Chicago City Wire

Robert Peters introduced SB1787 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 Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that in a proceeding under the Delinquent Minors Article of the Act, a minor who was under 18 (rather than under 15) years of age at the time of the commission of an act that if committed by an adult would be a violation of any offense under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 (rather than a homicide offense or criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse) must be represented by counsel throughout the entire custodial interrogation of the minor. Provides that in custodial interrogations, a minor may not waive the right to the assistance of counsel. Provides that an oral, written, or sign language statement of a minor, who at the time of the commission of the offense was under 18 years of age, is presumed to be inadmissible when the statement is obtained from the minor while the minor is subject to custodial interrogation by a law enforcement officer, State's Attorney, juvenile officer, or other public official or employee prior to the officer, State's Attorney, public official, or employee ensuring that the minor is represented by counsel throughout the custodial interrogation. Provides that an oral, written, or sign language statement of a minor made without counsel present throughout the entire custodial interrogation of the minor shall be inadmissible as evidence against the minor in any juvenile court proceeding or criminal proceeding. Deletes provision that the presumption of inadmissibility of a statement made by a suspect at a custodial interrogation at a police station or other place of detention may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence that the statement was voluntarily given and is reliable, based on the totality of the circumstances. Amends the Counties Code to make conforming changes."

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 Juvenile Court Act of 1987, expanding protections for minors under 18 during custodial interrogations. It mandates that these minors must have legal representation throughout the entire process, and they cannot waive their right to counsel. Any statements made by minors without counsel present during interrogation are presumed inadmissible in court. The presumption applies regardless of whether the statement was oral, written, or sign language. It revises existing law to remove the possibility of overcoming the presumption of inadmissibility by proving the statement was given voluntarily and reliably. Additionally, the bill outlines detailed procedures for ensuring minors are advised of their rights and confirms the inadmissibility of statements made without legal counsel. The effective date is not specified in the bill text.

Robert Peters has proposed another 21 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Peters graduated from Kansas State University in 2009 with a BS.

Robert Peters is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 13th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Kwame Raoul in 2019.

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
SB1787	02/06/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that in a proceeding under the Delinquent Minors Article of the Act, a minor who was under 18 (rather than under 15) years of age at the time of the commission of an act that if committed by an adult would be a violation of any offense under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 (rather than a homicide offense or criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse) must be represented by counsel throughout the entire custodial interrogation of the minor. Provides that in custodial interrogations, a minor may not waive the right to the assistance of counsel. Provides that an oral, written, or sign language statement of a minor, who at the time of the commission of the offense was under 18 years of age, is presumed to be inadmissible when the statement is obtained from the minor while the minor is subject to custodial interrogation by a law enforcement officer, State's Attorney, juvenile officer, or other public official or employee prior to the officer, State's Attorney, public official, or employee ensuring that the minor is represented by counsel throughout the custodial interrogation. Provides that an oral, written, or sign language statement of a minor made without counsel present throughout the entire custodial interrogation of the minor shall be inadmissible as evidence against the minor in any juvenile court proceeding or criminal proceeding. Deletes provision that the presumption of inadmissibility of a statement made by a suspect at a custodial interrogation at a police station or other place of detention may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence that the statement was voluntarily given and is reliable, based on the totality of the circumstances. Amends the Counties Code to make conforming changes.
SB1784	02/06/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a minor found to be guilty may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice if the minor is at least 14 (rather than 13) years and under 20 years of age, provided that the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be made only if the minor was found guilty of a felony offense or first degree murder. Provides that when a minor of the age of at least 14 (rather than 13) years is adjudged delinquent for the offense of first degree murder, the court shall declare the minor a ward of the court and order the minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice until the minor's 21st birthday, without the possibility of aftercare release, furlough, or nonemergency authorized absence for a period of 5 years from the date the minor was committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that on or after July 1, 2026 and before July 1, 2027, any minor 12 years of age or older arrested pursuant to the Act if there is probable cause to believe that the minor is a delinquent minor and that secure custody is a matter of immediate and urgent necessity, in light of a serious threat to the physical safety of a person or persons in the community or in order to secure the presence of the minor at the next hearing, as evidenced by a demonstrable record of willful failure to appear at a scheduled court hearing within the past 12 months, may be kept or detained in an authorized detention facility. Provides that on or after July 1, 2027, minors age 12 years of age and under 13 years of age and charged with first degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery in which a firearm was used in the offense, or aggravated vehicular hijacking, may be kept or detained in an authorized detention facility. Provides that no minor under 13 (rather than under 12) years of age shall be detained in a county jail or a municipal lockup for more than 6 hours. Provides that instead of detention, minors under the age of 13 who are in conflict with the law may be held accountable through a petition under the Minors Requiring Authoritative Intervention Article of the Act, or may be held accountable through a community mediation program.
