Will County Gazette

Rachel Ventura introduced SB2159 in the Illinois Senate 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: "Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. In provisions concerning the Illinois Agricultural Loan Guarantee Fund and the Illinois Farmer and Agribusiness Loan Guarantee Fund, adds language allowing the moneys in the fund to be used by the Illinois Finance Authority, acting jointly with an appropriate administrative agency of the State using appropriations or other available funds with the Governor's approval, for certain purposes of the Authority regarding the Climate Bank. 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 amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act to allow the Illinois Finance Authority, in collaboration with an appropriate state administrative agency and with the Governor's approval, to use funds from the Illinois Agricultural Loan Guarantee Fund and the Illinois Farmer and Agribusiness Loan Guarantee Fund for purposes related to the Climate Bank. The funds are intended to help farmers and agribusinesses by providing state guarantees for existing debt and new loans. Farmers must be principal operators with significant income derived from farming, while agribusinesses must meet specific sales or diversification criteria. The bill also stipulates conditions for state guarantees, including interest rates and collateral requirements. Effective immediately upon becoming law, it aims to promote diversification and financial assistance in Illinois agriculture while addressing climate-related initiatives.

Rachel Ventura has proposed another 19 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Ventura graduated from Benedictine University in 2002 with a BS.

Rachel Ventura is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 43rd Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Eric Mattson in 2023.

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
SB2159	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. In provisions concerning the Illinois Agricultural Loan Guarantee Fund and the Illinois Farmer and Agribusiness Loan Guarantee Fund, adds language allowing the moneys in the fund to be used by the Illinois Finance Authority, acting jointly with an appropriate administrative agency of the State using appropriations or other available funds with the Governor's approval, for certain purposes of the Authority regarding the Climate Bank. Effective immediately.
SB2156	02/07/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Juvenile Detention Center Strategic Utilization Task Force to review and study the necessity of juvenile detention centers, complaints that arise out of the county juvenile detention centers in the State, and community-based alternatives to juvenile detention. Includes provisions about Task Force membership and duties. Provides that on or before January 1, 2026, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.
SB2157	02/07/2025	Creates the Deforestation-Free Illinois Act. Provides that neither the State nor any government agency of the State shall purchase, at wholesale or retail, or obtain for any purpose any tropical hardwood or tropical hardwood product. Provides that no bid proposal or solicitation, request for bid or proposal, or contract for the construction of any public work, building maintenance, or improvement for or on behalf of the State or any government agency of the State shall require or permit the use of any tropical hardwood or tropical hardwood product. Provides that every contract entered into by a State agency that includes the procurement of any product that consists, in whole or in part, of a forest-risk commodity shall require the contractor to confirm that the commodity furnished to the State under the contract was not extracted from, grown, derived, harvested, reared, or produced on land where deforestation or forest degradation occurred. Effective immediately.
SB2158	02/07/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the 2 candidates in any primary election who receive the most votes in the primary election, regardless of the party affiliation of the candidates, shall be the only 2 candidates certified to participate in the general election. Makes conforming changes. Repeals an Article concerning the making of nominations in certain other cases.
SB2184	02/07/2025	Creates the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act. Establishes the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for the purpose of advising and making recommendations to the Department regarding the provision of psilocybin and psilocybin services. Provides that the Department shall begin receiving applications for the licensing of persons to manufacture or test psilocybin products, operate service centers, or facilitate psilocybin services. Contains licensure requirements and prohibitions. Provides that a licensee or licensee representative may manufacture, deliver, or possess a psilocybin product. Provides that a licensee or licensee representative may not sell or deliver a psilocybin product to a person under 21 years of age. Provides that a person may not sell, give, or otherwise make available a psilocybin product to a person who is visibly intoxicated. Creates the Psilocybin Control and Regulation Fund and the Illinois Psilocybin Fund and makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act. Requires the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and the Department of Revenue to perform specified duties. Contains provisions concerning rulemaking, taxes, fees, zoning, labeling, and penalties. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a tax is imposed upon purchasers for the privilege of using psilocybin at a rate of 15% of the purchase price. Preempts home rule powers. Contains other provisions. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle within the State while there is any amount of a drug, substance, or compound in the person's breath, blood, other bodily substance, or urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of psilocybin as defined in the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Removes psilocybin and psilocin from the list of Schedule I controlled substances. Amends the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal Act of 2012. Provides that the Tax Tribunal shall have original jurisdiction over all determinations of the Department of Revenue reflected on specified notices issued under the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt specific records from disclosure. Effective immediately.
SB2185	02/07/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides within 24 hours of admission to a correctional institution or facility of the Department of Corrections, each committed person shall be screened for substance use disorders as part of an initial and ongoing substance use screening and assessment process. Provides that this process includes screening and assessment for opioid use disorders. Provides that if at any time a committed person screens positive as having or being at risk for an opioid use disorder, is diagnosed with an opioid use disorder or is exhibiting symptoms of withdrawal from an opioid use disorder, and medication assisted treatment is clinically indicated by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed nurse practitioner, then the individual may consent to commence medications for opioid use disorder, which shall be provided by the Department. Provides that the committed person shall be authorized to receive the medication immediately and for as long as clinically indicated. Provides that upon reentry, the Department shall provide an individual participating in medication assisted treatment with a referral to a community-based provider who may assist the individual with continued medications for opioid use disorder and medication assisted treatment care.
