Chicago City Wire

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez introduced HB3823 in the Illinois House on Feb. 7, 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 Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Pathways for Community Integration Network program is established in the Department of Human Services. Provides that the program shall create a network of community integration providers to foster pathways to safety, well-being, and economic security. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program."

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

In essence, this bill establishes the Pathways for Community Integration Network program within the Illinois Department of Human Services. The program aims to create a network of community integration providers to promote safety, well-being, and economic security. The Department is authorized to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program, ensuring the establishment and operation of a comprehensive network designed to support individuals in the community. This initiative appears to be focused on enhancing the role of community organizations in delivering essential services and support to improve quality of life.

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez has proposed another 11 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Hernandez graduated from Morton College in 2001 with an AA and again in 2014 from Northeastern University with a BA.

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 2nd House District. She replaced previous state representative Theresa Mah 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
HB3823	02/07/2025	Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Pathways for Community Integration Network program is established in the Department of Human Services. Provides that the program shall create a network of community integration providers to foster pathways to safety, well-being, and economic security. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program.
HB3384	02/07/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create an add-on payment for safety-net hospitals with a Level 1 Trauma designation, equal to at least $35,000,000 per hospital, per year.
HB3400	02/07/2025	Amends the Survivor Support And Trafficking Prevention Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends eligibility for cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are preparing to file an application for T Nonimmigrant status or other specified nonimmigrant status applications. Removes a provision conditioning such assistance on the availability of funding. Removes a provision excluding from cash assistance and SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are single adults without family members. Removes a provision excluding from SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who reside in an institution or other setting that provides the majority of their daily meals. Effective immediately.
HB3419	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for each taxpayer that manufactures renewable diesel in Illinois for use by a rail carrier. Provides that the amount of the credit is $1 per gallon of renewable diesel that is manufactured by the taxpayer in the State for use by a rail carrier. Effective immediately.
HB3591	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois African-American Family Commission Act, the Asian American Family Commission Act, and the Illinois Latino Family Commission Act replacing current provisions in those Acts with the following: Makes a grammatical correction to the title of the Illinois African-American Family Commission Act and to other provisions of the Act, and makes conforming changes in the Violence Prevention Task Force Act, the Commission on Children and Youth Act, the Commission to Study Disproportionate Justice Impact Act, the Advisory Commission on Reducing the Disproportionate Representation of African-American Children in Foster Care Act, the Commission to End Hunger Act, the Racial and Ethnic Impact Research Task Force Act, and the Commission on Equity and Inclusion Act. Provides that each Commission shall advocate for policies, programs, and services that promote greater equity and inclusion in State government. Provides that the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 3 members to each commission (with the term of a member of any of the Commissions serving on the effective date of the amendatory Act ending on the effective date of the amendatory Act), and each Commission membership shall appoint the chairperson or chairpersons. Provides that the organizational meeting of each Commission shall take place after all members are appointed but no later than 60 days after 50% or more of the members on the Commission have been appointed. Provides that the Lieutenant Governor's Office shall provide administrative support for the Commissions (rather than the Commission on Equity and Inclusion providing general oversight of the operations of the Commissions). Provides that the Lieutenant Governor's Office may receive funding through appropriations made available for use on behalf of the commissions. Provides that the Office shall expend funds set aside for the Commissions at the direction of the Commissions. Effective immediately.
HB3643	02/07/2025	Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates an exemption for equipment and materials placed in service on or after January 1, 2026 that are incorporated into or used in the business of providing broadband services. Effective immediately.
HB3672	02/07/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Establishes an Equity Fund. Provides that moneys in the Equity Fund shall be expended exclusively for the purpose of paying the amount ordered for equity surplus payments to Illinois property owners who have lost their property by a recorded tax deed, except that, whenever the State Treasurer determines that any such moneys in the Equity Fund exceed the amount required for the purpose of paying equity surplus payments resulting from property ownership being divested by tax deed, the State Treasurer may transfer any such excess amounts from the Equity Fund to the General Revenue Fund. Provides for an irrevocable and continuing appropriation from Illinois tax lien purchasers for the purpose of paying equity surplus payments to the divested property upon the order of the State Treasurer and for the purpose of paying equity surplus to the divested property owner. In provisions concerning the indemnity fund, makes changes to the fees that are collected for tax sales in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants. Sets forth an Equity Fund fee, calculation of the equity surplus, and an application process. Makes conforming and other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.
