Welcome to Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus

Ventura advances measure requiring retailers to provide cash or credit refunds for eligible returns

SPRINGFIELD — Continuing her work to protect consumers, State Senator Rachel Ventura is leading a measure that would prevent retailers from requiring consumers to accept store credit instead of a refund.

“Illinois consumers shouldn’t be forced into store credit when they return an unused product,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “If a retailer accepts a return, customers deserve the option to receive their money back. This measure protects working families, increases transparency and helps ensure businesses treat consumers fairly.”

House Bill 4044 would prohibit retail establishments from limiting refunds on returns of unopened or unused consumer products to store credit. Instead, retailers would be required to offer another form of refund, such as cash or reimbursement to the original payment method. Under the measure, consumers returning eligible unused products would have the right to receive a refund through the original payment method or another non-store-credit option.

Read more: Ventura advances measure requiring retailers to provide cash or credit refunds for eligible returns

Stadelman leads legislation that protects ticket buyers

SPRINGFIELD – As ticket-buying becomes more competitive, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working to strengthen consumer protections in the ticket sales marketplace, prevent the use of bots from buying up tickets and crack down on deceptive online purchasing practices.

“Fans should have a fair shot at buying tickets at the advertised price without competing against bots or being misled by deceptive sellers,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation increases transparency and helps protect consumers from unfair practices in the ticket marketplace.”

As artificial intelligence proliferates in the ticket sales marketplace, consumers are increasingly forced to compete against automated bots that bypass ticket limits, deceptive resale websites that appear to be officially affiliated with artists or venues, and hidden ticket inventory that is withheld from public sale without disclosure. Existing federal protections address some of these issues, but gaps in enforcement and transparency continue to frustrate consumers when attempting to purchase event tickets.

Read more: Stadelman leads legislation that protects ticket buyers

Ventura legislation to require human interaction transparency for AI chatbots through disclosure requirement

SPRINGFIELD - A measure sponsored by State Senator Rachel Ventura that would require companies to disclose when they’re using AI chatbots and not a human to talk with consumers passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.

“We’ve all experienced it before. You call a company for help, and the next thing you know, you’re frustrated by the lack of answers – only to realize minutes later you’re talking to a chatbot rather than a real person,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “People deserve to know whether they are communicating with a human or an AI system from the very beginning of an interaction.”

Senate Bill 317 would require any person or company using a conversational artificial intelligence system in a chat interface to communicate with a consumer during trade or commerce to provide the consumer with a clear and conspicuous disclosure at the beginning of the interaction that the consumer is communicating with an automated system and not with a human.

Read more: Ventura legislation to require human interaction transparency for AI chatbots through disclosure...

Villa advances measure to secure students’ biometric information

SPRINGFIELD – As the use of artificial intelligence and biometric systems permeates sectors, including education, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure to protect students' sensitive information.

“In a digital age, we must do everything we can to protect children’s sensitive information, especially in school settings,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “The use of biometric systems in schools opens the door for the misuse of data or a potential breach. Students and their families deserve to know that their information is secure.”

Read more: Villa advances measure to secure students’ biometric information