Rock Island Today

Michael W. Halpin introduced SB1309 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 28, 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 River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may certify one additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of Sterling."

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 River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act to allow the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to certify one additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of Sterling. The certification process involves the issuance of a certificate by the Department, which must be recorded and transmitted to both the Department of Revenue and the designating municipality. Once certified, the terms of the designating ordinance become effective, remaining so for a period not exceeding 30 years. Additionally, municipalities with a certified zone are required to submit a plan within 60 days to encourage the participation of minority persons, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans in the zone. The effective date of this amendment corresponds to the 104th General Assembly's enactment.

Michael W. Halpin has proposed another 20 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Halpin graduated from Roger Williams University in 2001 with a BA and again in 2008 from University of Illinois with a JD.

Michael W. Halpin is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 36th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Neil Anderson 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
SB1309	01/28/2025	Amends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may certify one additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of Sterling.
SB1308	01/28/2025	Appropriates $7,200,000 to Western Illinois University for the purpose of funding the operations of the Western Illinois University Innovation Campus at the Quad Cities. Effective immediately.
SB1310	01/28/2025	Amends the Western Illinois University Law. Provides that the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University shall have the power and duty to borrow money for any lawful purpose from the WIU Foundation or any financial institution, as long as such money is repaid within 5 years from the time the money is borrowed. Provides that the amount outstanding from time to time may not exceed $2,000,000. Requires the chairperson, comptroller, or treasurer of the Board to execute a promissory note or similar debt instrument to evidence the indebtedness incurred by the borrowing.
SB1344	01/28/2025	Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the time within which any act is required to be performed under any of the provisions of the Act shall be the same for the State and its political subdivisions as it is for private employers.
SB1345	01/28/2025	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that a qualified applicant for the Illinois Veteran grant program includes a person who, among other requirements, served less than one year of federal active duty and received an uncharacterized discharge as a result of a service-connected disability.
SB1175	01/24/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish a property tax rebate program that allows licensed, not-for-profit child care centers that were obligated to pay property taxes to a unit of local government or special district in the State to apply to the Department for a rebate of those taxes. Grants the Department rulemaking authority to implement this provision. Effective immediately.
SB1176	01/24/2025	Amends the State Property Control Act. In a provision concerning submission of an Annual Real Property Utilization Report, changes the due date for the Report from July 31 to August 31 of each year.
SB1177	01/24/2025	Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
SB1178	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for developers that invest in a qualified project redeveloping a brownfield or grayfield. 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 tangible personal property that is purchased by a developer who has been awarded a certificate of exemption by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and that is used to rehabilitate brownfield or grayfield property. Effective immediately.
SB0192	01/22/2025	Appropriates $26,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to reimburse public universities and community colleges for costs associated with the Illinois Veteran grant program and the Illinois National Guard and Naval Militia grant program. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB0193	01/22/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may establish an apprenticeship program through which the municipality's full-time fire department may contract with a fire protection district to have the municipality's apprentices age 18 to 20 perform volunteer apprentice firefighter duties for the fire protection district's volunteer fire department. Requires the contract between the fire department and fire protection district to specify the duties a volunteer apprentice firefighter may perform for the fire protection district, specify the training the volunteer apprentice firefighter must have before working for the fire protection district, and describe whether the volunteer apprentice firefighter will be performing firefighting duties requiring the apprentice to first obtain Basic Operations Firefighter Certification from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Requires a program established under the provisions to be a mandatory subject of bargaining. Provides that to be admitted to the apprenticeship program an individual must commit to working as a volunteer apprentice firefighter for the fire protection district until age 21 and to working 3 years as a full-time firefighter with the municipality's fire department. Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that no person who is under 21 years of age shall be eligible for employment as a firefighter unless hired as a volunteer apprentice firefighter through an apprenticeship program.
SB0221	01/22/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is donated, granted, received, or used for a licensed not-for-profit child care center is exempt.
SB0222	01/22/2025	Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Defines "conditional employee" as an employee who has completed a background check and is waiting for confirmation from the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that a conditional employee may work in a child care facility, including, but not limited to, a child welfare agency, if the conditional employee is supervised by a licensed employee, does not have contact with children who are under the care and control of the child care facility, and does not have access to records containing information regarding children who are under the care and control of the child care facility. Provides that an applicant is determined to have completed the criminal background investigation when he or she has completed and submitted authorization for the performance of a criminal background investigation by the Department.
