(SPRINGFIELD) Measures ranging from lifting Illinois’ nuclear moratorium to addressing electric vehicle policies in the state and lifting some fees on the state’s cannabis industry are now law. It was late last week that Governor J.B. Pritzker signed 17 bills into law, bills that were approved recently by the General Assembly. Effective June 1st, 2024, House Bill 2473 lifts the moratorium on new construction of small modular reactors in Illinois, plus it establishes regulatory guidelines. Effective January 1st, 2024, the new Electric Charging Act will be amended by Senate Bill 384 to “clarify” which of the Act’s requirements apply to newly constructed residential homes and which apply to new and existing units. Effective immediately, Senate Bill 159 waives annual license fees for existing cannabis transportation organizations through January 1st, 2027, along with a few other minor changes as well.
(SPRINGFIELD) With less than three weeks before Illinois’ gun ban registry deadline kicks in, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is preparing to take up revised rules filed by the Illinois State Police. Emergency rules regarding the registry of now banned guns and accessories were first filed and put into effect on September 15th. With the gun ban registry opening on October 1st, the deadline for gun owners to register now banned guns is set for January 1st, 2024. The registration deadline is the subject of litigation with oral arguments in the Southern District of Illinois federal court tomorrow afternoon. The JCAR committee meanwhile meets tomorrow morning in Chicago to take up the revised rules discussion.
(SPRINGFIELD) U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is promoting a measure in Washington, D.C. that is sponsored by Illinois’ other U.S. Senator, Tammy Duckworth, that would allow certain non-citizens in the state to become U.S. military members. Known as the Enlist Act and introduced in July, the proposal remains in the U.S. Senate Committee of the Judiciary. Many downstate residents and others in the nation’s capitol are against the measure. It was earlier this year that Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill to allow certain illegal immigrants to become police officers in Illinois who have work permits in the state or for those who are Deferred Action for Childhood recipients within the state.