Peoria Standard

Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) gave a thumbs down to a bill authored by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora). The bill mandates warnings on video games that offer extra 'in-app' purchases.

Hammond opposed House Bill 2943 which would amend the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

“You know we spend a lot of time in this chamber taking over the roles that parents should have,” Hammond said. “And here we have a piece of legislation that once again we're coming into the homes of people and saying you don't have the ability to parent so we're going to tell you how to parent. This bill takes a serious look at how we as parents should be able to instruct our children on what is right and what is wrong and any child that doesn't understand that taking a parent's credit card and using it in this way is wrong, and quite frankly there's something wrong in that household. I would urge a no vote.”

Hernandez said that video game warnings are needed if video games include extra purchases.

Using the language of the bill, it will require “that a warning must be displayed when an interactive digital entertainment product utilizes a loot box in its operations."  

The bill passed the House on a  72-45 vote.