North Cook News

Laura M. Murphy introduced SB1941 in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 6, 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 Vehicle Code. Allows a unit of local government that has ownership or control over an intersection that is adjacent to property that is used for an elementary or secondary school to install at the ends of the pedestrian crosswalks for that intersection rapid flashing beacons that alert motor vehicle drivers to the presence of pedestrians in the crosswalk when the pedestrians who are using the crosswalk activate the beacons."

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 Vehicle Code to allow local governments with jurisdiction over intersections next to elementary or secondary schools to install rapid flashing beacons at the ends of pedestrian crosswalks. These beacons are designed to alert motorists to the presence of pedestrians by flashing when activated by individuals crossing the street. The installation of these beacons aims to enhance pedestrian safety, particularly for children attending schools, by increasing drivers' awareness and reducing the likelihood of accidents at school crosswalks.

Laura M. Murphy has proposed another 26 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
SB1941	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a unit of local government that has ownership or control over an intersection that is adjacent to property that is used for an elementary or secondary school to install at the ends of the pedestrian crosswalks for that intersection rapid flashing beacons that alert motor vehicle drivers to the presence of pedestrians in the crosswalk when the pedestrians who are using the crosswalk activate the beacons.
SB1817	02/06/2025	Creates the Extended Producer Responsibility and Recycling Refund Act. Contains only a short title provision.
SB1819	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the failure to wear a seat safety belt or the misuse of a seat safety belt by a driver or passenger of a motor vehicle may be considered evidence of negligence and may diminish any recovery from damages, but shall not limit the liability of an insurer.
SB1820	02/06/2025	Amends the Condominium Property Act. Requires the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson to act as the mediator or arbitrator for any mediation or arbitration done under the Act.
SB1821	02/06/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption, provides that the applicant's income does not include up to $10,000 per household in required minimum distributions under the Internal Revenue Code from a retirement plan, retirement account, or retirement annuity. Provides that, for taxable year 2025 and thereafter, the maximum income limitation is $75,000 for all qualified property. Amends the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act. Provides that an eligible taxpayer has a household income of not more than $75,000 for tax year 2025 and thereafter (currently, $65,000 for tax years 2022 through 2025 and $55,000 for tax year 2026 and thereafter). Effective immediately.
SB1822	02/06/2025	Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of the construction of the South Suburban Airport. Prohibits the State from allocating any additional funds to the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Prohibits the Department from using any funds granted to it under the Airport Improvement Program for the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Provides that any request for proposal under the Department's current request for quote process submitted to the Department after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall require any private developer to certify to the Department that no additional funds will be used for the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Effective immediately.
SB1940	02/06/2025	Creates the Mobile and Manufactured Home Ombudsperson Act. Creates the Office of Mobile and Manufactured Home Ombudsperson within the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Ombudsperson shall offer training, educational materials and course offerings for residents, owners, and other interested persons or groups on the operation and management of mobile and manufactured home parks and the relevant laws that are applicable. Requires the Ombudsperson to establish a written policy for resolving complaints made by residents and a dispute resolution process to assist resolving disputes between owners of mobile home parks and residents.
SB1942	02/06/2025	Creates the Stop Abusive Website Access Litigation Act. Authorizes the Attorney General, on behalf of a class of residents, that is subject to litigation that alleges any website access violation to file a civil action in a State court against the party, attorney, or law firm that initiated the litigation for a determination as to whether this is abusive litigation. Provides that in determining whether the litigation alleging a website access violation constitutes abusive litigation, the trier of fact shall consider the totality of the circumstances to determine if the primary purpose of the litigation that alleges a website access violation is obtaining a payment from a defendant because of the costs of defending the action in court. Creates criteria for the trier of act to determine if the litigation is abusive under the Act. Provides that if the trier of fact determines that the litigation qualifies as abusive litigation under the Act, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the defendant. Provides that the court may also award punitive damages not to exceed 3 times the amount of attorney's fees awarded by the court.
SB2004	02/06/2025	Amends the Election Code. Creates the Ranked-Choice Voting Article. Provides that a unit of local government may allow for any local primary election, general election, or special election to be conducted by ranked-choice voting. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked choice voting elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB2005	02/06/2025	Creates the Small Business Economic Incentive Act. Provides that at least 50% of the dollar value of all economic incentives awarded to businesses by the State or by any State agency on or after January 1, 2026 shall be awarded to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB2006	02/06/2025	Creates the Highway Work Zone Safety Act. Establishes the Highway Work Zone Speed Control Pilot Program. Provides that the Program's purpose is to enforce the speed limits established for construction or maintenance speed zones. Requires the Illinois State Police, in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, to set up and operate automated traffic control systems in highway construction and maintenance speed zones to detect violations of posted work zone speed limits. Provides that, before setting up an automated traffic control system for the purposes of the Program: (1) the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation may conduct a public information campaign to inform drivers about the use of automated traffic control systems to detect speeds in excess of a work zone speed limit; and (2) signs indicating that work zone speeds are enforced by automated traffic control systems shall be clearly posted in the areas where the systems are or will be in use. Provides that the Illinois Department of Transportation or the Illinois State Police may employ automated traffic control system operators to operate automated traffic control systems in construction or maintenance speed zones. Contains provisions concerning photographs and recorded images, violations, rented or leased vehicles, procurement, and rulemaking. Makes conforming changes in the Freedom of Information Act and in the Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals the Automated Traffic Control Systems in Highway Construction or Maintenance Zones Act. Effective immediately.
SB1550	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Library System Act. In provisions concerning State grants, provides that the grants shall include, among other things, planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system (rather than planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems) and grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.
SB1612	02/04/2025	Amends the Park District Code. Provides that all competitive bids for contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $50,000 (rather than $30,000), or a lower amount if required by board policy, must be sealed by the bidder and must be opened by a member or employee of the park board at a public bid opening at which the contents of the bids must be announced. Amends the Conservation District Act and the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that specified contracts related to supplies, materials, or work involving an expenditure in excess of $50,000 (rather than $30,000), or a lower amount if required by board policy, must be competitively bid. Effective immediately.
SB1432	01/31/2025	Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that all surplus funds in the special tax allocation fund shall be distributed as soon as possible after they are calculated (rather than distributed annually within 180 days after the close of the municipality's fiscal year).
SB1433	01/31/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that railroad property shall be assessed based on the location of the property (rather than as a unit).
SB1434	01/31/2025	Amends the Conversion and Formation of School Districts Article of the School Code. Within 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires elementary school districts to form new school districts but only with other elementary school districts and high school districts to form new school districts but only with other high school districts, notwithstanding any referendum requirements or any other laws to the contrary. Provides that the State Board of Education shall facilitate the creation of the new school districts by providing recommendations on which districts must consolidate. Sets forth the factors that the State Board must take into consideration. Effective immediately.
SB1435	01/31/2025	Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act and Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall ensure that all employees of the hospital have a panic button attached to their staff identification card. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1497	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In provisions concerning automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones, provides that such provisions apply to home rule municipalities with over 35,000 or more inhabitants in a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more. Effective immediately.
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.