(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Supreme Court is this week weighing arguments in a case that challenges the state’s ability to prohibit people with nonviolent felony convictions from possessing a firearm. At issue is whether state laws governing the possession of firearms conflicts with the latest U.S. Supreme Court standard on the Second Amendment. The state’s high court took the case under review but did not indicate when a decision would be issued.
(SPRINGFIELD) While a proposed bill that would enact statewide safeguards for waterways and wetlands in Illinois was not approved last year in Springfield, Democratic lawmakers and environmental advocates are racing to pass the measure before the federal government slashes funding. Senate Bill 2401 would give the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the authority over wetland permitting on private land before construction, plus the bill would exempt certain agricultural activities like normal farming and the maintenance of farm and stock ponds.
(SPRINGFIELD) Legislation that could make insurance companies cover seizure detection devices is advancing at the Illinois Statehouse. The bill seeks to ensure that individuals can access these devices without additional barriers like prior authorization or cost-sharing. A number of seizure detection devices are FDA-cleared and alert caregivers to seizures in real-time, potentially reducing hospitalizations and saving lives of epileptic patients.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Housing Development Authority has launched a new program offering up to $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible first-time homebuyers. The agency says the IHDA Access Home program uses reallocated funds from prior down payment assistance programs, excess single-family indenture liquidity, and bond proceeds from future revenue bonds debt issuances. For more details go to at ihda.org.