Dear Friends,

This Friday is the deadline for Senate Bills to be voted on before we turn our attention to addressing bills the House has passed. If a Senate Bill is on third reading, I encourage you to call your Senator to let them know your stance on the legislation. Please keep in mind that if they are sponsoring or co-sponsoring the legislation, they are likely supportive of it.

I have included a list of noteworthy bills that Senators will hear in committee this week. As we progress into May, fewer and fewer bills will be heard in committee as we take final action on bills. Keep an eye out for floor amendments to legislation you care about, as these could alter the contents of the bill.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 773-769-1717 or reach out online with any questions or concerns. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on my legislation and what’s happening in the district.

Sincerely,

Senator Heather Steans
7th District – Illinois

Noteworthy bills in committee this week

Civil law and consumer protection issues

• Credit card surcharge - SB 2657 bans service providers that accept and process credit or debit card payments from imposing a transaction fee on the merchant or consumer.
     o Sponsor: Senator Emil Jones, III
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

• Biometrics - SB 3053 allows businesses to use biometrics for time keeping purposes as long as the business does not share that data.
     o Sponsor: Senator Bill Cunningham
     o Committee: Senate Telecommunications and Information Technology

• Price transparency - SB 2953 requires automotive repair facilities to post the hourly charge for labor, charges and conditions for storage, prices for commonly used repair parts, and the charge for diagnosing a malfunctioning vehicle.
     o Sponsor: Senator Tom Cullerton
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

• Ticket quotas - SB 3509 extends the ban on ticket quotas to the Chicago Police Department.
     o Sponsor: Senator Bill Cunningham
     o Committee: Senate Labor

• Data breach - SB 3007 requires data collectors to report large data breaches to the attorney general's office.
     o Sponsor: Senator Kwame Raoul
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

Education issues

• Special education co-ops - SB 2344 allows students with disabilities that attend a special education cooperative in a different school district than their own to continue to attend that co-op if the district withdraws from the co-op.  
     o Sponsor: Senator John G. Mulroe
     o Committee: Senate Education

• School discipline - SB 2347 requires school boards to implement disciplinary protocols, interventions and policies based on restorative justice and trauma-informed practices.
     o Sponsor: Senator Kimberly Lightford
     o Committee: Senate Education

• Sexual assault - SB 2484 requires school districts to report incidents of sexual assault by a student against another student to the State Board of Education.
     o Sponsor: Senator Laura Murphy
     o Committee: Senate Education

• PE requirements - SB 2572 requires elementary students to receive at least 150 minutes of physical education each week and high school students to receive a minimum of 225 minutes of physical education. Also states that a sports waiver for physical education can only be in effect for up to two years and cannot be renewed more than twice.
     o Sponsor: Senator Linda Holmes
     o Committee: Senate Education

• Nursing studies - SB 888 allows a community college to establish a baccalaureate-level nursing education program that would offer students a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
     o Sponsor: Senator Andy Manar
     o Committee: Senate Higher Education

Environmental issues

• Solar state contracts - SB 3533 allows state purchasing officers to enter into renewable energy resource contracts and leases that do not exceed 15 years. This is designed to facilitate solar projects statewide.
     o Sponsor: Senator Pam Althoff
     o Committee: Senate State Government

Human services issues

• Tuition waiver - SB 2846 provides that certain youth would receive a tuition waiver ay any public community college or university. This applies to youth who the Department has court-ordered legal responsibility for, have aged out of care at age 18 or older, were formerly under care and were the subject of an adoption assistance agreement, or were the subject of a subsidized guardianship agreement.
     o Sponsor: Senator Cristina Castro
     o Committee: Senate Human Services

• ABLE exemptions - SB 2017 creates an income tax deduction of up to $10,000 for contributions to an ABLE account. The ABLE investment program provides individuals with blindness or disabilities the option to save for disability-related expenses.
     o Sponsor: Senator Dan McConchie
     o Committee: Senate Revenue

Public Health issues

• Metal detectors in hospitals - SB 2334 requires hospitals to have metal detectors at each public point of entry and makes visitors subject to screening.
     o Sponsor: Senator Laura Murphy
     o Committee: Senate Public Health

