Chicago City Wire

Will Guzzardi introduced HB2556 in the Illinois House on Feb. 4, 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 Liquor Control Act of 1934. Increases the self-distribution limit for class 3 brewers that meet certain requirements to not more than 77,500 (instead of 6,200) gallons of beer from each in-state or out-of-state class 3 brewery premises, which shall not exceed 232,500 (instead of 18,600) gallons annually in the aggregate, that is manufactured at a wholly owned class 3 brewer's in-state or out-of-state licensed premises to retail licensees and class 3 brewers and to certain brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers. Provides that a special event retailer's license (not-for-profit) shall allow the licensee to sell and offer for sale, at retail, alcoholic liquors for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license (instead of for use or consumption), but not for resale in any form and only at the location and on the specific dates designated for the special event in the license. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, a special use permit license shall allow the sale or offering for sale of certain transferred or delivered alcoholic liquor at retail for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license. Provides that a retail licensee or manufacturer with retail privileges may operate a loyalty program, reward program, or mug club for alcoholic liquors the retailer or manufacturer with retail privileges is licensed to sell so long as the price of the product is not below the retail licensee's or manufacturer with retail privileges' costs. Provides that a retail licensee or licensed manufacturer with retail privileges may offer incentives to consumers for participation in a rewards program, loyalty program, or mug club. Set forth further provisions concerning rewards programs, loyalty programs, and mug clubs. Makes conforming and other 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 Liquor Control Act of 1934 to increase the self-distribution limit for class 3 brewers, allowing them to distribute up to 77,500 gallons per brewery with a total annual limit of 232,500 gallons. It also allows special event retailers to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on or off designated premises, excluding resale, and permits the operation of loyalty programs, rewards programs, or mug clubs for alcoholic beverages by retail licensees or manufacturers with retail privileges. It specifies that prices must not drop below the cost for such programs, allows incentives for participation, and sets conditions for discounts and benefits offered through these programs. The bill provides additional provisions and authorization for special use permits, enabling retail sale of transferred or delivered liquor within specified conditions. The effective date of this bill is not specified.

Will Guzzardi has proposed another nine bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Guzzardi graduated from Brown University in 2009 with a BA.