SB2186	02/07/2025	Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force Act. Makes findings and declares a purpose. Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the creation and development of locally produced food sources as an alternative use for the land designated for the South Suburban Airport, with certain other requirements. Lists the members of the Task Force, with certain other requirements. Provides for exemptions from certain training, disclosure, filing, and physical meeting requirements. Provides that Task Force members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the University of Illinois Extension shall provide administrative and technical support for the Task Force. Requires submission of a final report no later than December 31, 2026, after which, the Task Force is dissolved. Effective immediately.
SB2304	02/07/2025	Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for a period totaling and not to exceed 2 weeks (rather than an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for any week) with respect to which it is found that his total or partial unemployment is due to a stoppage of work which exists because of a labor dispute at the factory, establishment, or other premises at which he is or was last employed. Provides that, after the 2-week period, the individual will be eligible for benefits.
SB2306	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. In provisions concerning powers and duties of the Illinois Finance Authority in furtherance of its clean energy powers and purposes, provides that the Authority shall have the power to utilize certain funding sources for clean water, drinking water, and wastewater treatment or climate resilience projects. Amends the Climate Bank Loan Financing Act. Defines "climate resilience project" to mean a project to reduce hazards or risks to people and property from future disasters or climate-related conditions. Provides that "climate resilience project" includes, but is not limited to, projects that ensure access to clean water and drinking water, support wastewater treatment or resiliency of other essential infrastructure and other projects that reduce the potential impact of disasters or climate change. Adds climate resilience projects to provisions concerning clean energy infrastructure projects and authority to issue bonds. Effective immediately.
SB2307	02/07/2025	Creates the Electrician Licensing Act. Provides for regulation of electricians and electrical contractors. Establishes civil penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that performing unlicensed electrical work, when a license is required by the Act, constitutes a business offense for the first violation and a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent violation. Provides for concurrent exercise of powers by home rule units. Creates the Building Trades Licensing Task Force. Sets forth requirements for the composition and the actions of the Task Force. Amends the State Finance Act to add the Electrical Safety Standards Fund. Effective January 1, 2027.
SB2417	02/07/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Director of Corrections shall establish a canine unit pilot program within the Department of Corrections, which shall consist of a contraband screening program that includes, but is not limited to, the use of a leashed and controlled canine trained to detect illegal drugs at each correctional institution or facility housing 100 or more committed persons. The Department of Corrections shall, by rule, establish standards concerning the operation of the canine units, the chain of command, assignment of canine handlers, the uniforms to be worn by canine handlers, the shifts and assignments of canine handlers, the training of canines for drug detection, the equipment to be issued to canine handlers, the supply of contraband drugs to canine handlers in order to teach the canines drug detection, the transportation of the canines, canine care, handler responsibility for the care of the canines, canine selection, standards for the selection of canine handlers, the placement of the canines after the canines are no longer used in drug detection, veterinary care for the canines, evaluation of canine handlers and the canines in drug detection, and any other standards that the Department deems necessary for the effective operation of the canine drug detection program.
SB2449	02/07/2025	Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Removes a provision that allows the State Treasurer to invest or reinvest any State money in bonds, notes, debentures, or other similar obligations of a foreign government that satisfies specified requirements.
SB1782	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning the child care assistance program administered by the Department of Human Services, expands the list of families eligible to receive child care assistance to include families that are not TANF recipients but require financial assistance so that a responsible adult within the household can forgo work and care for a newborn child for the child's first 12 weeks of life. Provides that eligibility for cash assistance under the new category is conditioned on the responsible adult being the parent or legal guardian of the newborn child and participating in a Department-approved training program in health, safety, and early childhood development for the entire 12 weeks the family receives assistance. Provides that families eligible for child care assistance under the new category shall receive weekly assistance payments in an amount equal to the full day rate applied to licensed child care providers who provide 17 to 24 hours of care per day; and shall have their child care assistance payment amount adjusted according to the number of newborn children receiving care, up to a maximum of 3 children.
SB1971	02/06/2025	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: (1) 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; (2) developing a registration process for health benefit plan issuers, health care providers, and pharmacies to obtain and dispense prescription drugs imported under the program; (3) 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; (4) establishing an outreach and marketing plan to generate program awareness; (5) 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 matters. Sets forth eligibility criteria for prescription drugs that may be imported into the State under the program. Contains provisions concerning program expansion; program funding; audit procedures; annual reporting requirements; the adoption of rules to implement the Act; and federal waiver or authorization requirements. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1972	02/06/2025	Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act and the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. Provides that a health care provider and a person engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine shall not charge a patient or client or require the patient or client to pay a fee for a missed or late appointment. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall be construed to prohibit health care providers and a persons engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine from developing and implementing an incentive program to encourage patients or clients to adhere to scheduled appointments. Provides that any health care provider or person engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine that violates the provisions concerning missed and late appointment fees is guilty of a petty offense and shall be fined $500 per violation.