HB3703	02/07/2025	Creates the West Cook Flood Prevention District Act. Establishes the West Cook Flood Prevention District for the purpose of managing the water that flows into the Town of Cicero sewer system, including connected sewer systems. Provides that the territory of the district is the corporate limits of the Town of Cicero as well as the portions of the City of Berwyn, the Village of Oak Park, and the City of Chicago from which sewage or stormwater is discharged into the Town of Cicero sewerage system or any sewer connected within those areas. Includes provisions relating to appointment of trustees, board of trustee powers, enactment of ordinances and rules, fines and criminal offenses for ordinance violations, sewer systems, sewage and stormwater agreements, fees and special assessments that may be charged, unlawful discharge into sewers of the district, acquisition of real and personal property, eminent domain, lease of property, borrowing of money and issuance of bonds, a district assistance program, contractual requirements, and other provisions about the operation of the district. Amends the Eminent Domain Act to provide that the Board of Trustees of the West Cook Flood Prevention District may acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain for general district purposes.
HB2982	02/06/2025	Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2027, an employer shall not be entitled to an allowance for gratuities and shall pay each employee no less than the applicable minimum wage rate, including any minimum wage rate established by a municipality that is higher than the minimum wage rate provided in the Act. Provides for additional notice requirements that employers must provide to employees who receive gratuities. Provides that any employer or his agent, or the officer or agent of any private employer who violates that provision shall be liable to the Department of Labor for a penalty of up to $1,500 per day for each violation, payable to the Department's Wage Theft Enforcement Fund. Provides that every employer shall provide each employee who receives gratuities a notice containing specified information concerning the rate of pay. Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that no employer shall withhold from gratuities paid by credit card any credit card processing fees that the employer must pay in connection with the transaction. Provides that any service charge imposed by an employer on a customer shall be a gratuity and is the property of the employees. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2952	02/05/2025	Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. In provisions concerning baby changing stations, provides that hotels and lodging facilities; public and private schools and educational institutions; small entertainment venues including, movie theaters and bowling alleys; healthcare facilities with public restrooms; transit public parks with restroom facilities; and standalone public parks with restroom facilities are subject to the provisions. Provides that a retail store of more than 3,000 square feet (rather than 5,000 square feet) that contain a restroom open to the public are subject to the provisions. Provides that a restaurant that has an occupancy of at least 40 persons (rather than 60 persons), among other criteria, are subject to the provisions of the Act.
HB2706	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois TRUST Act. Provides that law enforcement may not: (i) retain information regarding the citizenship or immigration status or place of birth of any individual; (ii) give any immigration agent access, including by telephone or other communication medium (rather than only including by telephone), to any individual who is in that agency's custody; (iii) permit immigration agents' use of agency facilities or equipment, including any agency electronic databases not available to the public (rather than permit immigration agents use of agency facilities or equipment, including any agency electronic databases not available to the public, for investigative interviews or other investigative or immigration enforcement purpose); or (iv) provide information to any immigration agent regarding any individual in the agency's custody (rather than provide information in response to any immigration agent's inquiry or request for information regarding any individual in the agency's custody). Provides that law enforcement may not enter into or maintain any agreement regarding direct access to any electronic database or other data-sharing platform maintained by a law enforcement agency, or otherwise provide such direct access to a federal entity enforcing civil immigration law or any third parties unless such third parties certify that the information will not be used for civil immigration purposes or knowingly disseminated for any purpose related to civil immigration enforcement. Adds provisions from the Keep Illinois Families Together Act to the Illinois TRUST Act. Changes reporting requirements. Removes certain provisions from the legislative purpose. Changes definitions. Repeals the Keep Illinois Families Together Act. Effective immediately.
HB1867	01/29/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the maximum income limitation under the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption shall be adjusted each year by the annual cost of living increase, if any, in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits that took effect during the immediately preceding calendar year. Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that eligibility limits under the energy assistance program may not exceed the greater of (1) 150% of the federal nonfarm poverty level as established by the federal Office of Management and Budget or 60% of the State median income for the current State fiscal year as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whichever is higher; or (2) the eligibility limit for the immediately preceding calendar year, increased by the annual cost of living increase, if any, in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits that took effect during the immediately preceding calendar year. Effective immediately.