Public safety issues

• Drones - SB 2562 allows law enforcement to use drones to prepare for or monitor safety at large events.
     o Sponsor: Senator Martin Sandoval
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

• Threatening behavior - SB 563 expands the offense of disorderly conduct to include threats made over social media and any other platform. It also provides that individuals who make threats over social media must undergo a mental evaluation before being released if the officer believes a clear and present danger exists.
     o Sponsor: Senator Bill Cunningham
     o Committee: Senate Criminal Law Subcommittee on CLEAR Compliance

• Airbags - SB 560 enhances the penalty for installing a fake airbag from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class 4 Felony.
     o Sponsor: Senator Scott Bennett
     o Committee: Senate Criminal Law Subcommittee on CLEAR Compliance

State government issues

• Sexual harassment policies - SB 405 requires companies that make a bid under the state's procurement code to have a sexual harassment policy in place. Under SB 405, companies that claim EDGE credits would also be required to include their sexual harassment policy in their annual state report.
     o Sponsor: Senator Toi Hutchinson
     o Committee: Senate State Government

Committee schedule for Tuesday, April 24

• Senate Appropriations II Committee | 9 a.m., Room 212
Subject matter regarding FY 19 budget request for the following agencies: Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University and the Illinois Math and Science Academy
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Higher Education Committee | 11 a.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Education Committee | 4 p.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Public Health Committee| 4 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Human Services Committee | 5:15 p.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Judiciary Committee | 5:15 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Transportation Committee | 6:15 p.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Subcommittee on CLEAR Compliance | 6:15 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Criminal Law Committee | 6:20 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

Committee schedule for Wednesday, April 25

• Senate Appropriations I Committee | 8 a.m., Room 400
Subject matter regarding FY 19 budget request for the following agencies: State Employees Retirement System, General Assembly Retirement System, Judges Retirement System, State Universities Retirement System, Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, Department of Military Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs and Illinois Arts Council.
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Local Government Committee | 9 a.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Labor Committee | 10 a.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate State Government Committee | 4 p.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee | 4 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Executive Committee | 4 p.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Insurance Committee | 5 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Revenue Committee | 5 p.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

Committee schedule for Thursday, April 26

• Senate Appropriations II Committee | 9 a.m., Room 212
Subject matter regarding FY 19 budget request for the following agencies: Illinois Department of Transportation, Capital Development Board, Toll highway, Court of Claims, State Fire Marshal, Executive Ethics Commission, Legislative Ethics Commission, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Environment and Conservation Committee | 11 a.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee | 11 a.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

Dear Friends,

To celebrate Earth Day, please join me in participating in the citywide Clean and Green events on Saturday, April 21. Neighbors are gathering throughout the district to lead cleanup and beautification efforts.

Residents of the 48th Ward are meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the 48th Ward Sanitation Yard, 5853 N. Broadway. Following the cleanup efforts, Alderman Harry Osterman will host a celebratory lunch. For more information or to register, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Residents of the 40th, 46th, 47th and other wards throughout the city who are interested in participating in a clean and green volunteer project should visit www.cityofchicago.org/dss to register.

Residents of the 49th Ward are invited to participate in Alderman Joe Moore’s Clean and Green event Saturday, May 5. Interested volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. May 5 at the 49th Ward Service Office, 7356 N. Greenview. After we clean Rogers Park, there will be a Taste of the 49th Ward buffet. Please contact Alderman Moore’s office with any questions at 773-338-5796 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

I hope you will be able to join me in cleaning up our community this weekend. Please see the flyers below for additional information.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 773-769-1717 or reach out online with any questions or concerns. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on my legislation and what’s happening in the district.

Sincerely,

Senator Heather Steans
7th District – Illinois

Apply for an Edgewater Beautification Grant

Grants are available to support beautification projects in Edgewater from now until June 1. See the flyer below for more details.

