dredged or fill material from a point source into a wetland or small stream protected by this Act). Removes provisions regarding regulated activities in wetlands requiring permits issued by the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that an approved county or district may designate high-function wetlands as Class I wetlands through a process such as Lake County's Wetland Restoration and Preservation Plan. Provides that certain entities may establish and operate a mitigation bank or an in lieu fee program. Provides that the in lieu fee program option may be used for mitigation when there are no available mitigation credits within the watershed. Removes a provision in which the Agency may override the Department's decision to issue a permit under the Act. Provides that individuals seeking a permit are responsible for wetland delineation and classification made by or under the supervision of an approved wetland specialist. In a provision regarding requirements for an application for an individual permit, provides that the Department shall notify the applicant of certain information within 20 business days, 90 business days, or 45 business days (rather than 20 days, 90 days, or 45 days) under specified conditions. Removes a provision that a person may submit concurrent requests for delineation, classification, and permit application. Provides that the Agency shall, within 80 business days of receipt of a complete application, approve the application, deny the application, or approve the application with conditions. Removes provisions regarding the Illinois Wetlands and Streams Advisory Committee. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement the Act within one year after the effective date of this Act. Provides that any person may file a complaint with the Pollution Control Board against any person violating this Act, or violating relevant rules, permits, or Board orders. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act, creating the Wetlands Protection Fund. The Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group (IERG) and the Farm Bureau testified in opposition. Negotiation is to continue.
SB 2641 SFA 1 Network Adequacy Specialists was adopted in Senate Insurance Committee 8-1-0. This bill as amended, provides that an insurer providing a network plan must file with the Director of Insurance a description of the process for monitoring health plan beneficiaries' timely in-network access to physician specialist services. Provides that an insurer providing a network plan shall file an insurer's monitoring report for each network hospital and facility, which shall include, but is not limited to, the number and percentage of physician providers under contract in each of the specialties of emergency medicine, anesthesiology, radiology, and pathology practicing in the in-network hospital or facility when such providers are not employees of the hospital or facility. Requires every insurer to demonstrate to the Director that each in-network hospital and facility has a sufficient number of hospital-based medical specialists to ensure that covered persons have reasonable and timely access to such in-network physicians and the services they direct or supervise.
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