SB0223	01/22/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Christopher James Act. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a Safety Committee comprised of bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit Department employees. Provides that at least 40% of committee members shall be bargaining unit employees. Provides that the Committee shall assess the Department's compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and any other applicable workplace health and safety laws and shall make recommendations for improvements to processes and procedures to improve workplace safety. Provides that the Committee shall prepare an annual report on the Department's workplace safety efforts and plans for the future to further promote safety in the workplace. Provides that the Committee shall prepare an annual report on the Department's workplace safety efforts and plans for the future to further promote safety in the workplace. Provides that the Director of Corrections shall appoint the non-bargaining unit members of the Safety Committee. Provides that the Director of Corrections shall appoint 60% of the Safety Committee, including the non-bargaining unit members and up to 2 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers. Provides that the exclusive collective bargaining representative of the majority of the Department of Corrections employees shall appoint the remaining 40% of the Safety Committee. Provides that the Director of Corrections shall appoint the chairperson of the Committee. Provides that the appointed chairperson of the Committee shall have a professional background and training in an environmental health and safety field. Provides that the chairperson of the Safety Committee, or the chairperson's designee, may conduct a workplace safety inspection of any property, equipment, or workplace under the control or supervision of the Department at any time and shall conduct random unannounced inspections as often as deemed necessary. Provides that the jurisdiction of the Safety Committee is strictly limited to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and any other applicable workplace health and safety laws. Provides that these provisions are subject to appropriations.
SB0240	01/22/2025	Amends the Historic Preservation Tax Credit Act. Provides that, in calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 and ending on or before December 31, 2028, the State Historic Preservation Office within the Department of Natural Resources may allocate $75,000,000 (currently, $25,000,000) in credits under the Act. Effective immediately.
SB0241	01/22/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Creates the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure program. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall provide grants to petroleum marketers, petroleum terminal operators, and any other companies that the Department of Agriculture determines are eligible for grant funding. Provides that eligible expenditures include tank modifications, tanks, piping, and fuel dispensers. Provides that an eligible grant recipient shall not receive more than $1,000,000 in grant funding. Provides that no funding under the program shall be made available to a public body. Creates the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, $3,000,000 each calendar quarter from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Fund, unless the Underground Storage Tank Fund has a balance at or below $75,000,000. Creates the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Task Force. Sets forth membership and duties of the Task Force. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB0242	01/22/2025	Amends the General Provisions and State Employees Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a Tier 2 participant who is employed as an investigator for the Secretary of State or as a conservation police officer on the effective date of the amendatory Act, has accrued not less than 10 years of credit for such service, and has attained age 60 shall be entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement annuity provisions of the State Employees Article, in lieu of a regular or minimum retirement annuity, notwithstanding that he or she has accrued less than 20 years of eligible creditable service. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB0172	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that a foreign national may not make, directly or indirectly, a contribution to a ballot initiative committee or an independent expenditure committee for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters, and neither a ballot initiative committee nor an independent expenditure committee may knowingly solicit or accept a contribution from a foreign national for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Provides that a foreign national may not make an independent expenditure for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Effective immediately.
SB0173	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of county commissioners of a county with a population of less than 100,000 may, by ordinance or resolution, dissolve a municipal board of election commissioners within that county and transfer its functions to the county clerk.
SB0187	01/17/2025	Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a social work associate endorsement on an Educator License with stipulations may be issued to an applicant who (i) holds a degree from a graduate program of social work that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education and (ii) has an active license through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act as either a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is authorized to perform responsibilities associated with traditional social work practice, subject to the restrictions in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act regarding independent clinical practice, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions in a multi-tiered system of support. Provides that all responsibilities of the holder of a social work associate endorsement shall be performed in consultation with an individual who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school social work. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is not authorized to perform Tier 3 multi-tiered system of support interventions or participate in the individualized education program process or the federal Section 504 plan process for any student with a disability. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement may not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed Professional Educator License holder with a school support personnel endorsement who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason. Provides that an applicant for a social work associate endorsement is not required to pass a content area test under the Code. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.
SB0188	01/17/2025	Amends the Out-of-State Person Subject to Involuntary Admission on an Inpatient Basis Mental Health Treatment Act. Extends the repeal date of the Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031. Effective immediately.
SB0189	01/17/2025	Amends the Swimming Facility Act. Provides that the rules adopted by the Department of Public Health shall permit sporting good equipment systems and fitness equipment systems to be installed in swimming facilities if the sporting good equipment system or fitness equipment system is designed for pool use and installed in accordance with the safe-use parameters specified by the manufacturer. Provides that sporting good equipment systems and fitness equipment systems that meet those requirements shall not be considered an obstruction.
SB0190	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes changes to the definition of "managerial employee", including that, unless the sheriff and the union have mutually agreed otherwise, or are already recognized by the Act, the "undersheriff", "chief deputy", or "superintendent of the jail" shall be defined as a managerial employee. In the definition of "supervisor", provides that that the term includes only those individuals who devote a preponderance of their employment time to exercising that authority, State supervisors and sworn State police officers notwithstanding. In the definition of "supervisor", also provides that the Illinois Labor Relations Board, or the relevant panel with jurisdiction, shall consider, as evidence of bargaining unit inclusion or exclusion, applicable civil service law, ordinances, personnel codes, provisions regarding boards of fire and police commissioners in the Illinois Municipal Code, and the Sheriff's Merit System Law.
SB0068	01/13/2025	Creates the Judicial Domestic Violence Training Act. Requires the Judicial Education Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to develop and implement a domestic violence continuing education program for judges and relevant court personnel. Provides that the continuing education program shall be required training for all judges every 2 years and shall be held at every biennial Education Conference and every new judge seminar.