Parent University at Sullivan High School

Volunteer Opportunities Showcase April 26

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, last week the Senate voted to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (SJRCA 4) which I sponsored. Illinois is one step closer to becoming the 37th state to ratify this amendment. In order to ensure it passes the House, I encourage you to reach out to your local representatives and ask for their support and co-sponsorship of this important legislation. Rep. Cassidy and Rep. Greg Harris, have already signed on as co-sponsors.

Now that the deadline has passed for Senate Bills to move out of committee, these hearings will increasingly focus on House Bills. Some Senate Bills that did not pass last week received a deadline extension. In addition to hearing those bills, there are also several subject matter hearings scheduled this week.

I have included a list of noteworthy bills that will be heard in committee this week as well as the schedule below.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 773-769-1717 or reach out online with any questions or concerns. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on my legislation and what’s happening in the district.

Sincerely,

Senator Heather Steans
7th District – Illinois

Noteworthy bills in committee this week

Civil law and consumer protection issues

• Biometrics - SB 3053 allows businesses to use biometrics for time keeping purposes as long as the business does not share that data.
    o Sponsor: Senator Bill Cunningham
    o Committee: Senate Telecommunications and Information Technology

• State caps – SB 2481 removes the $100,000 limit on awards in tort cases for all claims against the state.
     o Sponsor: Senator Michael Hastings
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

• Price transparency – SB 2953 requires automotive repair facilities to post the hourly charge for labor, charges and conditions for storage, prices for commonly used repair parts, and the charge for diagnosing a malfunctioning vehicle.
     o Sponsor: Senator Tom Cullerton
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

• Data breach – SB 3007 requires data collectors to report large data breaches to the attorney general’s office.
     o Sponsor: Senator Kwame Raoul
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

Criminal law issues

• Legal immunity – SB 2294 provides legal immunity to individuals who forcibly enter a locked vehicle to save a child or animal they perceive to be in danger.
     o Sponsor: Senator Julie Morrison
     o Committee: Senate Criminal Law

• Stalking – SB 2288 allows courts to recommend or require individuals in stalking no contact or civil no contact cases to go through counseling.
     o Sponsor: Senator Jil Tracy
     o Committee: Senate Criminal Law

Education

• Pension cost shift – SB 2517 requires school districts, instead of the state, to pay the benefit cost of teacher raises after 2019.
     o Sponsor: Senator Dan McConchie
     o Committee: Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions

• Preschool teachers – SB 1829 creates an alternative certification process for preschool teachers teaching somewhere besides a public school.
     o Sponsor: Senator Toi Hutchinson
     o Committee: Senate Education

• PE requirements – SB 2572 requires elementary students to receive at least 150 minutes of physical education each week and high school students to receive a minimum of 225 minutes of physical education. Also states that a sports waiver for physical education can only be in effect for up to two years and cannot be renewed more than twice.
     o Sponsor: Senator Linda Holmes
     o Committee: Senate Education

• Shared resources – SB 3418 provides that a school board may enter into a joint agreement with other school boards to share the services of a superintendent or administrators.
     o Sponsor: Senator Sue Rezin
     o Committee: Senate Education

• School bus drivers – SB 3003 allows individuals from Mexico who provide appropriate documentation from their former state of residence and meet other permitting requirements to be issued a school bus driver permit.
     o Sponsor: Senator Martin Sandoval
     o Committee: Senate Transportation

Election issues

• Fair maps – Under SJRCA 26, Illinois’ legislative boundaries would be drawn by a commission appointed by members of the Illinois Supreme Court rather than the General Assembly or governor.
     o Sponsor: Senator Julie Morrison
     o Committee: Senate Executive Subcommittee on Special Issues

Environmental issues

• Solar state contracts – SB 3533 allows state purchasing officers to enter into renewable energy resource contracts and leases that do not exceed 15 years. This is designed to facilitate solar projects statewide.
     o Sponsor: Senator Pam Althoff
     o Committee: Senate State Government

Human service issues

• Tuition waiver – SB 2846 provides that certain youth would receive a tuition waiver ay any public community college or university. This applies to youth who the Department has court-ordered legal responsibility for, have aged out of care at age 18 or older, were formerly under care and were the subject of an adoption assistance agreement, or were the subject of a subsidized guardianship agreement.
     o Sponsor: Senator Cristina Castro
     o Committee: Senate Human Services

