Chicago City Wire

Javier L. Cervantes introduced SB1750 in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 5, 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 Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption, provides that the Chief County Assessment Officer in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants may request full social security numbers or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all members of the applicant's household. Provides that the Chief County Assessment Officer may renew the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption without a new application if the Chief County Assessment Officer is able to confirm both that the applicant still owns and resides in the property and that applicant's household income qualifies for the exemption. Provides that a Chief County Assessment Officer who renews a low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption without an annual application shall notify the applicant of both the decision to renew the exemption and the applicant's ongoing duty to report changes in the eligibility of the property to receive the exemption."

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

In essence, the bill amends the Property Tax Code concerning the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption. It allows the Chief County Assessment Officer in counties with 3 million or more inhabitants to request full social security numbers or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all members of the applicant's household. Additionally, it permits the officer to renew exemptions without a new application if the applicant still owns and resides in the property and meets income qualifications. Applicants must be notified about renewal decisions and their ongoing duty to report any changes in exemption eligibility. The bill clarifies the income limits for eligibility and specifies conditions for granting the exemption in certain counties and scenarios, including provisions related to married persons maintaining separate residences and extending filing deadlines due to severe mental or physical conditions.

Javier L. Cervantes has proposed another 19 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Cervantes graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Javier L. Cervantes is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 1st Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Antonio Munoz 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
SB1750	02/05/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption, provides that the Chief County Assessment Officer in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants may request full social security numbers or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all members of the applicant's household. Provides that the Chief County Assessment Officer may renew the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption without a new application if the Chief County Assessment Officer is able to confirm both that the applicant still owns and resides in the property and that applicant's household income qualifies for the exemption. Provides that a Chief County Assessment Officer who renews a low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption without an annual application shall notify the applicant of both the decision to renew the exemption and the applicant's ongoing duty to report changes in the eligibility of the property to receive the exemption.
SB1751	02/05/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that if a household's monthly benefit amount under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is determined to be less than $75, the State shall pay an additional amount to increase the household's total monthly benefit to $75. Effective October 1, 2025.
SB1752	02/05/2025	Amends the Chicago Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the board of the fund has the power to have any records kept by the board photographed, microfilmed, or digitally or electronically reproduced in accordance with the Local Records Act. Provides that the photographs, microfilm, and digital and electronic reproductions shall be deemed original records and documents for all purposes, including introduction in evidence before all courts and administrative agencies. Effective immediately.
SB1753	02/05/2025	Creates the Ensuring Essential Services Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to ensure the State meets its obligation to provide certain essential services for individuals with developmental disabilities at consistent quality levels in accordance with its waiver agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, all while allocating scarce taxpayer resources. Provides that any contract entered into between the Department of Human Services and an agency shall include a provision assuring the State of the uninterrupted delivery of the contracted-for services. Provides that such assurance shall provide that the agency has entered into a binding labor peace agreement with any labor organization that is the exclusive representative of the agency's frontline and direct support staff or, where no exclusive representation has been established, that the agency has or will enter into an agreement with any labor organization that seeks to become the agency's frontline and direct support staff's exclusive representative. Provides that the assurance shall become a condition of any contract entered into, renewed, or amended on or after the effective date of the Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to, no later than 90 days after the effective date of the Act, apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver or State Plan amendment to allow implementation of the contracting requirements. Requires the Department of Human Services, no later than 60 days after the effective date of the Act, to adopt rules implementing the requirements of the Act. Contains provisions on contract requirements for Department of Human Services' contracts; enforcement of contractual assurances; remedial actions for noncompliance; and other matters. Effective June 1, 2025.
SB1498	02/04/2025	Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Provides that funds available from the Probation and Court Services Fund may be used for vehicles used to support evidence-based probation practices and computers and computer equipment and supplies necessary to carry out evidence-based probation practices and data collection and storage.
SB1499	02/04/2025	Amends the Probation and Probation Officers Act. Defines "evidence-based practices" as any procedures, practices, or methods of supervision that have been studied and reviewed with an emphasis on such practices that enable probation officers to improve the outcomes when applied in their supervision of offenders and defendants.
SB1590	02/04/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Exempts from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act information and documentary materials obtained by the Office of the Attorney general or a State's Attorney under certain provisions of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that certain materials are not available for examination, except by authorized employees of the Attorney General and authorized law enforcement, without the consent of the persons who produced the materials. Provides that certain materials obtained by the Attorney General from other law enforcement officials shall be treated as if produced pursuant to a subpoena for purposes of maintaining the confidentiality of such information.
SB1591	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "leader-follower work zone vehicle" as a motor vehicle used in combination with another motor vehicle in a highway construction or maintenance zone that is: (1) equipped with an automated driving system; and (2) remotely connected to another motor vehicle allowing for coordinated or controlled movement within line of sight of the operator. Provides that the provision regarding following too closely does not apply to leader-follower work zone vehicles. Authorizes the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to implement the use of a leader-follower work zone vehicle in a highway construction or maintenance zone under their jurisdiction to create a safety system to protect their workers. Effective immediately.
SB1592	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2030, a third-party delivery service shall not employ or contract with a person to deliver goods from a store or restaurant unless the person making the delivery uses a non-carbon emitting mode of transportation. Provides that the provision does not apply to a delivery that requires a person to travel 15 miles or more to complete the delivery. Provides that a third-party delivery service that violates the provision is subject to a business offense not to exceed $1,000. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.