SB1698	02/05/2025	Authorizes the Director of Central Management Services to execute and deliver a quit claim deed for specified real property in Will County to the Forest Preserve District of Will County upon the payment of $1, subject to specified conditions. Effective immediately.
SB1741	02/05/2025	Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish and convene the Licensed School Librarian Task Force, which shall meet a minimum of 4 times and submit, no later than 12 months after the first convening of the Task Force, a report to the Governor and the General Assembly containing recommendations, including, but not limited to, recommendations on how to ensure public elementary and secondary schools consider, budget appropriate resources for, and employ licensed school librarians in future school years from available State and local resources. Sets forth provisions concerning the members of the Task Force, support for the Task Force, and other Task Force recommendations. Repeals these provisions on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately.
SB1757	02/05/2025	Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any gift certificate issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be redeemable in cash for its cash value.
SB1513	02/04/2025	Amends the Municipal Code. In provisions concerning acquisition of water systems by eminent domain, provides that eminent domain actions undertaken by a municipality under the provisions may be submitted as a referendum to be voted upon by the electors residing within the area in which the affected water system is located. Provides that the petition process for the elections shall be governed by specified procedures of the Election Code. Provides that the acquisition of water systems by eminent domain is declared to be a special use under specified provisions of the Eminent Domain Act.
SB1608	02/04/2025	Creates the Cargo Transportation Fee Act. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality or a county may impose a fee upon interstate carriers and intrastate carriers that (i) transport by common carrier tangible personal property in the State, (ii) transport that tangible personal property for the purpose of selling that tangible personal property at retail, and (iii) receive tangible personal property directly from an intermodal facility that is located in the municipality or county that enacts the ordinance. Sets forth the amount of the fee. Provides that 95% of the proceeds from the fee shall be deposited into the Cargo Transportation Fee Fund and 5% of the proceeds shall be deposited into the Motor Carrier Safety Inspection Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Cargo Transportation Fee Fund and sets forth the uses for that Fund.
SB0143	01/17/2025	Creates the Judicial Campaign Reform Act. Creates a voluntary program of public financing of election campaigns for the offices of judges of the Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court, administered by the State Board of Elections. Establishes funding mechanisms, terms of participation, and a process for the certification of candidates. Sets mandatory contribution limits with respect to all judicial election campaigns. Provides for penalties for violations of the Act. Makes other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Judicial Election Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB0179	01/17/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall place no additional restrictions, limitations, or requirements than that provided by the statute creating the procedure for medical release. Provides that upon a determination that the petitioner is eligible for a hearing on medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall: (1) provide public notice of the petitioner's name, docket number, counsel, and hearing date; and (2) provide a copy of the evaluation and any medical records provided by the Department of Corrections to the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney upon scheduling the institutional hearing. Provides that a hearing on a petitioner's application for medical release is public unless the petitioner requests a non-public hearing. Provides that members of the public shall be permitted to freely attend public hearings on medical release without restriction. Provides that upon denying an eligible petitioner's application for medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall publish a decision letter outlining the reason for denial. Provides that the decision letter must include an explanation of each statutory factor and the estimated annual cost of the petitioner's continued incarceration, including the petitioner's medical care. Makes technical changes.
SB0042	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes the requirement that cannabis within any area of a motor vehicle must be in an odor-proof container. Provides that if a motor vehicle is driven or occupied by an individual 21 years of age or over, a law enforcement officer may not stop or detain the motor vehicle or its driver nor inspect or search the motor vehicle, the contents of the motor vehicle, or the operator or passenger of the motor vehicle solely based on the odor of burnt or raw cannabis.
SB0043	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Century Network Act. Specifies that the Illinois Century Network shall be a service creating and maintaining high speed telecommunications networks that provide reliable communication throughout Illinois (rather than a service creating and maintaining high speed telecommunications networks that provide reliable communication links for wholesale connections with other registered or certified providers and the direct communication needs of various anchor institutions throughout Illinois). Authorizes the Illinois Century Network to develop an end-to-end broadband network that may include, but may not be limited to, middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure. Deletes provisions requiring the Network to avoid duplication of existing communication networks if those networks are capable of maintaining sufficient capacity to meet the requirement of anchor institutions. Effective immediately.
SB0044	01/13/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation and beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts that submit a grant application to the State Board requesting funds to purchase an electric vehicle to be used for student driver education courses. Requires the State Board to disseminate a request for applications for grants that shall be accepted on an annual basis. Requires the State Board to establish procedures for submitting requests for grants and issuing funds to approved applicants. Sets forth priority determinations for application selection by the State Board if the appropriation amount in a fiscal year is less than the amount required to fund all applications for grants. Establishes application requirements. Allows the State Board to adopt rules to implement the provisions.
SB0045	01/13/2025	Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that no person may intentionally drag or pull any bovine by its tail by any means for the purpose of entertainment, sport, practice, or contest.
SB0046	01/13/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes a provision that it is an aggravating factor in sentencing that the sentence is necessary to deter others from committing the same crime.