• Quarterly reporting – SB 3075 requires the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections to submit a quarterly report regarding workplace assaults on staff.
     o Sponsor: Senator Michael Hastings
     o Committee: Human Services

Labor issues

• Worker’s compensation insurance – SB 2973 creates an independent, nonprofit insurance company for worker’s compensation liability.
     o Sponsor: Senator Daniel Biss
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

Pension issues

• Benefits for CPD officers – SB 2525 compounds the 3 percent pension benefit increase for retired Chicago Police Department officers who have reached age 75.
     o Sponsor: Senator Bill Cunningham
     o Committee: Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions

• Alternative annuity – SB 2607 lowers the minimum age at which Tier 2 state police officers are eligible for the alternative annuity under the State Employee Retirement System from 60 to 50.
     o Sponsor: Senator John G. Mulroe
     o Committee: Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions

• Annual increases – SB 3154 removes the date of birth requirement for the Chicago Fire Fighter Pension 3 percent annual annuity increase.
     o Sponsor: Senator Bill Cunningham
     o Committee: Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions

• Pensions for private schools – Under SB 3181, members of the Teachers Retirement System may establish credit for up to two years of service as a teacher or administrator in a private school that is recognized by the Illinois Board of Education.
     o Sponsor: Senator Paul Schimpf
     o Committee: Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions

Public safety issues

• Assault weapons – SB 2314 allows municipalities to regulate assault weapons.
     o Sponsor: Senator Julie Morrison
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

• Bump-stock ban – SB 2247 bans importing, selling, manufacturing, transferring and possessing a bump-stock.
     o Sponsor: Senator Chris Nybo
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

• Drones – SB 2562 allows law enforcement to use drones to prepare for or monitor safety at large events.
     o Sponsor: Senator Martin Sandoval
     o Committee: Senate Judiciary

State government issues

• Sexual harassment policies – SB 405 requires companies that make a bid under the state’s procurement code to have a sexual harassment policy in place. Under SB 405, companies that claim EDGE credits would also be required to include their sexual harassment policy in their annual state report.
     o Sponsor: Senator Toi Hutchinson
     o Committee: Senate State Government

• Elections – SB 2299 provides that a person elected to a township position cannot be employed by the township in any other capacity other than their elected position.
     o Sponsor: Senator Dave Syverson
     o Committee: Senate Local Government

• Storm shelter – SB 2458 requires mobile home parks to include a storm shelter.
     o Sponsor: Senator Ira Silverstein
     o Committee: Senate Local Government

• Suspending grant payments – SB 2540 requires the Comptroller and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget to establish a system to suspend grant payments.
     o Sponsor: Senator Jason Barickman
     o Committee: Senate Government Reform

Transportation issues

• Design build – SB 3002 authorizes the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Tollway to use the design-build and construction manager-general contractor delivery method of source selection for highway construction projects.
     o Sponsor: Senator Martin Sandoval
     o Committee: Senate Transportation

Committee schedule for Tuesday, April 17

• Senate Appropriations I Committee | 9 a.m., Room 212
Subject matter regarding FY 19 budget request for the following agencies: Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission.
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Education Committee | 3 p.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Judiciary Committee | 4 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Human Services Committee | 4 p.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Transportation Committee | 5 p.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee | 5:30 p.m., Room 400
Subject matter hearing on carbon pricing
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

Committee schedule for Wednesday, April 18

• Senate Appropriations I Committee | 8 a.m., Room 400
Subject matter regarding FY 19 budget request for the following agencies: Department on Aging, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, Council on Developmental Disabilities, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Corner Training Board, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Local Government Committee | 9 a.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Government Reform Committee | 10 a.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Environment and Conservation Committee | 10:30 a.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee | 10:30 a.m., Room 212
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate State Government Committee | 3 p.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee | 3 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Executive Subcommittee on Special Issues | 3 p.m., Room 212
Subject matter hearing on SJRCA 26
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Insurance Committee | 4:30 p.m., Room 400
Subject matter hearing on SB 3213
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Criminal Law Committee | 5:15 p.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

