Peoria Standard

The Illinois General Assembly has convened in Springfield to kick off the new legislative session. The session began with the welcoming of two new members, State Representative Nicole La Ha and State Representative Brandun Schweizer, by House Republican Leader McCombie. The legislative session will adjourn until February 6, when the House and Senate will receive Governor Pritzker's proposed Fiscal Year 2025 State of Illinois budget.

In the realm of firearms, the Illinois State Police are set to file rules governing firearm registration under the controversial Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA). The new law requires Illinois residents to register their firearms on the Illinois State Police website, which has been met with opposition from firearm owners who see it as a potential threat to overall gun ownership. Efforts to block the new rule from taking effect were unsuccessful, and legal action against the law is ongoing, including efforts before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The University of Illinois (U of I) system has announced a freeze on undergraduate tuition for the 2024-2025 school year. This is the first system-wide tuition freeze in more than 25 years. The freeze will apply to all three U of I campuses in Urbana, Chicago, and Springfield. However, ancillary expenses such as housing will continue to increase for U of I students.

Republican lawmakers are calling for legislative solutions to address the migrant crisis in Illinois. State Senators Andrew Chesney and Dave Syverson, along with Assistant House Republican Leader John M. Cabello and State Representative Joe Sosnowski, held a press conference to discuss the crisis and propose solutions. They attribute the crisis to weak border policies by the Biden Administration and Illinois laws that act as incentives for undocumented people to come to the state. The lawmakers plan to file legislation to repeal portions of the Trust Act that prohibit collaboration between local and federal immigration authorities, roll back laws providing free healthcare for migrants and illegal immigrants, and provide a framework for free travel back to their home countries or other sanctuary cities or states.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is urging drivers to avoid visiting the DMV unless absolutely necessary. Giannoulias has expanded online services and encouraged motorists to use the "Skip the Line, Do It Online" program to save time and reduce long queues at DMV facilities. The program has already served 800,000 motorists by appointment, resulting in little to no wait time. Giannoulias also noted that a large number of license renewals and vehicle registration renewals can be done online, by mail, or by phone.

In an effort to assist seniors in understanding the Medicare sign-up process, State Representative Ryan Spain will be hosting a "Medicare 101" event in collaboration with the Illinois Department on Aging's Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). The event will provide insights and guidance on the various aspects of Medicare, allowing attendees to make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage options. The event is free and open to anyone interested in enhancing their understanding of Medicare.

These are some of the updates and events happening in Illinois. Stay tuned for more developments from the Illinois General Assembly and other important news in the state.