Will County Gazette

Dagmara Avelar introduced HB3477 in the Illinois House on Feb. 7, 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: "Creates the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning disclosure requirements for sales-based financing, closed-end commercial financing, open-end commercial financing, factoring transactions, renewal financing, and other forms of financing. Provides that all commercial financing shall include a clear and conspicuous notice on how to file a complaint with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the Department may adopt rules. Provides that upon a finding by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation that a provider has violated the provisions or rules, the provider shall be ordered to pay the Department a civil penalty for each violation of the provisions or any rule not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, or if a violation is willful, $20,000 for each violation. Sets forth provisions concerning cease and desist orders, injunctions, investigation and examination, civil actions, violations, and registration. Provides that a violation of the provisions constitutes an unlawful practice in violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Makes a conforming change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately."

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

In essence, this bill, known as the Small Business Financing Transparency Act, sets out regulations to protect small businesses by introducing disclosure requirements for commercial financing transactions that are not primarily for personal, family, or household use. It mandates registration with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for providers and brokers of commercial financing and imposes penalties for non-compliance. Disclosure requirements include the total amount and cost of financing, repayment plans, and any fees associated, to ensure transparency. The bill excludes certain transactions such as those on real property, small volume transactions, and large financing over $500,000. Effective regulations and rules will be adopted to manage and enforce this act, which will apply from January 1, 2026. Additionally, the Act amends the Freedom of Information Act to protect confidential information provided under these new regulations. Penalties for violations can include fines, registration suspensions, and other disciplinary actions.

Dagmara Avelar has proposed another 16 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Avelar graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2010 with a BS.

Dagmara Avelar is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 85th House District. She replaced previous state representative John Connor in 2021.

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
HB3477	02/07/2025	Creates the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning disclosure requirements for sales-based financing, closed-end commercial financing, open-end commercial financing, factoring transactions, renewal financing, and other forms of financing. Provides that all commercial financing shall include a clear and conspicuous notice on how to file a complaint with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the Department may adopt rules. Provides that upon a finding by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation that a provider has violated the provisions or rules, the provider shall be ordered to pay the Department a civil penalty for each violation of the provisions or any rule not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, or if a violation is willful, $20,000 for each violation. Sets forth provisions concerning cease and desist orders, injunctions, investigation and examination, civil actions, violations, and registration. Provides that a violation of the provisions constitutes an unlawful practice in violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Makes a conforming change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately.
HB3467	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Banking Act. Makes changes to the membership of the State Banking Board of Illinois. Provides that a bank may borrow or incur an obligation and pledge assets to secure deposits. Provides that a bank may provide data processing services to a person for profit. Provides that a bank may invest in financial futures or options transactions. Provides that the board of directors of a bank may provide by resolution that stockholders may attend, participate in, act in, and vote at any annual meeting or special meeting through the use of a conference telephone or interactive technology if specified conditions are satisfied. Provides that a person who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement or false entry with intent to deceive any person or persons authorized to examine into the affairs of the bank or the subsidiary or holding company of that bank, the branch of an out-of-state bank with intent to deceive the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate or his administrative officers in the performance of their duties under the Act shall be subject to civil penalties imposed by the Commissioner (rather than be guilty of a Class 3 felony). Provides that the Board may authorize the transfer of funds from the Bank and Trust Company Fund. Amends the Savings Bank Act. Provides that the board of directors of a savings bank may provide by resolution that members or stockholders may attend, participate in, act in, and vote at any annual meeting or special meeting through the use of a conference telephone or interactive technology if specified conditions are satisfied. Provides that a savings bank may loan funds through the purchase of fixed rate annuity contracts. Provides that a savings bank may accept deposits made by a minor and may open an account in the name of the minor, and the rules and regulations of the savings bank with respect to each deposit and account shall be as binding upon the minor as if the minor were of full age and legal capacity. Makes changes to various provisions concerning notice to allow for electronic notice. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Does not prohibit the furnishing of financial records of a deceased member to a public administrator of any county or other governmental jurisdiction for the purpose of facilitating burial of the customer. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
HB3561	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan to provide coverage for at least one early egg allergen introduction dietary supplement and one early peanut allergen introduction dietary supplement. Provides that the required coverage shall be provided at no cost to a covered individual, including deductible payments and cost-sharing amounts charged once a deductible is met. Except as otherwise provided, nothing in the provisions prevents the operation of such a policy provision as a deductible, coinsurance, allowable charge limitation, coordination of benefits, or a provision restricting coverage to services by a licensed, certified, or carrier-approved provider or facility. Provides that the required coverage does not apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, disability income, or other limited benefit health insurance policies, and that the cost-sharing limitation does not apply to a catastrophic health plan to the extent the cost-sharing limitation would cause the plan to fail to be treated as a catastrophic plan under federal law. Provides that the cost-sharing limitation does not apply to a high deductible health plan to the extent this cost-sharing limitation would cause the plan to fail to be treated as a high deductible health plan under specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that, if the cost-sharing limitation would result in an enrollee becoming ineligible for a health savings account under federal law, the cost-sharing limitation only applies to a qualified high deductible health plan after the enrollee's deductible has been met. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.