Will Guzzardi is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 39th House District. He replaced previous state representative Maria Antonia Berrios 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
HB2556	02/04/2025	Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Increases the self-distribution limit for class 3 brewers that meet certain requirements to not more than 77,500 (instead of 6,200) gallons of beer from each in-state or out-of-state class 3 brewery premises, which shall not exceed 232,500 (instead of 18,600) gallons annually in the aggregate, that is manufactured at a wholly owned class 3 brewer's in-state or out-of-state licensed premises to retail licensees and class 3 brewers and to certain brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers. Provides that a special event retailer's license (not-for-profit) shall allow the licensee to sell and offer for sale, at retail, alcoholic liquors for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license (instead of for use or consumption), but not for resale in any form and only at the location and on the specific dates designated for the special event in the license. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, a special use permit license shall allow the sale or offering for sale of certain transferred or delivered alcoholic liquor at retail for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license. Provides that a retail licensee or manufacturer with retail privileges may operate a loyalty program, reward program, or mug club for alcoholic liquors the retailer or manufacturer with retail privileges is licensed to sell so long as the price of the product is not below the retail licensee's or manufacturer with retail privileges' costs. Provides that a retail licensee or licensed manufacturer with retail privileges may offer incentives to consumers for participation in a rewards program, loyalty program, or mug club. Set forth further provisions concerning rewards programs, loyalty programs, and mug clubs. Makes conforming and other changes.
HB2545	02/04/2025	Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeals Act. Permits the following persons to appeal a municipality's denial of a proposed supportive housing project, including a project to develop a permanent supportive housing apartment building or community integrated-living arrangement, for low-income persons with disabilities: (1) the affordable housing developer of the proposed project; (2) a person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the proposed project; and (3) the community group or supportive housing advocacy group advocating for the proposed project. Provides that if a municipality fails to respond to an appeal within 60 days of its receipt, the State Housing Appeals Board (Board) shall automatically reverse the municipality's decision to deny the proposed supportive housing project. Provides that if the municipality timely responds to the appeal, it must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the proposed supportive housing project would be detrimental to the fair operation and interest of the municipality or would place an unreasonable and disproportionate financial burden on the municipality or on municipal services. Requires the Board to reverse the municipality's decision to deny the proposed supportive housing project if the Board determines that the municipality has not met this burden.
HB2546	02/04/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In the provision concerning parole review of persons under the age of 21 at the time of the commission of an offense, provides that any date after serving the minimum term of years to become eligible for parole review or up to 3 years prior to becoming eligible for parole review, the eligible person may file his or her petition for parole review with the Prisoner Review Board. Provides that within 30 days of receipt of this petition, the Prisoner Review Board shall determine whether the petition is appropriately filed, and if so, shall set a date for parole review 3 years from receipt of the petition or the date the person is eligible for parole review, whichever date is sooner, and notify the Department of Corrections within 10 business days. Provides that in no such circumstance shall the hearing be scheduled sooner than one year from the date of the determination that the petition is appropriately filed.
HB1628	01/23/2025	Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Provides that each law enforcement agency that seizes, forfeits, or receives property subject to reporting under the Act shall report certain information about each seizure and forfeiture of property to the Illinois State Police no later than 60 days after December 31 of the year in which the property is seized or forfeited. Adds certain required information, including the accused person's race, sex, age, and zip code, as well as a citation to the statutory authorities under which the property was seized and the accused person was arrested, to the information to be submitted in a report. Adds certain required information from court records about each forfeiture of property to the information to be reported to the Illinois State Police. Provides that if an agency did not seize, forfeit, receive, or spend forfeiture funds, it shall file a null report with the Illinois State Police. Provides that the annual report shall include an aggregate summary of all seizures and forfeitures carried out and their respective proceeds, as well as other information, including categories of expenditures, such as investigation and litigation expenses, software, hardware, appliances, canines, surveillance technology, IMSI catchers, operating expenses, and administrative expenses. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall post annually on its website aggregate data for each law enforcement agency with certain information. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, 120 days after the end of each calendar year, submit to the General Assembly, Attorney General, and Governor, as well as post on its website, a written report that summarizes certain activity in the State for the preceding year regarding property seized and related expenditures at the State and local levels, with categorized accounting and other requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police may include certain recommendations in its report. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, on or before January 1, 2026 (rather than 2019), establish and implement the requirements of this Act. Makes other changes.
HB1601	01/22/2025	Amends the County Motor Fuel Tax Law in the Counties Code. Provides that any county (currently, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, and McHenry counties only) may impose a tax upon all persons engaged in the business of selling motor fuel. Provides that, in addition to other uses currently allowed by law, the proceeds from the tax shall be used for the purpose of maintaining and constructing essential transportation-related infrastructure.
HB1245	01/10/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall place no additional restrictions, limitations, or requirements than that provided by the statute creating the procedure for medical release. Provides that upon a determination that the petitioner is eligible for a hearing on medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall: (1) provide public notice of the petitioner's name, docket number, counsel, and hearing date; and (2) provide a copy of the evaluation and any medical records provided by the Department of Corrections to the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney upon scheduling the institutional hearing. Provides that a hearing on a petitioner's application for medical release is public unless the petitioner requests a non-public hearing. Provides that members of the public shall be permitted to freely attend public hearings on medical release without restriction. Provides that upon denying an eligible petitioner's application for medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall publish a decision letter outlining the reason for denial. Provides that the decision letter must include an explanation of each statutory factor and the estimated annual cost of the petitioner's continued incarceration, including the petitioner's medical care. Makes technical changes.
HB1252	01/10/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Motor Vehicle Insurance Fairness Act. Provides that no insurer shall refuse to issue or renew a policy of automobile insurance based in whole or in part on specified prohibited underwriting or rating factors. Sets forth factors that are prohibited with respect to underwriting and rating a policy of automobile insurance. Sets forth provisions concerning the use of territorial factors. Provides that every insurer selling a policy of automobile insurance in the State shall demonstrate that its marketing, underwriting, rating, claims handling, fraud investigations, and any algorithm or model used for those business practices do not disparately impact any group of customers based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, or gender expression. Provides that no rate shall be approved or remain in effect that is excessive, inadequate, unfairly discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of the provisions. Provides that every insurer that desires to change any rate shall file a complete rate application with the Director of Insurance. Provides that all information provided to the Director under the provisions shall be available for public inspection. Provides that any person may initiate or intervene in any proceeding permitted or established under the provisions and challenge any action of the Director under the provisions. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall adopt rules. Provides that all insurers subject to the provisions shall be assessed a fee of 0.05% of their total earned premium from the prior calendar year, and that the fee shall be payable to the Department no later than July 1 of each calendar year and shall be used by the Department to implement the provisions.
HB1154	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that a plaintiff may be awarded all forms of relief available in tort actions, including but not be limited to, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of a normal life. Provides that a plaintiff may also be awarded punitive damages.
HB1155	01/09/2025	Amends the University of Illinois Act. Provides that the Board of Trustees shall direct the University of Illinois System, in addition to the Office of Investments and external investment managers, to not invest the assets of any endowment fund in the stocks, securities, or other obligations of any fossil fuel company or any subsidiary, affiliate, or parent of any fossil fuel company. Provides that this does not preclude the de minimis exposure of any funds held by the endowment fund to the stocks, securities, or other obligations of any fossil fuel company or any subsidiary, affiliate, or parent of any fossil fuel company. Requires the Board of Trustees to direct the University of Illinois System, in addition to the Office of Investments and external investment managers, to not invest in any prime commercial paper or corporate bonds issued by a fossil fuel company. Provides that, beginning one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Board of Trustees, subject to an affirmative determination of prudence and in accordance with sound investment criteria and consistent with its fiduciary obligations, shall direct the University of Illinois System to ensure that any endowment fund does not have any indirect investments; defines "indirect investment". Provides that the Board of Trustees shall direct the University of Illinois System, in addition to the Office of Investments and external investment managers, to adopt updates to its written investment policies, if necessary, to meet the requirements of these provisions and publish a copy of those updated policies within 90 days after the adoption of the updated policies. Effective immediately.
HB1156	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall produce ethanol using seeds that have been treated with a pesticide.