North Cook News

Laura M. Murphy introduced SB1329 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 28, 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 Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. With respect to the suspension or revocation of a license, endorsement, or approval, allows disclosure of correspondence, documentation, and other information received by a regional superintendent of schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board to the license holder's current or most recent employer. Provides that a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing and Statement of Charges issued by the State Superintendent of Education against a license holder is not confidential and may be disclosed to third parties."

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

In essence, this bill amends Section 21B-75 of the Illinois School Code, detailing the processes for the suspension or revocation of teaching licenses, endorsements, or approvals by the State Superintendent of Education. It grants the Superintendent exclusive authority, in consultation with relevant boards, to initiate these actions for reasons including child abuse, sexual misconduct, immorality, health conditions harmful to students, and unprofessional conduct. Incompetency is specified as multiple unsatisfactory evaluation ratings within seven school terms. The bill outlines investigative procedures, due process for accused individuals, and requirements for professional development as potential sanctions. Additionally, it allows the issuance of subpoenas and mandates confidentiality of information unless required for legal processes. It includes provisions for notifying employers if a teacher is under investigation for serious misconduct and appropriates funding for related investigation and prosecution activities.

Laura M. Murphy has proposed another 10 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Murphy graduated from Illinois State University with a BS.

Laura M. Murphy is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 28th Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Dan Kotowski in 2015.

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
SB1329	01/28/2025	Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. With respect to the suspension or revocation of a license, endorsement, or approval, allows disclosure of correspondence, documentation, and other information received by a regional superintendent of schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board to the license holder's current or most recent employer. Provides that a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing and Statement of Charges issued by the State Superintendent of Education against a license holder is not confidential and may be disclosed to third parties.
SB1330	01/28/2025	Amends the Election Code. Requires that each election authority maintain a website. Provides that each election authority shall update the election results on its website each time a new batch of votes is tabulated or every 12 hours, whichever is less. Provides that each election authority shall also update on its website, every 12 hours, the number of vote by mail ballots, by precinct, that have been: (i) requested but not received by the election authority; (ii) received but have not been tabulated by the election authority; and (iii) rejected by the election authority.
SB0125	01/17/2025	Creates the Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Act. Provides that, beginning on the effective date of the Act, any food offered for retail sale in this State is misbranded if it is entirely or partially produced with genetic engineering and that fact is not disclosed in a specified manner. Provides that the Act shall not be construed to require the listing of specific ingredients as genetically engineered. Creates exemptions from the requirements of the Act. Creates a right of action for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules necessary to implement the Act. Defines terms. Contains a severability provision. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB0126	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for all medically necessary diagnostic testing and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments or medications prescribed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease or another related dementia, in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration label, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Provides that coverage of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments or medications prescribed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease or another related dementia shall not be subject to step therapy. Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act to require coverage under those provisions. Effective immediately.
SB0127	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Prohibits a legislator from engaging in compensated lobbying of the governing body of a municipality, county, or township, or an official thereof, or the executive branch of the State of Illinois, or an official thereof. Effective immediately.
SB0177	01/17/2025	Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Provides that, beginning 18 months after the amendatory Act's effective date, (1) no store or food service business shall provide or sell a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer and (2) no grocery store shall provide or sell a single-use paper carryout bag to a customer. Preempts home rule. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.
SB0178	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the amount paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for the purpose of purchasing materials, labor, and professional services to soundproof a residential home located at an eligible address against aircraft noise generated by an airport governed by the provisions of the Permanent Noise Monitoring Act. Provides that the credit may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Provides that the credit may be carried forward. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.
SB0069	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for hippotherapy and other forms of therapeutic riding. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, and the Health Maintenance Organization Act.
SB0070	01/13/2025	Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Requires an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State to allow a student for whom it is determined that special education services are needed under the School Code to participate in interscholastic athletics and other forms of athletic competition for as long as the student is eligible for such special education services, which, for purposes of the School Code, means through the day before the student's 22nd birthday.
SB0071	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Provides that Local Emergency Planning Committees and the State Emergency Response Commission shall partner with schools and school districts regarding safety threats posed by storage and transport of hazardous substances near schools. Provides requirements for a comprehensive emergency response plan to go into effect. Details duties of the State Emergency Response Commission, working in consultation with Local Emergency Planning Committees and schools, with respect to planning and preparedness. Provides for rulemaking by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. Directs the Illinois Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Response Committees to create a timeline for compliance with the requirements of the amendatory Act not to exceed 2 years. Defines terms.
SB0072	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who may claim a qualifying student as a dependent is allowed a credit of up to $2,000 for qualified tuition and fee expenses paid by the taxpayer. Provides that the term qualifying student means a person who (i) is a resident of the State, (ii) is under the age of 24 at the close of the school year for which a credit is sought, and (iii) during the school year for which a credit is sought, is a full-time student enrolled in a program at a qualifying college or university. Effective immediately.
SB0075	01/13/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that 20% of the lesser of (rather than the lesser of): (i) the purchase price or (ii) the fair market value shall constitute the rate base associated with the water or sewer utility as acquired by and incorporated into the rate base of the district designated by the acquiring large public utility, subject to any adjustments that the Illinois Commerce Commission deems necessary to ensure such rate base reflects prudent and useful investments in the provision of public utility service. Provides that the difference between the rate base and the purchase price or fair market value shall be borne by the shareholders of the acquiring large public utility. In provisions concerning the acquisition of a water or sewer utility, provides that, at the next election following the public meeting and notice requirements, a referendum shall be placed on the ballot for all electors within the area the water or sewer utility operates. Provides that, if a majority of the electors voting on the referendum within the service area of the water or sewer utility vote in favor of the referendum, then the acquisition may continue. Provides that, if less than a majority of the electors voting on the referendum within the service area of the water or sewer utility vote in favor of the referendum, the Commission shall not approve the large public utility's acquisition of the water or sewer utility. Removes a provision that provides that the Commission may authorize a water or sewer utility to file a surcharge which adjusts rates and charges to provide for recovery of costs associated with an investment in qualifying infrastructure plant, independent of any other matters related to the utility's revenue requirement. Makes other changes.