Committee schedule for Thursday, April 19

• Senate Agriculture Committee | 8 a.m., Room 409
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Appropriations II Committee | 9 a.m., Room 212
Subject matter regarding FY 19 budget request for the following agencies: The Environmental Protection Agency/Pollution Control Board, Illinois Principals Association, Drycleaners, Illinois State Police Merit Board, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standard Board, Supreme Court, Illinois Commerce Commission, and Illinois State Police.
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee | 9:30 a.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Executive Appointments Committee | 11 a.m., Room 400
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

• Senate Veterans Affairs Committee | 3 p.m., Room 212
Subject matter hearing on the Quincy Veterans Home capital needs assessment
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

Committee schedule for Friday, April 20

• Senate Public Health Committee | 10 a.m., 1103 Malcolm X College, Chicago
Subject matter hearing on community safety record keeping
To see submitted witness slips for this committee and submit your own, click here.

Dear Friends,

The Illinois State Senate took a historic vote yesterday in support of my bill to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and solidify equal rights for all. I am pleased to inform you that Illinois is one step closer to becoming the 37th state to ratify the amendment.

Women across the nation are rising up and pushing back against laws and policies that deny our equality. By voting to ratify the ERA, Illinois lawmakers are saying to women everywhere, ‘We hear you, and we stand with you.’

The Equal Rights Amendment, SJRCA 4, declares that equality of rights will not be denied by the United States or any state on account of sex. It initially was introduced in Congress in 1923 and was sent to the states for ratification 46 years ago.

It may come as a surprise, but women have no guaranteed equal rights under the U.S. Constitution. Several advancements for women’s rights, such as the Equal Pay Act and Title IX, could be repealed by a majority vote in Congress. The executive branch also could reduce enforcement of these acts.

The bottom line is women’s rights are in jeopardy as long as our equality is not cemented in the Constitution.

This is not the first time I have sponsored this legislation, or the first time Illinois has considered ratifying it. Since 1972, both chambers have voted on this legislation multiple times but have never achieved the three-fifths majority in both chambers necessary for ratification. Decades of widespread misinformation have hindered Illinois’ ability to ratify the amendment.

Opposition has argued that the ERA would open women to being drafted and that it would hurt mothers in custody or divorce battles. The fact is the ERA would strengthen protections and legal standards for women.

Another exciting aspect of SJRCA 4 is that it is the first piece of legislation that passed the Senate with the support of the bipartisan Senate Women’s Caucus. I helped found this caucus in the fall and am proud that a measure so fundamental to many women’s issues is the first bill the caucus endorsed.

For Illinois to ratify the ERA to the U.S. Constitution, three-fifths of House members must vote in support of SJRCA 4. Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) is sponsoring the legislation in the House.

I will keep you updated on what happens with this historic legislation. I hope that together we can make Illinois the 37th state to ratify the ERA.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 773-769-1717 or reach out online with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Senator Heather Steans
7th District – Illinois

One Summer Chicago

I encourage students to apply for summer job and internship opportunities through the One Summer Chicago Program. The City of Chicago is accepting applications for more than 30,000 positions. The application deadline is May 21.

The One Summer Chicago Program will run from July 2 through Aug. 10. Job opportunities range from forestry projects to office work to infrastructure jobs. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 24. For more information and to apply, click here.

Illinois bicentennial coin competition

Calling all artists! The Illinois treasurer’s office is holding a competition to design one side of the 2918 bicentennial medallion. Designs will be judged based on creativity, uniqueness and quality, among other factors. Participants must be Illinois residents and are limited to one design submission. The deadline is May 1. For more information, click here.

Keep track of what’s happening in Springfield

Keeping track of all the bills heard in Senate committees can be difficult. I started a newsletter to help you track the noteworthy bills that are scheduled to be heard in committee each week. Click here to sign up for these weekly emails during the legislative session.

These updates will give you advance notice so that you can submit a witness slip. Before a bill is heard in committee and let lawmakers know if you support or oppose the legislation. This is a vital part of the legislative process that helps me and other lawmakers make informed decisions before voting.