Rockford Sun

Maurice A. West, II introduced HB1933 in the Illinois House on Jan. 29, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall exercise the powers to impose campaign disclosure penalties; to hear and adjudicate alleged violations of registration requirements; to revoke or suspend raffle licenses for political committees that violate the Raffles and Poker Runs Act; and to inform the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of credible alleged criminal violations."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Election Code, empowering the State Board of Elections with several new responsibilities. The board can now impose penalties for campaign disclosure violations and adjudicate breaches of registration requirements. It also has the authority to revoke or suspend raffle licenses for political committees that violate the Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Additionally, the board is tasked with notifying the Attorney General or State's Attorney of credible alleged criminal violations. These adjustments aim to enhance electoral oversight and ensure compliance with state election laws. The bill stipulates an effective date of July 1, 2024.

Maurice A. West, II has proposed another 34 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

West graduated from Illinois College at Jacksonville in 2007 with a BS.

Maurice A. West II is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 67th House District. He replaced previous state representative Litesa Wallace in 2019.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1933	01/29/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall exercise the powers to impose campaign disclosure penalties; to hear and adjudicate alleged violations of registration requirements; to revoke or suspend raffle licenses for political committees that violate the Raffles and Poker Runs Act; and to inform the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of credible alleged criminal violations.
HB1919	01/29/2025	Amends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may certify one additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of Sterling.
HB1934	01/29/2025	Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning primary election ballots, provides that the lettering of candidate names on a ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized by the election authority.
HB1935	01/29/2025	Amends the Educational Service Regions Article of the School Code. Provides that when a vacancy occurs in the office of regional superintendent of schools and more than 28 months remain in that term and the vacancy occurs at least 130 days before the next general election, appointment to fill the vacancy shall be until the next general election (rather than if more than 28 months remain in that term, the appointment shall be until the next general election). Provides that if the vacancy occurs during the time provided for filing nomination papers for county offices for the primary in the next even-numbered year following commencement of the term of office in which the vacancy occurs, the time for filing nomination papers for the primary shall not be more than 120 (rather than 91) days nor less than 113 (rather than 85) days prior to the date of the primary.
HB1936	01/29/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the Elections Special Projects Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that any federal grant reimbursements paid to the State Board of Elections shall be deposited into the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used for purposes consistent with specified provisions of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, beginning June 30, 2026, and the last day of each fiscal year thereafter, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer any moneys in excess of $1,000,000 from the Elections Special Projects Fund to the General Revenue Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.
HB1762	01/27/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Defines a guardian ad litem as either (i) an attorney licensed in Illinois to practice law; or (ii) a person who holds at a minimum a bachelor's degree in psychology, psychiatry, social work, education, or any other relevant child-related discipline involving determining a child's best interests. Provides that a guardian ad litem must receive training to ensure the guardian ad litem has a fundamental working knowledge of abuser tactics and its effects on children in domestic violence cases as ordered by the Supreme Court. Requires a guardian ad litem to meet with a child who has been exposed to domestic violence in an age-appropriate manner for at least an hour before the issuance of any judicial decision affecting the parental rights of the child and to meet with the child for at least an hour every 3 months and provide a written update to the court at least every 6 months. Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act to make conforming changes.
HB1716	01/24/2025	Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning electioneering or soliciting of votes within any polling place, removes a provision allowing a church or private school to prohibit electioneering on any of the property of that church or private school.
HB1605	01/23/2025	Amends the Real Property Conservation Rights Act. Provides that a conservation right includes preserving cultural heritage sites. Provides that any owner of real property in the State may convey a conservation right in such real property to a federally recognized Indian tribe or a State-recognized Indian tribe. Provides definitions for federally recognized Indian tribe and State-recognized Indian tribe. Provides that any holder of a conservation right may transfer or assign a conservation right to an entity eligible to hold such rights as described in the Act. Provides that a conservation right may be enforced in an action seeking injunctive relief, specific performance, or damages by any federally recognized Indian tribe or State-recognized Indian tribe that owns the conservation right.
HB1570	01/22/2025	Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that grants shall not restrict the amount of money used to pay for fringe benefits. Provides that grants shall not restrict administrative costs to less than 20% of the grant award. Defines "fringe benefits".