HB3566	02/07/2025	Amends the Eviction Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Requires dismissal of a complaint in its entirety against all defendants if the complaint names a defendant who is a minor at the time of filing or was a minor at the time that the lease agreement at issue was entered. Provides that such an action shall be immediately sealed. Provides that, in addition to any other remedies available to the minor, a minor named as a defendant in violation of the Act is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees, actual damages, and liquidated damages in the amount of $1,000. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a party from refiling an action against any defendants who otherwise may be properly named. Provides that, upon dismissing the case, the court may not waive any fees associated with refiling the action against defendants otherwise properly named.
HB3571	02/07/2025	Creates the Community-Based Organization TRUST Act. Provides that, unless presented with a federal criminal warrant, or otherwise required by federal law, a community-based organization that receives grants or any other appropriation from the State shall not provide contact information or information concerning citizenship or immigration status in response to any immigration agent's inquiry or request for information regarding any individual. Provides that the Attorney General shall enforce the provisions of the Act. Provides that the Attorney General may adopt rules to administer and enforce the Act. Effective immediately.
HB3576	02/07/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, within 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory provisions, each water purveyor shall develop a cybersecurity program that defines and implements organizational accountabilities and responsibilities for cyber risk management activities, and establishes policies, plans, processes, and procedures for identifying and mitigating cyber risk to its public community water system. Provides that, within certain time periods after the effective date of the amendatory provisions, a water purveyor shall create a cybersecurity incident reporting process; obtain a cybersecurity insurance policy that meets certain standards; reasonably conform to the most recent version of one or more of specified industry-recognized cybersecurity frameworks; submit a compliance report; submit an incident report; and submit an annual status report. Sets forth provisions concerning violations of the amendatory provisions and rulemaking abilities of the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Makes other changes.
HB3586	02/07/2025	Amends the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act. Provides that on or before July 1, 2026, the Ombudsperson shall require training within 90 days of election or appointment by elected and appointed members of board of managers or board of directors on the following subjects: (i) ethics to include the fiduciary responsibilities, conflict of interest, and communication between board members; (ii) roles and responsibilities for each officer of a board of managers or directors and a property management company; (iii) attributes of a property-managed association and self-run association; and (iv) information and direction about the complaint process against a board of managers or directors. Provides that those members of a board of managers or directors who complete the training do not have to retake it again for 3 years. Provides that the Ombudsperson may adopt rules to implement the amendatory Act and determine the composition and delivery of required training.
HB3593	02/07/2025	Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Requires that a hospital's obligation to patients under the Act shall cover all health care services, including, but not limited to, on-site health care services provided by a non-hospital entity. Provides that, in the event the hospital outsources health care services to an individual or entity that is separate from the hospital within the hospital facility or otherwise on the hospital site, the hospital's obligations under the Act continue as though the hospital had provided the health care services. Requires a hospital to ensure that the individual or entity contracted to provide health care services agrees in writing to operate under the hospital's financial assistance policy, screening obligations, collections provisions, and all other provisions of the Act, and requires a hospital to ensure that a hospital agent or on-site provider of outsourced health care services complies with the Act. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act to establish similar requirements for hospitals. Provides that a hospital shall include charges from the third-party individual or entity when calculating the charge, discount, or collectible amount applicable under the Act.
HB3637	02/07/2025	Amends the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act, the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act, the Nurse Practice Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act, the Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act, the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, and the Genetic Counselor Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation shall not take any disciplinary or non-disciplinary action against a person's authorization to practice (rather than against the license or permit issued) under each of the amended Acts based solely upon the person's involvement in any health care service, so long as the care was not unlawful under the laws of the State. Prohibits the Department from taking any disciplinary or non-disciplinary action against a person's authorization to practice (rather than against the license or permit issued) under each of the amended Acts based upon the person's license, registration, or permit (rather than only license) being revoked or suspended, or the person being otherwise disciplined by any other state, if that form of discipline was based solely on the person violating another state's laws prohibiting involvement in any health care service if that health care service would not have been unlawful under the laws of the State and is consistent with the applicable standard of conduct for a person practicing in Illinois under those Acts. Changes certain references to official occupation titles in the amended Acts to "person". Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that a drug's status as not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shall not cause it to be deemed an adulterated drug if its safety and efficacy have been established by peer-reviewed research or if it is recommended for use by the World Health Organization, even if the drug's labelling reflects prior approval that is no longer in effect, so long as such labelling was true and accurate at the time of manufacture.
