Chicago City Wire

Emil Jones, III introduced SB2453 in the Illinois Senate 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 Telehealth Act. Adds acupuncturist to providers included in the meaning of "health care professional". Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that the standard of care for a patient under the Act shall be the same whether a patient is seen in person, through telemedicine, or through another method of electronically-enabled health care. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, by rule, to determine the appropriate acupuncture services allowed via telemedicine in consultation with the Board of Acupuncture. Provides that a person who engages in the practice of telemedicine without a license issued under the Act shall be subject to the penalties provided in the Act. Provides that, if the Department has reason to believe that a person has violated the provisions regarding telemedicine, the Department may issue a rule to show cause stating the reasons why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against the person. Provides that the rule shall clearly set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall provide the person with a period of 7 days after the date of the rule to file an answer to the satisfaction of the Department. Provides that failure to answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall cause an order to cease and desist to be issued immediately. Provides that a person residing out-of-state that provides services through telemedicine to a patient residing in the State submits himself or herself to the jurisdiction of the Department and the courts of the State."

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 Telehealth Act to include acupuncturists in the definition of "health care professional" and establishes guidelines for telemedicine practices in acupuncture, emphasizing that patient care standards should be consistent regardless of whether the service is provided in person or via telemedicine. It mandates the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to determine suitable acupuncture services through telemedicine, in consultation with the Board of Acupuncture. Unlicensed telemedicine practice incurs penalties, and the Department may issue a cease-and-desist order if a violation is suspected, allowing for a seven-day response. Non-compliance results in immediate enforcement. Additionally, out-of-state practitioners offering telemedicine services to Illinois residents are subject to the jurisdiction of Illinois authorities.

Emil Jones, III has proposed another six bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Emil Jones III is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 14th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Emil Jones Jr. in 2009.

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
SB2453	02/07/2025	Amends the Telehealth Act. Adds acupuncturist to providers included in the meaning of "health care professional". Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that the standard of care for a patient under the Act shall be the same whether a patient is seen in person, through telemedicine, or through another method of electronically-enabled health care. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, by rule, to determine the appropriate acupuncture services allowed via telemedicine in consultation with the Board of Acupuncture. Provides that a person who engages in the practice of telemedicine without a license issued under the Act shall be subject to the penalties provided in the Act. Provides that, if the Department has reason to believe that a person has violated the provisions regarding telemedicine, the Department may issue a rule to show cause stating the reasons why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against the person. Provides that the rule shall clearly set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall provide the person with a period of 7 days after the date of the rule to file an answer to the satisfaction of the Department. Provides that failure to answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall cause an order to cease and desist to be issued immediately. Provides that a person residing out-of-state that provides services through telemedicine to a patient residing in the State submits himself or herself to the jurisdiction of the Department and the courts of the State.
SB2416	02/07/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a commercial wind energy facility or commercial solar energy facility proposed to be located on property in an unincorporated area of the county within the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and located adjacent to the corporate boundary of a municipality shall either be annexed to the municipality or be subject to the municipality's zoning regulations. Provides factors for determining if a request for siting approval or a special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy facility, or modification of an approved siting or special use permit, is in compliance with the standards and conditions imposed in the Code, the zoning ordinance adopted consistent with the Code, and the conditions imposed under State and federal statutes and regulations. Provides that a county may not approve a request for siting approval or a special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy facility or modification of an approved siting or special use permit, if the proposal shall disturb more than one acre of land, unless the facility owner has obtained a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Requires a facility owner to provide the county in which a commercial solar energy facility or commercial wind energy facility to be located, a deconstruction plan that has been prepared by a professional engineer who has been selected by the facility owner. Provides that, based on an initial evaluation or reevaluation during the county approval process, the county may require changes in the level of financial assurance used to calculate the financial assurance level from the facility owner. Amends the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Provides that the standard agricultural impact mitigation agreements shall be amended as needed to conform with the financial assurance procedures and requirements under specified provisions of the Counties Code. Makes other changes.
SB2452	02/07/2025	Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that "acupuncture" also includes ordering laboratory tests in accordance with State law to check, track, evaluate, and monitor the status and effectiveness of pain management, herbal medicinal plans, dietary and exercise plans, and orders as may be provided to the patient from a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act. Removes the provision that states that an acupuncturist licensed under the Act who is not also licensed as a physical therapist under the Illinois Physical Therapy Act shall not hold himself or herself out as being qualified to provide physical therapy or physiotherapy services.
SB1973	02/06/2025	Amends the Transportation Network Providers Act. Provides that if a transportation network company (TNC) rejects an individual applying to be a TNC driver, the TNC shall describe to the applicant, in writing, the reasons for their rejection along with documentation confirming that the applicant maintains one of the disqualifying conditions. Provides that every TNC driver has a right to inspect, copy, and receive copies of the specified documents, with exceptions. Provides that within 24 hours of each trip completion, the TNC must transmit a detailed electronic receipt to the TNC driver. Provides that each week, a TNC must transmit a weekly summary to a driver in writing or electronically containing certain information for the preceding calendar week. Requires a TNC to maintain a written plain-language deactivation policy that provides the policies and procedures for deactivation. Prohibits a TNC from deactivating a TNC driver for: (1) a violation not reasonably understood as part of a TNC's written deactivation policy; (2) a driver's ability to work a minimum number of hours; (3) a driver's acceptance or rejection of a ride, as long as the acceptance or rejection is not for a discriminatory purpose; (4) a driver's good faith statement regarding compensation or working conditions made publicly or privately; or (5) a driver asserting the driver's legal rights under any local, State, or federal law. Requires the TNC to provide notice at the time of deactivation or, for deactivations based on serious misconduct, within 3 days of the deactivation. Requires a TNC to adopt policies ensuring complete reimbursement to TNC drivers for any violations of a parking ordinance of a unit of local government. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a TNC to retaliate through deactivation or in any other manner against a TNC driver for exercising any rights granted under the Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB1653	02/05/2025	Amends the Hospital Provider Funding Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create a pool of funding of at least $50,000,000 annually to be disbursed among safety-net hospitals that maintain perinatal designation from the Department of Public Health, provides that no safety-net hospital eligible for funds shall receive less than $5,000,000 annually.
SB1654	02/05/2025	Amends the Energy Conservation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
SB1439	01/31/2025	Creates the Best Customer Price Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education or a State agency may require best customer pricing for any goods it procures. Provides that, if goods are to be purchased by the State from a supplier or reseller, the supplier or reseller shall attest that the price is the best customer price. Provides that the supplier or reseller shall include a provision in the letter of supply from the manufacturer that the supplier or reseller can secure the supply and quantity of goods to be purchased, and that the manufacturer has extended the same best customer pricing from the manufacturer to each of the suppliers or resellers registered with the State for the goods to be purchased. Provides that, if a public institution of higher education or a State agency requires best customer pricing for the goods but does not believe the price is competitive, the public institution of higher education or the State agency may decline to award the bid. Effective immediately.