(SPRINGFIELD) A push to regulate artificial intellitgence products in Illinois has taken a major step toward becoming law. The plan, which has broad support from industry leaders, would require transparency and expanded safety measures from many AI companies. Senate Bill 315, officially known as “The Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act” would also require AI companies to conduct and share findings of annual third-party audits & disclose safety incidents to the state. Bill sponsors say it’s nearly the same as those approved in California and New York.
(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill banning video transmission or recording in state courthouses of any person known to be a victim or witness without consent. Supported by most all lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, Senate Bill 4038 mostly helps protect domestic violence survivors & other vulnerable victims. Governor Pritzker is expected to sign it into law.
(SPRINGFIELD) An initiative to expand a federal program that provides discounts to hospitals and clinics in Illinois has been met with pushback as it nears passage. Opponents have said the program does not effectively pass savings onto patients and lacks much-needed financial transparency on how the savings are used. While the expansion of the 340B program is likely to be passed by lawmakers in Springfield, only four days remain in this year’s spring session.
(SPRINGFIELD) The U.S. Ag Department has announced it will provide $12 million to support efforts by state and tribal governments, research institutions, & universities to control & prevent chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild and farmed animals, such as deer and elk. The disease is an infectious, degenerative disease that causes brain cells to die, ultimately leading to the death of the affected animal. While $6 million will be used to support critical projects to control and prevent CWD in farmed animals, $5.5 million will support research and management of CWD. The remaining $500,000 will support CWD prevention and management on U.S. tribal lands.