HB3661	02/07/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award income tax credits in an amount equal to 13% of the qualifying quantum information science expenditures made by the taxpayer during the taxable year. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB3186	02/06/2025	Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Requires advertising under the Act to contain information about the nature and cost of homeowner's association fees if residential real estate is being advertised. Requires that this disclosure must be in any Multiple Listing Service (MLS) used in the advertising.
HB2746	02/05/2025	Amends the State Comptroller Act. Provides an exception for vendors to receive payment by non-electronic means. Provides that outstanding liabilities as of June 30, payable from appropriations which have otherwise expired and interest penalties payable on those liabilities under the State Prompt Payment Act, may be paid out of the expiring appropriations during the 4-month period ending at the close of business on October 31 of each year, without regard to the fiscal year in which the payment is made. Amends the Prompt Payment Act. Removes provisions concerning payments made under the Public Aid Code. Provides that when a State official or agency responsible for administering a contract receives a bill or invoice from a contractor, that State official or agency shall electronically confirm the date on which the bill or invoice was received within 5 business days of receipt, and shall transmit any approved amount to the Comptroller within 30 days of receipt. Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that all claims against the State founded upon any contract entered into with the State of Illinois, except that undisputed individual claims below $2,500 resulting from lapsed appropriations do not fall under the jurisdiction of Court of Claims. State agencies may pay undisputed individual claims below $2,500 resulting from lapsed appropriations from current fiscal year appropriations. Sets forth that the provisions are not intended to prohibit more frequent reporting to assess items such as service needs, gaps, or capacity. Sets forth other provisions concerning grant agreement specifications, separate accounts for State grant funds, expenditures prior to grant execution and reporting requirements.
HB2904	02/05/2025	Creates the Health Care Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall identify reproductive health care services, LGBTQ health care services, and end-of-life health care services that are or may be subject to denial of care for nonmedical reasons in the State and develop a clear and simple disclosure form for the purpose of conveying to patients and to the public which of the identified health care services are and are not generally available, are subject to restriction for nonmedical reasons, and are subject to restrictions on referral by each covered entity. Requires the Department to publish and maintain on its public-facing website a current list of covered entities and provide for public access to the disclosure form submitted by each covered entity; adopt rules implementing the Department's duties; and develop and administer to the public an education and awareness program regarding how denial of care may negatively impact health care access and quality, may be avoided, and affects vulnerable people and communities. Establishes disclosure requirements for covered entities. Effective immediately.
HB2528	02/04/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a supportive living dementia care setting shall not limit resident access to the sink, microwave, and refrigerator located within the respective resident's room. Provides that social and recreational programming shall be provided no less than daily at a time and location separate from a meal service. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a newly constructed supportive living dementia care setting shall provide no less than 300 square feet for a single occupancy apartment or no less than 450 square feet for a double occupancy apartment. Provides that the square footage requirement may include the closets and bathroom. Requires each apartment to include a sink, microwave, and refrigerator within the unit. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a newly constructed supportive living dementia care setting shall provide a common area completely separate from the dining area.
HB2559	02/04/2025	Amends the Real Property Disclosure Act. Requires the age of a roof to be disclosed in the Disclosure Report.
HB2699	02/04/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may provide medical assistance coverage to persons who are foreign-born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes, and their derivative family members, if such persons meet certain residency and income requirements and meet one of the following conditions: (i) have filed an application for asylum status that is pending with the appropriate federal agency or have a pending appeal of such an application; (ii) are receiving services through a federally funded treatment center; (iii) have filed an application for T nonimmigrant status; (iv) have filed an application for U nonimmigrant status; or (v) have filed as a derivative family member of a T or U nonimmigrant status applicant. Removes language conditioning medical assistance eligibility for such persons on their eligibility for benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
HB2713	02/04/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to require Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse at no less than 100% of the Medical Assistance program's Durable Medical Equipment fee schedule for the same service or item of durable medical equipment, complex rehab technology, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies. Provides that the reimbursement requirement shall also apply to a Medicaid managed care organization's subcontractors and third-party administrators. Provides that the Department has the authority to implement the reimbursement requirement on and after July 1, 2025 and prior to the completion of any regulatory process undertaken in order to effect such change. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1699	01/24/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding operator certification for sewage works, provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a provisional wastewater operator certification program by which a person who does not possess a high school diploma or its equivalent may act as a provisional wastewater operator under a provisional wastewater operator certificate. Allows the Agency to adopt rules. Amends the Public Water Supply Operations Act. In a provision regarding community water supply operator certification, provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a provisional community water supply operator certification program by which a person who does not possess a high school diploma or its equivalent may act as a provisional community water supply operator under a provisional community water supply operator certificate. Allows the Agency to adopt rules.