HB1571	01/22/2025	Creates the Land Bank Authority Act. Authorizes the corporate authorities of a municipality or county, or 2 or more municipalities or counties, to create a land bank by ordinance (for the corporate authorities of a home rule municipality or county), by entering into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement (for the corporate authorities of 2 or more municipalities and counties), or by authority already provided to a county, municipality, or other taxing district prior to the effective date of the Act. Includes provisions relating to legislative findings and purpose, definitions, and interpretation of the Act. Effective immediately.
HB1572	01/22/2025	Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act or any other Illinois statute (rather than except as otherwise provided in the Act), a quorum of members of a public body must be physically present at the location of an open meeting or present by video or audio conference at the open meeting (now, members must be physically present at the meeting). Provides that a member is present by video or audio conference at an open meeting if the member can hear and be heard by all other members of the body who are participating in the meeting. Specifies that, if a member wishes to attend a meeting by video or audio conference, the member must notify the recording secretary or clerk of the public body before the meeting, unless providing that advance notice is impractical for the member. Repeals existing provisions concerning the participation of public body members in open meetings by video conference or other means.
HB1585	01/22/2025	Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In provisions concerning the Teen Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope (Teen REACH) Grant Program, provides that any technical assistance provided to a statewide provider of services under the Teen REACH Grant Program shall be delivered directly by the Department of Human Services and shall not be delegated or outsourced to a third-party organization.
HB1431	01/16/2025	Creates the Health Care Facility Fee Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning notice requirements for a hospital or health system that charges a facility fee using a current procedural terminology evaluation code or assessment and management code for outpatient services provided at a hospital-based facility where a professional fee is also expected to be charged. Provides notice requirements for hospital-based facilities created or acquired through a business transaction. Establishes limitations on facility fees. Sets forth provisions concerning facility fee billing statements, reporting of facility fees charged by each hospital and health system, and enforcement of the Act by the Department of Public Health. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice if, from the date of the transaction, a hospital, health system, or hospital-based facility does not wait at least 30 days after the written notice has been mailed to the patient or a copy of the notice has been filed with the Department of Public Health to collect a facility fee for services provided at a hospital-based facility.
HB1275	01/13/2025	Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Requires the school boards of certain school districts to provide free transportation for pupils residing at a distance of 1/2 mile or more from the school to which they are assigned for attendance if the school is located completely or partially within or directly adjacent to an R3 zone, as designated by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, and is outside of a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more residents, except for those pupils for whom adequate transportation for the public is available.
HB1276	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the use of red or white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights or blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on vehicles owned or operated by volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS providers, but only when responding to an emergency call or parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the emergency. Allows a vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter or volunteer EMS provider to be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, to be used only when responding to an emergency call.
HB1277	01/13/2025	Amends the School Code. Requires each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 to provide contact information for the National Domestic Violence Hotline on the identification card. Requires the contact information to be included in the school's student handbook and the student planner, if applicable.
HB1235	01/10/2025	Amends the School Code. Requires school districts with a population of 3,000 or more students to interview a minimum percentage of minority candidates for teaching positions. Exempts teaching positions within an English as a Second Language program from the requirement. Sets forth the formula for the school district to use to calculate the minimum percentage required. Provides that if the school district is unable to interview the required minimum percentage of minority candidates for 2 consecutive years, the school district must implement a program for school district employees interested in obtaining a Professional Educator License. Effective immediately.
HB1236	01/10/2025	Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to develop and implement a plan to provide additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations to students who suffer from trauma related to experiencing the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or suffer from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse and whom the school has determined require additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations but do not qualify for an individualized education program or for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Sets forth what the plan may include. Provides that the plan shall remain in place until the student (i) is no longer enrolled in the district or (ii) has made such significant and sustained academic progress that the student no longer requires the plan. In provisions relating to children with disabilities, provides that beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the notice that a school board provides concerning who qualifies for services under Section 504 shall include that a child may qualify for those services if the child is a student who is at least 3 years old or older and under 22 years and who (i) has experienced the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or (ii) suffers from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse. Effective immediately.