SB1785	02/06/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person who is serving a term of mandatory supervised release shall receive one day of additional supervision credit for each day of his or her mandatory supervised release term. Provides that each day of supervision credit shall reduce by one day the person's period of mandatory supervised release. Provides that if prior to expiration or termination of the term of mandatory supervised release, a person violates a condition set by the Prisoner Review Board or a condition of mandatory supervised release to govern that term, the Board may extend the term of mandatory supervised release by revoking supervision credit earned.
SB1786	02/06/2025	Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires a school district maintaining any of grades 9 through 12 to provide all eligible students graduating from high school with the opportunity to register to vote. Effective immediately.
SB1788	02/06/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Eliminates the felony murder provisions from the first degree murder statute. Provides that a person commits second degree murder when he or she, acting alone or with one or more participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible felony, other than first degree murder, and in the course of or in furtherance of the crime or flight from the crime, he or she or another participant causes the death of a person, other than one of the participants.
SB1976	02/06/2025	Creates the Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act. Provides that, except as authorized by State law enacted after January 19, 2025, a State agency may not amend or revise its rules relating to the protection of workers' rights or worker safety in a manner less stringent than specified federal laws. Provides that a State agency may establish workers' rights and worker safety standards that are more stringent than those provided in federal law as the federal law existed on January 19, 2025. Provides that, to the extent a federal law existing on January 19, 2025 is more stringent than a State agency's corresponding standards or rules in its protection of workers' rights or worker safety, or to the extent that there are no State agency standards or rules in place corresponding with a federal law, a State agency shall, as a minimum standard, continue to observe and enforce those workers' rights and worker safety standards provided in federal law as the federal law existed on January 19, 2025. Provides for reporting requirements. Repeals the Act on January 20, 2029.
SB1977	02/06/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2026, any bill to amend an existing homestead exemption or to create a new homestead exemption shall include the submission of an impact statement prepared by the sponsor of the bill. Provides that the maximum income limitation for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption shall be $85,000 for taxable year 2025 and shall be subject to a cost-of-living adjustment in subsequent years. Provides that, for any tax certificates held by a county, the county clerk may create and administer a payment plan during the redemption period. Amends the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act. Makes changes concerning the maximum household income. Effective immediately.
SB2055	02/06/2025	Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires, by August 1 of each calendar year, the Department of Transportation to make a report in writing to the Governor and the General Assembly, stating in detail the Department's efforts in the prior fiscal year to fill open mechanics positions. Requires the Department to establish and maintain a goal of filling at least 85% of all authorized and budgeted mechanic positions within the Department in each fiscal year. Requires the General Assembly to review the report and may request additional information or hold hearings regarding the Department's staffing levels, recruitment strategies, and efforts to meet the 85% workforce goal.
SB1586	02/04/2025	Appropriates $200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a grant to Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County for the Creating Independent Transitions for Youth (C.I.T.Y.) Program. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1587	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act and the Uniform Crime Reporting Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the Illinois State Police shall submit to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, or provide to the Authority through a web-based portal, specified information concerning homicides on a quarterly basis. Requires the Authority to study and compile the information and, on a quarterly basis, publish the information on the Authority's public website in a form determined by the Authority.
SB1588	02/04/2025	Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family Services for a grant to Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1589	02/04/2025	Amends the Public Employee Disability Act, the Line of Duty Compensation Act, and the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Includes mental health professionals within the scope of the Acts. Defines "mental health professional" as any person employed and dispatched by a unit of local government to respond to crisis calls received on public emergency service lines instead of or in conjunction with law enforcement.
