First the good news!
Because of your persistence in opposing HB 2827 and SB 9, neither bill has been called. The State Senate returns tomorrow, April 29th. The State House will be in session as well. We continue to urge you to contact your lawmakers to make sure they are still solid in their opposition against these two egregious bills. Regarding lawmakers who are supporting the bills, pray that the Lord would change their hearts. (Proverbs 21:1)
A heartfelt thank you to those who have already met with, made calls to, and emailed your state officials and your willingness to go the extra mile! When God’s people do what they’re called to do, it pleases our Lord!
However, this by no means is an indication that either bill won’t be called before May 31st, the date they are scheduled to adjourn for the summer, because the sponsors are working tirelessly to pick up the extra votes they need. The opposition isn’t resting and neither should we. It’s very close, so we urge you to continue opposition calls into their offices.
Now the bad news.
WATCH LIST
HB 1083 – Changes gender references to gender neutral descriptions in the Religious Freedom Protection Act, the Civil Unions Act, and the Rights of Married Persons Act. We are keeping an eye on this bill. It has already passed in the House, but it is sitting in the Senate’s Assignments Committee. There are currently no hearings scheduled in that committee, but we’ll let you know if it moves.
HB 3049 – The “You Can Marry Yourself” Act allows 2 people to marry themselves without an officiant. It passed the House and is also in the Senate’s Assignments Committee, with no hearing dates posted.
HB 3489 – Redefines the “practice of pharmacy” so that a pharmacist can assess and consult with a patient for the purpose of dispensing emergency contraception, otherwise known as the morning-after pill, an abortifacient, which could also be paid for by tax dollars through Medicaid. It passed the House and has been assigned to the Senate’s Executive Committee, but is not scheduled for a hearing. When it moves, we’ll let you know.
HB 3637 – Prohibits the Illinois Department of Health from taking disciplinary action against a person who has had their license, registration, and/or permit revoked from another state as a result of violating the state’s laws against certain procedures, such as abortions. Additionally, a drug not approved by the Food & Drug Administration, but one that has been recommended by the World Health Organization shall not be deemed an adulterated drug, even if the drug’s labelling reflects prior approval that is no longer in effect. It passed the House and has also been assigned to the Senate’s Executive Committee, but is not scheduled for a hearing.
HB 3709 – Mandates that public colleges and universities provide students access to health care professionals that prescribe contraception and abortion pills; allows university pharmacies to dispense contraception and abortion pills. Removes the requirement that the university pharmacy enter into a referral agreement with a tertiary medical care facility with obstetrics and gynecological services in the event of complications. It passed the House and is in the Senate’s Assignments Committee, with no hearing dates posted. We’ll let you know when it moves.
PLEASE CONTINUE
TO OPPOSE THESE BILLS
HB 2827 – Terra Costa Howard (D): The sponsor of the Homeschool (Registration) Act has yet to call the bill for a vote for lack of the 60 votes she needs. But she’s made it clear that the bill is not going away. Costa Howard and anti-family forces continue to work to ruin families by undermining their values and academic successes. The bill usurps parental rights and won’t stop with requiring families to file registration forms with their local school district. They will most certainly add more regulations to bring your homeschool curriculum in line with their government school curriculum, i.e. LGBTQ history, graphic sex ed, unproven climate change theories, etc.
TAKE ACTION: Your actions are what have made a huge difference in convincing some lawmakers that this bill is to volatile to support. PLEASE KEEP IT UP! Click HERE to, once again, email your state rep to oppose HB 2827. Your strong show of opposition is making a huge difference!
SB 9 – Linda Holmes (D): Physician-Assisted Suicide is still a very valid concern and while it has not moved out of the senate, it could be called and we will be watching it until this session ends on May 31st. There are many senators that have yet to commit to opposition. Calls, emails and visits should not stop. Breaking News: The Illinois State Medical Society recently took a vote to oppose SB 9. This is very significant since they had appeared to be neutral up until now.
TAKE ACTION: Your opposition has also made many senators reluctant to support SB 9. Thank you for your strong opposition! Please don’t stop! Send another email to strongly but respectfully urge your state senator to oppose physician-assisted suicide. Click HERE.
Witness Slip Instructions
(In any field where the system requires text be submitted, such as Firm/Business or Title, type in self.)
Section I. Enter your name, address, city and zip code. (Do not use punctuation.)
Section II. Leave it blank if you are not a representative of a group or business.
Section III. Check your position as Opponent or Proponent, depending on the bill.
Section IV. Unless you are filing a written statement, select Record of Appearance Only.
Lastly, agree to the terms of agreement by checking the box.
Click Create (Slip).
SB 42 – Curtis Tarver (D) – house sponsor: Prohibits law enforcement from stopping and inspecting a car based on the odor of cannabis plus it removes the requirement to store cannabis in an odor-proof container. This is a very bad bill, because it provides protection to those driving while under the influence, making our roads less safe. SB 42 has passed the senate and is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow in the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee at 4:00 PM in Room D-1 Stratton Building.
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to email your state representative. Urge him/her to oppose SB 42 if it passes out of committee.
MORE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition of SB 42.
HB 1073 – Patrick Joyce – senate sponsor: Requires college students to provide proof of 3 or more doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines that have been given not more than 10 years prior to enrollment. HB 1073 has passed the House and is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, April 30, in the Senate Higher Education Committee at 8:30 AM in the Capitol, Room 400.
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to email your state senator. Urge him/her to oppose HB 1073 if it passes out of committee.
MORE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 1073.
SB 1560 – Linsdey LaPointe (D) – house sponsor: Requires the Illinois State Board of Education, in consultation with the Governor’s Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Team, to provide materials and procedures to implement universal mental health screening in schools in grades 3 through 12 at least once a year. Although ISBE would bring in “professionals” to implement the screenings, we doubt that the “professionals” values would align with Christian values. For example, these professionals would likely agree with what is currently being taught in public schools: feelings are more important than biology, a boy can become a girl, abortion is the preferred option to pregnancy, and the X-rated sex ed that starts grooming children for early sexual activity in kindergarten. The schools should be focusing on academics, of which they are doing a very poor job. They have no business screening what our children are thinking or believing! The bill allows for an opt-out, but will the parents be notified and will it later be amended to remove the opt out provision entirely?
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to email your state rep. Give him/her a head’s up that you want a NO vote on SB 1560 if it passes out of committee.
MORE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to SB 1560.
THANK YOU!