HB1237	01/10/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot; defines "native name, logo, or mascot". However, provides that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act until September 1, 2028 if specified requirements are met.
HB1238	01/10/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption, subject to certain limitations, for property that is located within a special flood hazard area as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Provides that the amount of the exemption shall be a reduction in the property's equalized assessed value of $5,000. Effective immediately.
HB1239	01/10/2025	Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the Secretary of State to provide an option to an applicant for an original, reissued, or renewed identification card, driver's license, or driver's permit to indicate the applicant's blood type. If an applicant chooses to indicate the applicant's blood type, the Secretary of State shall print the identified blood type on the applicant's identification card, driver's license, or permit. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall be construed to require the Secretary to verify an applicant's blood type designation.
HB1240	01/10/2025	Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for the purpose of funding the operational and capacity building needs of nonprofits in Winnebago County. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1241	01/10/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, except for certain types of first degree murder, the court may, in its discretion, sentence a defendant who was under 21 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense to a sentence that is less than the applicable minimum determinate sentence of imprisonment for the offense authorized by the Code. Provides that the court, at the sentencing hearing, shall consider certain mitigating factors when a person commits an offense and the person is under 21 (rather than 18) years of age at the time of the commission of the offense. Effective immediately.
HB1242	01/10/2025	Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. To provide for the safety of mental health care patients and staff members, provides for no fewer than 2 registered nurses and no fewer than 2 mental health technicians to be assigned to any unit at any time in the following State-operated hospitals: (1) the Alton Mental Health Center, at Alton; (2) the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center, at Chicago; (3) the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center, at Anna; (4) the Elgin Mental Health Center, at Elgin; (5) the John J. Madden Mental Health Center, at Hines; and (6) the Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard Mental Health Center, at Springfield. Provides that, if a registered nurse or mental health technician is assigned to 2 or more units, the calculation of the number of registered nurses or mental health technicians who are assigned to a unit shall be calculated for each registered nurse or mental health technician as one divided by the number of units to which the registered nurse or mental health technician is assigned. Effective immediately.
HB1243	01/10/2025	Amends the Alternative Learning Opportunities Law of the School Code. Provides that Regional Office of Education No. 4 shall establish a 3-year pilot program focused on serving students in grades kindergarten through 3. Provides that students in grades kindergarten through 3 who meet enrollment criteria established by a school district and who are at risk of academic failure are eligible to participate in the pilot program. Requires the pilot program to adhere to all other rules established for alternative learning opportunities programs. Requires Regional Office of Education No. 4 to provide a report to the General Assembly outlining the pilot program's methodology and student outcomes and setting forth a comprehensive impact report and a framework for future program models. Effective immediately.
HB1244	01/10/2025	Appropriates $209,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for costs associated with the Healthy School Meals for All Program. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1272	01/10/2025	Creates the Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish the Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program. Provides that the Department shall implement the program by: contracting with one or more prescription drug wholesalers and Canadian suppliers to import prescription drugs and provide prescription drug cost savings to consumers in this State; developing a registration process for health benefit plan issuers, health care providers, and pharmacies to obtain and dispense prescription drugs imported under the program; developing a list of prescription drugs, including the prices of those drugs, that meet certain requirements set forth under the Act and publishing the list on the Department's website; establishing an outreach and marketing plan to generate program awareness; ensuring the program and the prescription drug wholesalers that contract with this State comply with certain federal tracking, tracing, verification, and identification requirements; and other actions. Sets forth eligibility criteria for prescription drugs that may be imported into the State under the program. Contains provisions concerning anticompetitive behavior monitoring; program funding; program expansion; audit procedures; annual reporting requirements; the adoption of rules to implement the Act; and federal waiver or authorization requirements. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1273	01/10/2025	Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Defines "veteran" to mean any person who: (i) served on active duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces and whose last discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable; (ii) served on active duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for training purposes, and was either awarded a service-connected disability or died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; (iii) served in the National Guard or as a reservist in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for training purposes; or (iv) is determined to be a veteran according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that in any case, the service of such person was entered into or served in Illinois, or such person has resided in the State for at least one day, except for the purpose of determining the residential eligibility of a deceased veteran's dependents.
