League-supported Legislation Signed by Governor
Governor Pritzker has signed several bills that the Illinois League and its members supported.
On July 21, the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) published a list of bills it supported, asking members to contact Governor Pritzker to request that he sign these pending bills. By law, the Governor has 60 days to sign, amend and sign, or veto a bill. The governor has now acted on the bills that LWVIL supported.
Of particular interest is SB2123 Election Omnibus Bill, which Governor Pritzker signed August 4.
This bill has many provisions, including the following:
Citizens 16 years of age can register to vote online, with their registration held in abeyance until they reach voting age.
At least two vote centers are required in jurisdictions of at least 500,000 people. At least one vote center is required to provide curbside voting.
Public schools in Illinois must close on General Election Day, November 5, 2024. Any school may be used as a polling place.
A newly-established task force will study future election reforms, including ranked choice voting and an entirely electronic ballot process.
Governor Pritzker also signed the following LWVIL-supported bills:
SB1909 Deceptive Practices Pregnancy Act specifies that Limited Services Pregnancy Centers are prohibited from engaging in deceptive practices that mislead patients. Already, a suit has been filed arguing that the bill infringes on First Amendment free speech rights.
SB58 Polystyrene Reduction mandates that state agencies may not procure disposable food service containers composed from polystyrene foam. Read our recent article on this law.
SB90 Racism-Free Schools requires school districts to adopt and communicate a policy on harassment based on race, color or national origin together with existing requirements for sexual harassment policies.
Two criminal justice bills will ameliorate burdens on formerly-incarcerated individuals. SB1886 Fair Probation Drug Testing eliminates fees assessed on formerly incarcerated individuals for drug testing. HB1268 provides that individuals who have been released from prison can serve as executors of a relative’s will.
League members interested in learning the status of a bill they support or oppose should check out the Illinois General Assembly’s website—you can search by bill number or keyword.