Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Chicago on Monday. [Gov. JB Pritzker/Facebook] 

The Illinois Senate voted unanimously on Thursday to pass a bill that would prevent credit reporting agencies from using medical debt in credit reports. The bill’s passage comes as Gov. JB Pritzker prioritizes a plan in his Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal to eliminate medical debt for thousands of Illinoisians.  

The Senate conducts business on April 12. [Blue Room Stream] 

The Senate voted to advance a pair of key measures on Friday ahead of the chamber’s deadline to pass Senate bills on to the House, including bills requiring insurance to cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) and establishing a new state department for childhood issues.  

Officials told a House committee that it’s challenging to calculate the cost of a bill that would raise the threshold for the estate tax. And the Senate passed a bill giving the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) new rule-making powers. 

Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) speaks at a news conference in Springfield in March. [Blue Room Stream] 

The Senate advanced long-awaited reform to the state’s biometric privacy law that has cost many businesses hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars in massive lawsuits. But despite having some concerns addressed, business groups are still opposed. 

Supporters of a plan to create hemp regulation hold a news conference in Springfield on Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

A bipartisan group of lawmakers and top cannabis business groups are pushing to create new regulations for hemp while also banning Delta-8 products until more research is conducted and regulations are implemented.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) speaks to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce annual meeting in Springfield on Wednesday. [Blue Room Stream]   

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) has a new message for his caucus this year: play the infinite game.  

Welch gives his caucus a new book each session that is designed to impart a theme for members to follow for the spring. The books are often on leadership topics and this year it’s “The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek. 

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) told a business leader gathering what his message was to Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. And Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) told business leaders they need to be more active to counter pushes by organized labor. 

Gov. JB Pritzker said at a news conference Tuesday he hasn’t decided if he’ll seek a third term as governor. And the Senate approved a bill establishing regulations for funeral homes following problems at a Carlinville funeral home. 

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) speaks at a news conference in Springfield on Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

The Senate is set to take up a bill this week that would make genetic tests for cancer screenings more affordable and accessible by capping the cost of the preventative measure.  

Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (D-Villa Park) presents a bill in the House Energy and Environment Committee last week. [Blue Room Stream] 

Illinois lawmakers are considering putting a temporary pause on construction of carbon dioxide transport and storage pipelines as they consider regulations for the technology.