SB1392	01/29/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no provision of the Illinois Insurance Code, or any other law, prohibits assignability rights to an insured under any policy of dental insurance (in addition to accident and health insurance). Provides that if an enrollee or insured of an insurer, health maintenance organization, managed care plan, health care plan, preferred provider organization, dental service plan corporation, dental insurer, or third party administrator assigns a claim to a health care professional, or health care facility, a dental care provider, or a dental care facility, then payment shall be made directly to the health care professional, or health care facility, dental care provider, or dental care facility, including any required interest. Effective immediately.
SB1393	01/29/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning provider reimbursement rates for medically fragile and technology dependent children, provides that subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for nursing paid through Nursing and Personal Care Services for non-waiver customers and to providers of private duty nursing services for children eligible for medical assistance shall be 3.5% higher than the reimbursement rates in effect for nursing services on December 31, 2025. Effective immediately.
SB1322	01/28/2025	Creates the Mental Health Professional Career Scholarship Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to create the Mental Health Professional Career Scholarship Program to award scholarships to Illinois students pursuing a mental health professional career in order to increase diversity rates by recruiting individuals to work in mental health fields in the public sector or mental health jobs that have a high demand for new employees and retain those individuals. Sets forth provisions concerning the selection of recipients, the amount of assistance, applications for assistance, the payment of assistance, administering the scholarship program, and rulemaking.
SB1323	01/28/2025	Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Makes changes to the requirements for a registered professional nursing education program in provisions concerning the establishment of a new program, program policies, faculty members, training and development, the program's curriculum, the program's use of simulation, the accreditation process, approval by the Board of Nursing, and the program closure process. Makes a conforming change. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may, without hearing, rescind the license of any person who obtain a license after completing a program or obtaining credit from a program that does not meet the requirements of the provisions regarding registered professional nursing education programs. In provisions concerning nursing licensure by examination, removes the provision regarding the good standing period for professional nursing programs on probationary status.
SB0270	01/24/2025	Appropriates $16,358,900 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services Rehabilitation Services Bureau for grants to independent living centers. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB0271	01/24/2025	Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician assistant may prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices without delegation of authority by a physician. Provides that a physician assistant may practice without a written collaborative agreement. Provides that a physician assistant who files with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification shall not require a written collaborative agreement to practice. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; physician assistant title; collaboration requirements; written collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority, and physician assistants in hospitals, hospital affiliates, or ambulatory surgical treatment centers; inactive status; limitations; and grounds for disciplinary action. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to make corresponding changes.
SB1183	01/24/2025	Creates the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. Provides that no person shall sell, offer for sale, provide, or distribute kratom leaf or a kratom product to a person under 21 years of age, with requirements for online age verification. Provides that no person shall sell, offer for sale, provide, or distribute a kratom product that contains certain chemical compositions. Provides that an individual, business, or other entity shall not produce, sell, or distribute a kratom product that is attractive to children. Provides that no person shall sell, offer for sale, provide, or distribute a kratom product that is adulterated with a dangerous non-kratom substance. Provides that no person shall offer for sale any kratom product that contains synthesized or semi-synthesized kratom alkaloids or kratom constituents. Requires federal compliance for kratom products and processors. Imposes a tax of 5% on the retail sale of kratom products. Requires quarterly returns for the tax. Provides that a person who knowingly files a false or incomplete return is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Provides for rulemaking and other powers for the Department of Revenue. Incorporates certain provisions of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act. Provides that any person who sells a kratom product in violation of this Act shall be subject to a civil penalty up to $5,000 for the first violation, and up to $10,000 for a second violation. Provides that, for a third violation and each subsequent violation, the person shall be fined a minimum of $10,000, up to a maximum of $20,000, and shall be prohibited from selling kratom products in this State for 3 years. Defines terms. Limits home rule powers. Repeals the Kratom Control Act.
SB0194	01/22/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund checkoff. Provides that, through the checkoff, taxpayers may contribute to the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the purpose of awarding iGROW Tech scholarships. Effective immediately.
SB0106	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Authorizes the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to: (1) use the services of, and enter into necessary agreements with, outside entities for the purpose of evaluating grant applications and for the purpose of administering or monitoring compliance with grant agreements; (2) make grants to community-based organizations, local government agencies, non-profit organizations, or other eligible entities for specified criminal justice and public safety programs; and (3) adopt rules necessary to carry out the Authority's responsibilities under the Act. Effective immediately.
SB0107	01/17/2025	Creates the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program Act. Provides that the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall contract with a not-for-profit corporation organized under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 to administer and manage the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program. Provides that the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall select the not-for-profit corporation through a competitive grant award process. Provides that from appropriations made by the General Assembly from the Illinois Police K-9 Memorial Fund to the University of Illinois for implementation of the Act, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall make grants to the not-for-profit corporation contracted by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois to be the disbursing authority for the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that moneys from the Illinois Police K-9 Memorial Fund and for grants under the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program Act.
SB0108	01/17/2025	Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in the assessment waiver provisions, defines "assessments" to include assessments in a county having a population of more than 3,000,000. Deletes a provision that states the provision is inoperative on and after July 1, 2024 that provides that in a county having a population of more than 3,000,000, "assessments" means any costs imposed on a criminal defendant under the Assessment Schedules Article of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act, including violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code assessments.
SB0124	01/17/2025	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.