Ellman advances measure to bring Cook County seniors tax relief
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SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Laura Ellman to make the property tax exemption process easier for qualified seniors passed the Senate on Tuesday.
“My goal is to make property taxes seamless for seniors and remove their worries about the application process,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “We are building on what has worked for our seniors in previous years, and this legislation extends that relief to all senior citizen homestead exemptions for years to come.”
Between 2019 and 2023, the requirement to reapply for the senior citizen homestead exemption was temporarily removed under a pilot program. Currently, in all counties in Illinois, apart from Cook, there is no review requirement to assess these tax exemptions. Senate Bill 2878 would permanently remove the renewal requirement and make reviews a permanent requirement for Cook County. For counties currently practicing automatic renewals, the county assessor must also conduct a review.
Read more: Ellman advances measure to bring Cook County seniors tax relief
Johnson advances measure to highlight the diversity and inclusion of non-profits
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a measure to require certain non-profit organizations to disclose the aggregate demographic data of their boards of directors and officers, and to make this information available on their website.
“We are taking vital steps to support diversity and inclusion in the non-profit sector,” said Johnson (D – Buffalo Grove). “While individual board members can decline to disclose any or all demographic information, it is important that we continue to highlight and elevate leadership diversity, equity and inclusion throughout Illinois.”
Senate Bill 2930 would require charitable organizations that annually report $1 million or more in grants to other charitable organizations to disclose on their public-facing websites the aggregate demographic data of their boards of directors. This demographic data includes race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Additionally, in collecting this information, the organization must provide an opportunity for individual board members to decline to disclose any or all of their personal demographic information.
Read more: Johnson advances measure to highlight the diversity and inclusion of non-profits
Senate approves legislation led by Fine to reduce excess plastic waste in the hotel industry
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SPRINGFIELD – Promoting an environmentally conscious approach to hospitality, State Senator Laura Fine passed a measure out of the Senate to phase out the use of small, single-use plastic bottles in hotels across Illinois.
“According to researchers, by 2050, plastic could outweigh all fish in the oceans,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Personal products available in plastic bottles are common in hotels and pose immediate risk to our environment once they are thrown away. This bill puts our state on the path to being part of a solution by reducing plastic pollution.”
Senate Bill 2960 creates the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act, which requires hotels with 50 or more rooms to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan. 1, 2026, all hotels with fewer than 50 rooms are expected to make this transition.
Ellman’s measure enhancing water protections passes Senate
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman’s legislation to prioritize water protections by targeting critical water issues and implementing necessary recommendations passed the Senate on Tuesday, moving it one step closer to becoming law.
“Access to clean, high-quality water is vital to sustaining a healthy and safe future for everyone,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure will allow Illinois to standardize evaluations of existing water issues and the needs of our environment.”
Senate Bill 2743 would require the State Water Plan Task Force to address water issues and reevaluate environmental needs by assisting state and local authorities in the implementation of recommended plans. The measure would also require the task force to publish a State Water Plan at least once every 10 years and meet once per quarter each calendar year.
Read more: Ellman’s measure enhancing water protections passes Senate
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