HB1705	01/24/2025	Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to implement, not later than July 1, 2026, a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting disparate emergency services technologies to ensure real-time coordination between local and State law enforcement and first responder agencies. Provides that the system shall be known as "Alyssa's Alert" and shall integrate with local, public-safety, answering-point infrastructure to transmit 9-1-1 calls and mobile activations. Allows a school board to implement additional strategies or systems to ensure real-time coordination between multiple first responder agencies in the event of a school security emergency. Provides that a school board is not required to procure or implement new or additional capabilities if, as of July 1, 2025, the school board has already implemented a mobile panic alert system with capabilities that meet system requirements. Requires the State Board of Education to conduct market research not later than December 1, 2025 to identify whether an existing competitively procured source of supply is available for a mobile panic alert system from multiple vendors for use by school districts. Provides that if no existing source of supply exists, then the State Board shall issue a competitive solicitation for such source of supply no later than January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.
HB1736	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code to add the Joliet Regional Port District to the list of entities permitted to participate in the Fund as participating instrumentalities. Effective immediately.
HB1363	01/14/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning non-emergency transportation services for medical assistance recipients, removes a requirement that facilities complete a Physician Certification Statement prior to ordering non-emergency transportation services for a patient. Instead, requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop, subject to federal approval, a Uniform Non-Emergency Transportation Certification Form (form) for non-emergency transportation. Provides that the form shall be the only form used by and required of all facilities, physicians, transportation providers, and transportation brokers whenever a patient or person covered by the medical assistance program is being transported from a facility or personal residence and requires non-emergency transportation. Makes corresponding changes to the Nursing Home Care Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Further amends the Medical Assistance Article with a provision authorizing transportation brokers to use a network of independent driver providers for the delivery of covered transportation services. Provides that transportation brokers and participating independent driver providers shall be subject to the same driver credentialing and licensing standards and provider registration requirements as transportation network companies (TNC) and TNC drivers enrolled in the Impact Medicaid Program Advanced Cloud Technology system. With respect to the Department's Business Enterprise Program requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO), requires each MCO to submit only one Letter of Intent that consolidates and sets forth all pending transportation services from all BEP-certified transportation providers contracted with the MCO. Requires the Department to permit a MCO's transportation broker to attest to the accuracy of all claims for services provided by a contracted transportation provider.
HB1279	01/13/2025	Creates the Debt Resolution Services Act. Provides that no person shall provide or offer to provide debt resolution services without a debt resolution services license. Defines "debt resolution services" as a program or service represented, directly or by implication, to renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of the debt between a consumer and one or more unsecured creditors. Sets forth requirements for a debt resolution services license. Sets forth the process for obtaining a debt resolution services license. Provides that specified persons are exempt under the Act. Provides the prerequisites and permitted practices for providing debt resolution services. Provides the requirements for a contract between a licensee and a consumer for debt resolution services. Provides that a consumer may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services at any time without any penalty. Provides that a licensee may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services if specified conditions are satisfied. Includes provisions concerning the powers of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; prohibited activities under the Act, including prohibitions against false or misleading advertising; annual reports filed by a licensee; fees for debt resolution services; information a licensee must provide to a consumer; records a licensee is required to keep; penalties for violating the Act; and transactions entered into before the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Amends various Acts to replace references to the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act to the Debt Resolution Services Act. Effective one year after becoming law except that certain provisions concerning rulemaking are effective immediately.
HB1289	01/13/2025	Creates the Debt Resolution Services Act. Provides that no person shall provide or offer to provide debt resolution services without a debt resolution services license. Defines "debt resolution services" as a program or service represented, directly or by implication, to renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of the debt between a consumer and one or more unsecured creditors. Sets forth requirements for a debt resolution services license. Sets forth the process for obtaining a debt resolution services license. Provides that specified persons are exempt under the Act. Provides the prerequisites and permitted practices for providing debt resolution services. Provides the requirements for a contract between a licensee and a consumer for debt resolution services. Provides that a consumer may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services at any time without any penalty. Provides that a licensee may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services if specified conditions are satisfied. Includes provisions concerning the powers of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; prohibited activities under the Act, including prohibitions against false or misleading advertising; annual reports filed by a licensee; fees for debt resolution services; information a licensee must provide to a consumer; records a licensee is required to keep; penalties for violating the Act; and transactions entered into before the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Amends various Acts to replace references to the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act to the Debt Resolution Services Act. Effective one year after becoming law except that certain provisions concerning rulemaking are effective immediately.
HB1147	01/09/2025	Creates the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act. Provides that owners of qualified low-income housing developments are eligible for credits against the taxes imposed by the Illinois Income Tax Act or taxes, penalties, fees, charges, and payments imposed by the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.