Rep. Greg Harris • 13th District
Springfield Update • November 3, 2021
Veto Session Wrap-Up
For the last two weeks, the Illinois General Assembly met in our annual Veto Session and passed several important pieces of legislation. Here are some of the key bills we passed during this productive session that I would like to highlight.
Parental Notice of Abortion Repeal (HB 370)
With extremist bills being passed in states like Texas and abortion and reproductive rights now at risk at the U. S. Supreme Court, Illinois has become one of the few states still committed to protecting these critical rights. That is why we repealed the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 (PNA), the last anti-choice statute on the books here in Illinois.
Under PNA, all minors were prohibited from obtaining an abortion unless either their parents had been notified or young women were forced to find and hire attorneys and seek permission of a court. While the majority of young pregnant people have caring families to help in making this important decision, there are some young girls for whom this is not an option. They may have an abusive parent or guardian they cannot safely confide in without risking further abuse. By repealing PNA, Illinois has taken a critical step toward protecting these young people and committing to being a 100% pro-choice state.
Legalizing Midwives (HB 3401)
Illinois continues to suffer unusually high rates of maternal mortality, with especially alarming rates among African American women. Much of this can attributed to care during and after childbirth that is inadequate or not culturally competent. For decades, the state was barred from issuing licenses to midwives, taking options away from these expectant mothers.
A decades-long effort to correct this has culminated in HB 3401, the Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act. Midwifery will now be a fully legalized, licensed, and certified profession in Illinois. Allowing midwives to practice will make it easier for expectant mothers to choose birth care more appropriate to their needs, improving health outcomes for mothers across our state.
Protecting Voting Rights (SB 536)
During the Veto Session, we also passed an elections omnibus package with provisions to protect voter rights and increase transparency and integrity in our elections process. These include:
- Prohibiting judicial candidates from accepting contributions from undisclosed and dark money donors.
- Requiring each polling place to include at least one voting booth that is wheelchair accessible.
- Allowing voters to choose between “male”, “female”, and “non-binary” designations on their voter registration form.
- Commissioning a task force to find ways to better improve voter access for people with disabilities.
- Correcting dates to reflect the rescheduled Illinois primary date of June 28, 2022.
Investing in Electric Vehicles (HB 1769)
Building on the progress we made passing landmark green energy legislation this fall, we moved to make Illinois a national leader in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. As well as speeding the transition from fossil fuels, EV sales are projected to increase dramatically in the coming decades. EV and EV component makers (batteries, etc.) are now scouting locations to build new manufacturing facilities, which will create thousands and thousands of good paying jobs. We want to take advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to shift manufacturing and supply chain back to the US from overseas.
HB 1769 establishes incentives to make Illinois a more attractive place for EV and EV parts manufacturers to set up shop. This bill contains strong protections to prevent a “race to the bottom” where states end up paying more than the benefits the added business creates. Manufacturers are required to make substantial out-of-pocket investments themselves (at least $1.5 billion for vehicle makers and $300 million for EV parts makers) before they receive any state benefits, and the state will claw back its investments if agreed terms are not met. The bill also contains robust labor protections and equity reporting requirements to ensure the jobs created are well paid and reflect the diversity of our state.
Health Care Right of Conscience Act Amendment (SB 1169)
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 vaccines have resoundingly been proven to be safe and effective, misinformation about them continues to spread. As more employers are requiring vaccination to protect their workers, anti-vaxxers have been trying to use a loophole in the Health Care Right of Conscience Act, an obscure 1977 law, to avoid getting the lifesaving vaccine.
SB 1169 clarifies that the Health Care Right of Conscience Act does not apply to any COVID-19 requirements by any public or private employer. Measures like these help us combat misinformation, stick with the science, and keep our community safe.
Paid COVID-19 Leave for School Teachers & Staff (HB2778)
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed extraordinary demands on our public school teachers and support staff. They have had to juggle the technical challenges of remote learning and the diverse learning needs of their student all while trying to keep themselves safe. HB 2778 provides critical paycheck protection to these frontline heroes.
Under this bill, support staff such as as custodians, bus drivers, and food service employees will continue to receive their regular rate of pay and benefits in the event that school is closed for an unplanned emergency. Additionally, teachers and staff that are vaccinated or are complying with all COVID-19 testing requirements can use administrative days rather than sick days if they become infected or must quarantine.
Congressional Redistricting (HB 1291)
Following the 2020 Census, the General Assembly passed a new US Congressional district map. This map marks the boundaries of the districts Illinois candidates for the US House of Representatives will run and serve in for the next decade. This remap was especially challenging, not just due to the uncertainty created by the pandemic, but also because Illinois lost a congressional seat, going from 18 US Representatives to 17.
After holding several public hearings and gathering citizen input online, we drafted a map that meets all legal obligations and reflects the diversity of our state, particularly historically underserved communities. You can explore the map yourself by following this link.
Gaming Update (HB 3136)
HB 3136 allows the Wintrust Arena, home of the champion Chicago Sky, to qualify as a sports betting venue. Betting on Illinois collegiate teams will also become legal, although bets must be on the outcome of games and not individual player performance. The bill also legalizes firefighter raffles to raise money for fire protection districts. Further, HB 3136 relaxes restrictions on breeding racehorses with out-of-state horses, shifts more lottery revenue into the state’s education fund, and makes a few other technical changes.
If you have any questions or comments about these bills, please contact our office at (773) 348-3434 or email me at greg@gregharris.org.