SB1440	01/31/2025	Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Provides that a public employer that willfully (rather than intentionally) violates the Act, the Safety Inspection and Education Act, or the Health and Safety Act, or any standard, rule, regulation, or order under any of those Acts, or who demonstrates plain indifference to any provision of any of those Acts or any such standard, rule, regulation, or order, may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $70,000 per violation (rather than $10,000 per violation).
SB1441	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act. Provides that the accounts established under the Secure Choice Savings Program shall be IRAs, into which enrollees contribute funds that are invested in investment options established by the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board. Provides that a separate account shall be established for each enrollee and the accounts shall be owned by the enrollee. Provides that the savings accounts established under the Program shall be portable and allow for an enrollee to make contributions from multiple employers into a single account. Provides that an enrollee in the Program may have both a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA through the Program. Provides that the Board shall have the duty to assess the feasibility of agreements with other governmental entities, including other states and their agencies and instrumentalities, to achieve greater economies of scale through shared resources and to enter into those agreements if determined to be beneficial. Provides that an employer who fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee in the Program within the time provided and fails to remit their contributions (rather than fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee in the Program within the time provided) shall be subject to a penalty. Makes changes in provisions concerning employer and employee information packets. Effective immediately.
SB1442	01/31/2025	Creates the Illinois Rust Belt to Green Belt Pilot Program Act. Creates the Illinois Rust Belt to Green Belt Fund as a special fund in the State treasury and makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Provides that the Fund shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to encourage and facilitate the employment of construction workforces located in underrepresented populations. Provides that applicants that are applying for a new utility-scale offshore wind project with the Illinois Power Agency shall file with the Department, as part of the applicant's application, an equity and inclusion plan. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning the procurement of renewable energy credits, provides that in addition to the amount of renewable energy credits to be procured from wind projects, the Illinois Power Agency shall procure at least 700,000 renewable energy credits, delivered annually for at least 20 years, from one new utility-scale offshore wind project. In provisions concerning the development of a long-term renewable resources procurement plan, provides that the total of renewable energy resources procured under the procurement plan shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the amount necessary to limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by eligible retail customers in connection with electric service to no more than 4.25% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2009, and to no more than 4.5% of that amount as of the billing month following the expected date that a new utility-scale offshore wind project commences commercial operations and is expected to begin delivering power to the PJM Interconnection, LLC transmission grid. Provides that the Agency shall conduct at least one new utility-scale offshore wind procurement within 360 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
SB1469	01/31/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a supportive living dementia care setting shall not limit resident access to the sink, microwave, and refrigerator located within the respective resident's room. Provides that social and recreational programming shall be provided no less than daily at a time and location separate from a meal service. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a newly constructed supportive living dementia care setting shall provide no less than 300 square feet for a single occupancy apartment or no less than 450 square feet for a double occupancy apartment. Provides that the square footage requirement may include the closets and bathroom. Requires each apartment to include a sink, microwave, and refrigerator within the unit. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a newly constructed supportive living dementia care setting shall provide a common area completely separate from the dining area.
SB1300	01/28/2025	Amends the Uniform Crime Reporting Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency shall publish monthly on its website, and submit to the Illinois State Police in a form, manner, and frequency as required by the Illinois State Police, the following information that occurred in the law enforcement agency's jurisdiction: (1) how many homicides occurred in a month based on the time of death of a victim; (2) how many of the homicides had an alleged perpetrator arrested and charged; and (3) how many homicides are considered cleared or closed for a reason other than the arrest and charging of an alleged perpetrator. Provides that information required to be published on a law enforcement agency's website must be published on the website by the end of the month following the reporting month. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB0263	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that all motor vehicles with at least 2 lighted head lamps and manufactured after January 1, 2028 shall be equipped with adjustable driving beam systems which satisfy the United States Department of Transportation regulations. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB0264	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Trust Code. Allows a virtuous trust to be created for a business or other noncharitable purpose without a definite or definitely ascertainable beneficiary. Requires a virtuous trust to be created by a written instrument. Allows a virtuous trust to hold an ownership interest of any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, cooperative, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or joint venture. Provides that a trustee of a virtuous trust or a virtuous trust shall not be deemed to violate the trustee's duties by virtue of the trustee investing and managing the trust's assets pursuant to the terms and the purposes of the trust. Exempts a virtuous trust from the common law rule against perpetuities. Allows a virtuous trust to be enforced by one or more trust enforcers appointed in the trust instruction, and allows a virtuous trust instrument to provide for appointing successor trust enforcers. Requires a virtuous trust to have a trust purpose committee with at least 3 persons as members. Includes provisions related to the trust purpose committee, including appointment procedures, voting procedures, powers of the committee, resignation procedures, and reporting requirements. Provides that property of a virtuous trust may be applied only to its intended use. Allows the trust purpose committee and the trust enforcers to modify or terminate a virtuous trust by unanimous agreement. Prohibits a person serving as a trustee from serving as a trust enforcer or as a member of the trust purpose committee. Makes conforming changes.
