Chicago City Wire

Marcus C. Evans, Jr. introduced HB2343 in the Illinois House on Jan. 30, 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 Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture may share with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity any licensee information necessary to support the administration of social equity programming. Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Adds a definition. In various provisions, adds Social Equity Lottery Licensees to provisions that include Social Equity Applicants. Provides that the Cannabis Business Development Fund shall be exclusively used for certain purposes, to include providing financial assistance to support lending to, or private investment in, Qualified Social Equity Applicants and Social Equity Lottery Licensees, or to facilitate access to the facilities needed to commence operations as a cannabis business establishment. In provisions regarding loans and grants to Social Equity Applicants, adds financial assistance to provisions that include loans and grants. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has the power to enter into financial intermediary agreements to facilitate lending to or investment in Qualified Social Equity Applicants, Social Equity Lottery Licensees, or their subsidiaries or affiliates, to ensure the availability of facilities necessary to operate a cannabis business establishment. Provides that certain loans made shall contain terms and provisions with respect to forgiveness. Provides that those loans also may be distributed by lot if the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity determines that the amount of funding available is insufficient. Provides that, to the extent registration with the federal System for Award Management requires a grant applicant to certify compliance with all federal laws, the grant applicants shall not be required to register for a unique entity identifier through the federal System for Award Management. Makes other and conforming changes."

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 Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act and the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act in Illinois to enhance support for social equity programming within the cannabis industry. It enables the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture to share licensee information with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to facilitate social equity initiatives. The bill also mandates that the Cannabis Business Development Fund be used to provide financial assistance, such as loans and grants, to Qualified Social Equity Applicants and Social Equity Lottery Licensees. It establishes guidelines for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create grant, loan, and financial assistance programs to help these social equity entities start and operate cannabis businesses. Additionally, it exempts grant applicants from needing to register with the federal System for Award Management, given federal cannabis prohibitions. The bill contains several technical adjustments and compliance measures to promote transparency and accountability within the regulatory framework.

Marcus C. Evans, Jr. has proposed another 36 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Evans graduated from Chicago State University with a BS.

Marcus C. Evans Jr. is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 33rd House District. He replaced previous state representative Marlow Colvin in 2012.

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
HB2343	01/30/2025	Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture may share with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity any licensee information necessary to support the administration of social equity programming. Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Adds a definition. In various provisions, adds Social Equity Lottery Licensees to provisions that include Social Equity Applicants. Provides that the Cannabis Business Development Fund shall be exclusively used for certain purposes, to include providing financial assistance to support lending to, or private investment in, Qualified Social Equity Applicants and Social Equity Lottery Licensees, or to facilitate access to the facilities needed to commence operations as a cannabis business establishment. In provisions regarding loans and grants to Social Equity Applicants, adds financial assistance to provisions that include loans and grants. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has the power to enter into financial intermediary agreements to facilitate lending to or investment in Qualified Social Equity Applicants, Social Equity Lottery Licensees, or their subsidiaries or affiliates, to ensure the availability of facilities necessary to operate a cannabis business establishment. Provides that certain loans made shall contain terms and provisions with respect to forgiveness. Provides that those loans also may be distributed by lot if the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity determines that the amount of funding available is insufficient. Provides that, to the extent registration with the federal System for Award Management requires a grant applicant to certify compliance with all federal laws, the grant applicants shall not be required to register for a unique entity identifier through the federal System for Award Management. Makes other and conforming changes.
HB1908	01/29/2025	Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that the executive director of the District, with the advice and consent of the board of commissioners, may appoint a deputy executive director. Makes conforming changes. Provides that the deputy executive director must be selected solely upon administrative and technical qualifications and without regard to political affiliations and shall serve under the direct supervision of the executive director.
HB1920	01/29/2025	Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take proceedings may be used for a period of no more than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act by Cook County and the City of Calumet City for the acquisition of certain described property for the purpose of economic development. Repeals the Section 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
HB1575	01/22/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county recorder may not impose a fee for filing a restrictive covenant modification to an unlawful restrictive covenant (currently a county recorder may impose a fee for filing a restrictive covenant modification to an unlawful restrictive covenant in an amount not to exceed $10). Provides that a county recorder may not charge a fee for any copies of records necessary for filing a restrictive covenant modification to an unlawful restrictive covenant.
HB1506	01/21/2025	Creates the Employment Rights and Remedies Act. Contains only a short title provision.
HB1507	01/21/2025	Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1508	01/21/2025	Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1509	01/21/2025	Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1510	01/21/2025	Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1511	01/21/2025	Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1512	01/21/2025	Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1513	01/21/2025	Amends the Hazardous Materials Emergency Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the findings.
HB1514	01/21/2025	Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1515	01/21/2025	Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1516	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Main Street Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1517	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1518	01/21/2025	Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1519	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1520	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1521	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1522	01/21/2025	Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1523	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1524	01/21/2025	Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1525	01/21/2025	Amends the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1526	01/21/2025	Amends the Property Assessed Clean Energy Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1527	01/21/2025	Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1528	01/21/2025	Amends the Child Labor Law of 2024. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1529	01/21/2025	Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1530	01/21/2025	Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1531	01/21/2025	Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1532	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act.
HB1533	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the establishment of the Police Officers' Pension Investment Fund.
HB1534	01/21/2025	Amends the Employee Classification Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1535	01/21/2025	Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1536	01/21/2025	Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1537	01/21/2025	Amends the Energy Conservation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1387	01/15/2025	Amends the School Code. Prohibits a charter from being granted to an organization that operates a private, parochial, or non-public school or child care facility. Provides that a charter school shall spend no less than 90% of its budget on direct-service costs for students. Removes provisions regarding the closure of charter schools, the use of unspent public funds, and the procedures for disposition of property and assets. Requires the governing body of a charter school that is the subject of a school action to work collaboratively with local school educators and families of students attending the charter school to ensure successful integration of affected students into new learning environments. Requires, for a charter school closure, the governing body of the charter school to ensure that all students of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a seat at a receiving school and that all teachers of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a job at a receiving school. Sets forth requirements for school transition plans. Requires the governing body of the charter school to designate at least 3 opportunities for public comment at a hearing or meeting on the proposed school action.