The Illinois General Assembly returned to Springfield this week, and both chambers convened Tuesday and Wednesday.  During that time, there was limited committee and floor action in both chambers. The House and Senate were scheduled to convene tomorrow, but both chambers have now cancelled tomorrow’s scheduled session day. The General Assembly is scheduled to return to Springfield next week (October 26-28).  At this time, next week is supposed to be the final session days of 2021, but that could change.

This week, a three-judge federal court panel from the Northern District of Illinois ruled that Public Act 102-0010, (legislation creating the new Illinois House and Senate Districts) passed by the General Assembly and signed in June is unconstitutional. As you may recall, the legislature returned to Springfield in August after the map was challenged in federal court, and passed a new bill which incorporated the most recent census data for purposes of the legislative map. The court has not yet ruled whether the new map (Public Act 102-0663) approved in September is constitutional.  Per the court’s Order yesterday, this matter will not be resolved until late November, at the very earliest.

As mentioned previously, it is still expected that the General Assembly will consider the following issues next week, but as of the time of this email, no such language has been filed:

  • Legislation which would create Illinois’ Congressional districts;
  • Potential amendment to, or repeal of, Illinois Parental Notification of Abortion Act;
  • Gaming legislation which is likely to be “scaled down”;
  • Legislation to address the issue of compliance with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate (i.e. the Governor’s stated desire to narrow the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act to make clear that it only applies to healthcare providers who refuse to perform specific services);
  • Legislation that may be needed to “clean up” any issues contained in the budget that the General Assembly passed in May; and
  • Possible legislation that would implement the Governor’s recently announced initiative to increase electrical vehicle manufacturing in Illinois.

Bills of Note

All Copays Count HR516 & HJR54 (Harris) 

The resolution declares a commitment to ensuring access to quality health care for patients and healthcare consumers in Illinois, urges the Illinois Congressional delegation to support federal legislation to ensure all copays count, and urges the federal regulators to specifically clarify that all copays count in the 2023 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and tri-agency guidance.

 

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