Rep. Joyce Mason

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) recognizing Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch for becoming the first Black lawmaker elected as Illinois House Speaker in the state's 200+ year history. The resolution formally celebrates his leadership during Black History Month and acknowledges his re-election as Speaker in 2023 and 2025. It serves as a symbolic gesture from the Illinois House of Representatives to honor his historic role, with no new laws or policy changes enacted.

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the two Houses shall convene in Joint Session on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at the hour of 12:00 o'clock noon for the purpose of hearing his Excellency Governor JB Pritzker present to the General Assembly his Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2026, as required by Chapter 15, Section 20/50-5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a duty of the regional superintendent of schools is to inspect and approve school building plans and specifications for energy conservation measures. In the Article concerning school energy conservation and saving measures, makes changes concerning definitions, the evaluation and submission of guaranteed energy savings contract proposals, performance reviews, the award of a contract, the written guarantee, installment payment contracts and lease purchase agreements, cost savings, available funds, an energy savings template, qualified providers, and the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that any health care practitioner authorized by applicable law to issue prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances shall, prior to issuing an initial prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance or any other opioid pain reliever during a course of treatment for acute or chronic pain shall discuss with the patient or the patient's parent or guardian, if the patient is under 18 years of age and is not an emancipated minor, the risks associated with the drugs being described. Provides that the discussion required by this provision shall take place before issuing an initial prescription, and again prior to issuing the third prescription during a course of treatment. Provides that the prescribing health care practitioner shall include a note in the patient's medical record that the patient or the patient's parent or guardian, as applicable, has discussed with the practitioner the risks of developing a physical or psychological dependence on the controlled dangerous substance and on alternative treatments that may be available. Provides that these provisions do not apply to prescriptions for a patient who is currently in an active treatment for cancer, receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice or palliative care provider, for a patient who is a resident of a long-term care facility, or to any medications being prescribed for use in the treatment of substance abuse or opioid dependence.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides gas collection and control system requirements for municipal solid waste landfills, including requirements for gas to be collected from each area in which solid waste has been in place for at least one year, for gas to be drawn toward the gas control devices, for a gas collection and control system to be installed within 12 months of reaching certain thresholds, for gas collection and control design plans to provide for alternative preliminary measures, and for the methane destruction efficiency of flared systems to reach 99%.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that no person shall distribute, sell, offer for sale, or use glyphosate or any products containing glyphosate within the State. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may adopt any rules it deems necessary to implement the provisions.

Amends the School Code. Removes language providing that at the end of each school year, a school district shall catalogue and report to the State Board of Education the total amount that remains unpaid by students due to a prohibition on withholding a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account. Removes language providing that the prohibition is inoperative on a certain date.

Creates the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to make specified efforts to: (1) increase loans to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans; (2) increase veterans' access to health care coverage and services; (3) take specified steps toward preventing veteran suicide; and (4) develop and implement a strategy to end veteran homelessness within 3 years. Directs the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to review all State licenses for which military service members may have relevant training or experience, produce a report recommending steps that can be taken to increase recognition of military training and experience toward licensing, and take those steps within one year of issuing the report. Contains provisions regarding veterans at public institutions of higher education receiving college credit, registering for courses, and being called to active duty. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to annually review apprentice, training, and other vocational programs focused on providing job training and placement to returning military service members and veterans. Contains other provisions.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board shall use the State and federal programs, grants, and subsidies that are available to assist in paying for student teachers as appropriate funds are made available.

Condemns President Donald Trump's inexcusable pardons of his coconspirators and criminals convicted of attacking police officers, attacking our Capitol, and attacking our democracy.