SB0061	01/13/2025	Creates the Preferential Admission Ban Act. Prohibits, beginning September 1, 2025, an independent institution of higher education from providing a legacy preference or donor preference in admissions to an applicant as part of the regular or early action admissions process. Provides that, on or before June 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, an independent institution of higher education shall report to the General Assembly and the Office of the Attorney General on whether the independent institution of higher education complied with the provisions of the Act and, if the independent institution of higher education did not comply with the provisions, the independent institution of higher education shall include additional specified information in its report. Requires the Office of the Attorney General to post the names of the independent institutions of higher education that violate the Act on its Internet website by the next fiscal year.
SB0062	01/13/2025	Creates the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act. Provides that owners of qualified low-income housing developments are eligible for credits against the taxes imposed by the Illinois Income Tax Act or taxes, penalties, fees, charges, and payments imposed by the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB0063	01/13/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Repeals a provision excluding certain minors accused of committing specified crimes from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Effective immediately.
SB0064	01/13/2025	Appropriates $5,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a grant to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA for program and operating expenses for youth-development based sports initiatives. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB0065	01/13/2025	Creates the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Nelson Mandela Act. Provides that a committed person may not be in isolated confinement for more than 10 consecutive days. Provides that a committed person may not be in isolated confinement for more than 10 days in any 180-day period. Provides that the provision of basic needs and services, such as nutritious food, clean water, hygiene supplies, clothing, bedding and mattress, religious materials, legal materials, access to grievance forms, and access to medical and mental health, shall not be restricted as a form of punishment or discipline for committed persons in isolated confinement. Provides that a committed person in protective custody may opt out of that status by providing informed, voluntary, written refusal of that status. Provides that a committed person shall not be placed in isolated confinement if the committed person: (1) is 21 years of age or younger; (2) is 55 years of age or older; (3) has a disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or (4) is pregnant or postpartum. Provides that nothing in the Act is intended to restrict any rights or privileges a committed person may have under any other statute, rule, or regulation. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB0066	01/13/2025	Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Board Act. Establishes the Health Care Availability and Access Board to protect State residents, State and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the State, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. Contains provisions concerning Board membership and terms; staff for the Board; Board meetings; circumstances under which Board members must recuse themselves; and other matters. Provides that the Board shall perform the following actions in open session: (i) deliberations on whether to subject a prescription drug product to a cost review; and (ii) any vote on whether to impose an upper payment limit on purchases, payments, and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State. Permits the Board to adopt rules to implement the Act and to enter into a contract with a qualified, independent third party for any service necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Board. Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Stakeholder Council to provide stakeholder input to assist the Board in making decisions as required by the Act. Contains provisions concerning Council membership, member terms, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall adopt the federal Medicare Maximum Fair Price as the upper payment limit for a prescription drug product intended for use by individuals in the State. Prohibits the Board from creating an upper payment limit that is different from the Medicare Maximum Fair Price for the prescription drug product that has a Medicare Maximum Fair Price. Requires the Board to implement an upper payment limit that is the same as the Medicare Maximum Fair Price no sooner than the Medicare implementation date. Provides that Medicare Part C and D plans are not required to reimburse at the upper payment limit. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce the Act and may pursue any available remedy under State law when enforcing the Act. Effective 180 days after becoming law.
SB0067	01/13/2025	Amends the Nurse Agency Licensing Act. Provides that any person who violates any provision of the Act or the rules adopted under the Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per occurrence payable to the Department of Labor for the purpose of enforcing the Act (rather than a licensee or applicant who violates any provision of the Act or the rules adopted under the Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 per occurrence).