A weekly update on issues from Illinois State Senator Gary Forby

When the General Assembly sends bills to the governor, he has 60 days to sign or veto them before they automatically become law. In the past week, the 60-day deadline arrived for most of the legislation we passed last spring. I now know the fate of most of the bills that I sponsored, and I want to give you an update on some of our state’s new laws. I was extremely pleased to learn that the governor signed House Bill 370—Michael Dean’s Law. From now on, the state will have much stiffer penalties for uninsured drivers who cause accidents. Before, the penalty was basically just a slap on the wrist, but now people who break the law will face serious consequences. A person who drives without insurance and hurts or kills someone in an accident will automatically face one year in prison or a fine of $2,500—or possibly both. They also will not be eligible for court supervision. The law was inspired by Michael Dean, a teacher from Johnston City who was killed by an uninsured driver. It is a tribute to his memory and insurance that no one will have to go through the same ordeal as his parents and other survivors. 

Another new law that addresses transportation is House Bill 3956. From now on, outside of the Chicago area, semis and other large trucks will be able to travel at 65 miles per hour. I wasn’t a sponsor of this legislation, but it’s an issue I strongly support and have worked on for years. For a long time, Illinois was the only state in the region with lower speed limits for large vehicles, and it will be good for the trucking industry and our economy for our law to be in line with our neighbors. 

The governor also signed Senate Bill 1297, a measure that designates mine rescue vehicles official emergency vehicles. If there is an accident or other disaster in one of Southern Illinois’ growing number of coal mines, the miners will get the help they need more quickly. Mine rescue vehicles will now be equipped with flashing lights and be allowed to break the speed limit. Given the importance of mining to our local economy, I think making mining safer is the least we can do. 

Speaking of the regional economy, the governor signed a bill that will help the Marion Chamber of Commerce expand for a minimal cost. Because of House Bill 569, the Chamber will be able to lease land from the state for the low cost of $1. Though the city will have to pay for construction costs, the overall cost of the project will be greatly reduced. Once the expansion is completed, the Chamber will better be able to serve local businesses and promote tourism in the area. 

Last but not least, the governor signed a law that will help promote better care for the elderly. From now on, the Illinois Department on Aging will annually present awards to direct care workers who make a real difference in senior citizens’ lives. It’s a small gesture, but it should help create good worker morale and single out exceptional individuals as an example for everyone who works to improve the lives of older Illinoisans.  

At this point, only a few of the initiatives I sponsored have not been signed, and the governor has not vetoed any of my legislation. Hopefully, that will remain the case, and my colleagues and I will not have to reconsider any of my legislation when we return to Springfield for the Veto Session in October. Still, I’m sure the weeks we spend at the state capitol will be a busy time. We may even reconsider the state budget.  

If you have questions about any legislation I did not mention, I encourage you to call my staff or visit the General Assembly’s website at www.ilga.gov. This is also a good time to bring to my attention any issues that need to be addressed by the state government. January is still months away, but once we return to Springfield, things start to move very quickly.