HB1274	01/10/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that in a community of manufactured homes, where the water system in the community is connected to a municipal public water supply system, potable water shall be provided at each manufactured home site. Provides that where a manufactured home community owner or operator bills the residents of the community using monthly line-item charges for utilities, including, but not limited to, water, those charges shall be based on either: (i) a resident's actual usage, as measured by submeters installed on each manufactured home site within the community; or (ii) a ratio utility billing system, in the absence of submeters, in which charges for water shall be divided by certain criteria, including, but not limited to, the number of occupants per household, the square footage of the manufactured home, or other factors. Provides that the ratio utility billing system shall not bill all residents of the community equally for a water utility bill issued to the manufactured home community owner or operator by the municipal public water supply system. Provides that where a manufactured home community does not have existing submeters, submeters shall be installed at the expense of the manufactured home community owner or operator. Provides that the community owner or operator shall be considered the water supplier and is the party responsible for the water distribution system up to the individual service line at each manufactured home site. Provides that the owner or operator shall be responsible for all maintenance and associated costs of any meters and submeters, within the community, installed outside and beneath a manufactured home. Provides that the amendatory Act shall not apply to any manufactured home community that has its own water source, including, but not limited to, a well.
HB1088	01/09/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a committed person may make a request to be transferred to another institution or facility every 6 months. Provides that a committed person, or the committed person's parent or guardian, may make a request to be transferred to another institution or facility of the Department of Juvenile Justice at any time.
HB1089	01/09/2025	Creates the Illinois Container Fee and Deposit Act. Provides for a deposit value of 10 cents to be paid by consumers on each beverage container sold in the State by a dealer for consumption. Provides that, upon the return to a dealer or person operating a redemption center, the dealer or redemption center shall pay the value of the deposit back to the consumer as a refund. Sets forth requirements for administration of the program. Provides certain exemptions to the program. Requires that the refund value be clearly indicated on all beverage containers sold in the State. Provides for the Environmental Protection Agency to certify redemption centers. Prohibits snap-top beverage containers. Provides that persons violating the Act shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Prohibits the manufacture of certain beverage containers. Prohibits the disposal of beverage containers at sanitary landfills. Provides that deposits not passed on to the consumer through bottle redemption shall be distributed as follows: 75% to the Agency for environmental and conservation-related programs and 25% to each distributor in proportion to the number of beverage containers sold by each distributor in the State. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Container Fee and Deposit Fund. Effective immediately.
HB1091	01/09/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section regarding property tax exemptions for charitable purposes, provides that property held by a charitable organization for the purpose of constructing or rehabilitating residences for eventual transfer to qualified low-income families through sale, lease, or contract for deed is exempt from property tax as a charitable purpose. Provides that the exemption commences on the day title to the property is transferred to the organization and continues to the end of the levy year in which the organization transfers title to the property to a qualified low-income family. Effective immediately.
HB1151	01/09/2025	Amends the Grocery Initiative Act. Provides that the definition of "grocery store" includes a mobile grocer that satisfies specified requirements.
HB1152	01/09/2025	Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for administrative costs and grants associated with capital improvements to the City of Rockford Family Peace Center. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1169	01/09/2025	Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Directs the Secretary of State to grant a waiver of the lobbyist registration fee for any not-for-profit entity with an annual budget of less than $5,000,000 that is classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a waiver for any lobbyist that exclusively lobbies on behalf of such an entity.
HB1179	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit of $250 for taxpayers who make 4 or more qualified donations of human whole blood or human blood components during the taxable year. Effective immediately.
HB1187	01/09/2025	Amends the Toll Highway Act. Allows an individual who is a veteran or active duty member of the United States Armed Forces to use any toll highway in the State without paying the toll if the veteran or active duty member of the United States Armed Forces displays a military license plate offered by the Secretary of State while using the toll highway.
HB1188	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an employer with 250 or fewer full-time equivalent employees during the reporting period may claim a credit against the withholding payments for each qualified employee. Provides that a qualified employee is an employee who receives a raise from an employer, whose post-raise annual salary attributable to that employer is not less than $31,200, and who continues to be employed by the employer during the reporting period for which the credit is taken.