North Cook News

Mary Beth Canty introduced HB2524 in the Illinois House on Feb. 3, 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 Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Includes in the definition of "firefighter", a person employed in a municipality's or fire protection district's fire service as a de facto firefighter. Provides that "de facto firefighter" means a firefighter who spends a majority of the firefighter's working time participating in the work of controlling and extinguishing fires at the location of any such fires, preparing for such work or waiting to respond to such calls for work and whose scheduled or actual work hours are commensurate in duration and frequency with certain firefighters. Provides that "de facto firefighter" does not include part-time firefighters who are not otherwise covered; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters, including paid-on-call firefighters; and clerks, dispatchers, or other civilian employees of a fire department or fire protection district who are not routinely expected to perform firefighter duties. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act do not affect persons covered by the Article before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. 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 Pension Code to expand the definition of "firefighter" to include "de facto firefighters" who work in a municipality's or fire protection district's fire service. A "de facto firefighter" is defined as someone who spends most of their working time controlling and extinguishing fires, preparing for such work, or waiting to respond to fire-related calls, with work hours comparable to certain full-time firefighters. The bill excludes part-time, auxiliary, reserve, and voluntary firefighters, as well as non-firefighting civilian employees. The changes will not impact individuals already covered by existing regulations prior to the bill's enactment. It specifies that no state reimbursement is needed for implementing this mandate and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Mary Beth Canty has proposed another six bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Canthy graduated from College of William & Mary in 2003 with a BA and again in 2006 from University of Arizona with a JD.

Mary Beth Canthy is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 54th House District. She replaced previous state representative Tom Morrison 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
HB2524	02/03/2025	Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Includes in the definition of "firefighter", a person employed in a municipality's or fire protection district's fire service as a de facto firefighter. Provides that "de facto firefighter" means a firefighter who spends a majority of the firefighter's working time participating in the work of controlling and extinguishing fires at the location of any such fires, preparing for such work or waiting to respond to such calls for work and whose scheduled or actual work hours are commensurate in duration and frequency with certain firefighters. Provides that "de facto firefighter" does not include part-time firefighters who are not otherwise covered; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters, including paid-on-call firefighters; and clerks, dispatchers, or other civilian employees of a fire department or fire protection district who are not routinely expected to perform firefighter duties. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act do not affect persons covered by the Article before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB2440	02/03/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires any pharmacy benefit manager or health insurer to provide notice of a change in prescription drug coverage or pricing, including instructions on appeals and exceptions, to beneficiaries of health plans in the State who would be affected by the change. Provides that any pharmacy benefit manager or health insurer must, on or before July 30, 2026, submit to the Department for approval a plan by which beneficiaries may appeal, or request an exception to, a contemplated change in coverage. Provides that this process must allow beneficiaries to present evidence for their appeal or exception. Provides that if the Department of Insurance determines that the processes for requesting appeals or exceptions are insufficient, or do not adequately rely on medical necessity, the Department shall set forth required changes to the process within 90 days of receipt. Provides that if the pharmacy benefit manager or health insurer disputes the changes, a hearing may be requested within 10 days after receipt of the changes, and the Department shall enter a final written decision within 5 days of the hearing.
HB1836	01/28/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the offense of methamphetamine trafficking may be tried in any county. Permits the Attorney General to authorize certain eavesdropping requests from law enforcement. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Permits the Attorney General or an Assistant Attorney General authorized by the Attorney General to authorize an application to a circuit judge or an associate judge assigned by the Chief Judge of the circuit for, and such judge may grant in conformity with the Judicial Supervision of the Use of Eavesdropping Devices Article of the Code, an order authorizing or approving the use of an eavesdropping device by a law enforcement officer or agency having the responsibility for the investigation of any felony under Illinois law where any one party to a conversation to be monitored, or previously monitored in the case of an emergency situation, has consented to such monitoring. Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act. Provides that a Statewide Grand Jury may investigate, indict, and prosecute theft, retail theft, Internet offenses, continuing financial crimes enterprise, vehicular hijacking, aggravated vehicular hijacking, vehicular invasion, burglary, residential burglary, and home invasion if the offense involves acts occurring in more than one county of the State.
HB1391	01/15/2025	Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Deletes provisions that a defendant may refuse to waive service of summons. Provides that if a defendant located within the United States fails, without good cause, to sign and return a waiver requested by a plaintiff located within the United States, the court must impose on the defendant (1) the expenses later incurred in making service and (2) the reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, of any motion required to collect those service expenses.
HB1330	01/14/2025	Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, rates for in-home services shall be increased to $32.75 to sustain a minimum wage of $20 per hour for direct service workers. As a condition of their eligibility for the $32.75 in-home services rate, requires in-home services providers to (i) certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers and (ii) submit cost reports. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the rate increases. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, the Department shall ensure that each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for homecare aide services it furnishes under the Community Care Program on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. Requires the Department to adopt rules on financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs. Authorizes the Department to sanction a provider that fails to meet the requirements of the amendatory Act. Defines terms.
HB1354	01/14/2025	Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that every health care facility in this State shall permit the next of kin of a patient who is on life support to remain with the patient, at the patient's bedside, irrespective of regular hours of visitation. Provides that health care facilities may institute reasonable policies, including reasonable requirements that promote the health, safety, and welfare of the next of kin, the patient, and the employees and other patients of the health care facility without revoking the basic right afforded to the next of kin of a patient who is on life support. Defines "next of kin".
HB1355	01/14/2025	Amends the Gasoline Storage Act. Provides that, beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, no person shall construct or install a gas station, a motor fuel dispensary, or a motor fuel storage tank on or within 300 feet of school grounds. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules that implement these provisions and conform with the requirements of the Act. Defines terms.