{"id":15390,"date":"2025-08-04T13:57:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T18:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=15390"},"modified":"2025-08-04T13:57:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T18:57:29","slug":"aquifer-protection-chicago-pension-boost-among-more-than-100-new-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/15390-aquifer-protection-chicago-pension-boost-among-more-than-100-new-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Aquifer Protection, Chicago Pension Boost Among More Than 100 New Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pdfprnt-buttons pdfprnt-buttons-post pdfprnt-top-right\"><a href=\"javascript: window.print()\" class=\"pdfprnt-button pdfprnt-button-print\" target=\"_self\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-print\/images\/print.png\" alt=\"image_print\" title=\"Print Content\" \/><span class=\"pdfprnt-button-title pdfprnt-button-print-title\">Print<\/span><\/a><\/div><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CAPITOL DOME LAWN: The Illinois Capitol is shown in May 2024. (Capitol News Illinois file photo)\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By BEN SZALINSKI, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ANDREW ADAMS <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&amp; JERRY NOWICKI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capitol News Illinois<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"mailto:aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">news@capitolnewsillinois.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed into law 124 of the 436 bills sent to him by lawmakers in the spring legislative session.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The measures signed last week expand what must be covered by state-regulated insurance plans, require libraries to stock opioid antagonists, and add new training requirements for law enforcement officers, medical professionals and food handlers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two of the most closely followed measures aim to protect the drinking water of a wide swath of central Illinois and boost the pension benefits for first responders in Chicago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Carbon sequestration ban\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the state <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/lawmakers-move-to-pause-then-further-regulate-carbon-dioxide-pipeline-development\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">moved to regulate carbon sequestration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> last year, advocates called on lawmakers to codify protections for the Mahomet Aquifer \u2014 a measure which Pritzker signed last week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for more than a dozen counties in Central Illinois, including communities in and around Peoria and Champaign.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supporters of carbon sequestration technology, which sees carbon dioxide pollution buried deep underground, say that the process wouldn\u2019t affect any drinking water because the carbon dioxide is hundreds or thousands of feet below where water sits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But environmental advocates pointed to leaks last year at ADM, a major agriculture business that operates one of the few active carbon sequestration wells in the country in Decatur.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Read more: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/bill-banning-carbon-sequestration-near-mahomet-aquifer-clears-general-assembly\/\"><b>Bill banning carbon sequestration near Mahomet Aquifer clears General Assembly<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhile mitigating the effects of climate change should be a priority, it cannot be at the expense of the clean drinking water of nearly one million Illinoisans,\u201d Sen. Paul Faraci, D-Champaign, said in a statement last week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and with bipartisan support in the House.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Chicago police and firefighter pensions<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/07\/16\/opinion-tier-2-pension-sweetener-jb-pritzker\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from government watchdog groups to veto the bill, Pritzker signed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=3657&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB&amp;LegId=162421&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 3657<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which will provide Chicago first responders under the Tier 2 pension system with better benefits. Its supporters argued the bill was needed to bring Chicago first responders in line with their colleagues in other departments around the state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill cleared the General Assembly with just one Republican senator opposing it, despite Chicago Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski warning a Senate committee it could increase the city\u2019s unfunded pension liability by $11 billion, adding millions more in annual costs and decreasing the system\u2019s funding ratio. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.wttw.com\/2025\/06\/30\/hearings-start-how-fill-chicago-s-projected-12b-2026-budget-gap-officials-won-t-say-how\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">city is already facing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a roughly $1 billion deficit in 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe city outlined the benefits and challenges related to Tier II pensions during the spring session, pointing out repeatedly that this was an unfunded mandate in what will already be a challenging budget cycle,\u201d Mayor Brandon Johnson\u2019s office said in a statement. \u201cIn recognition that this particular amendment passed with a veto-proof majority, we will continue to work with the Illinois General Assembly, and our City Council members to find long term solutions that stabilize the City&#8217;s pension funds with dedicated, progressive revenue so that Chicago&#8217;s workers can know that their retirements are secured.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A spokesperson for Pritzker said in a statement that the governor expects Chicago to \u201cimplement these changes with careful planning and fiscal discipline.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Other bills\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>AI use in therapy:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=1806&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB&amp;LegId=159219&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 1806<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> regulates the use of artificial intelligence in mental health therapy sessions. It specifically prohibits therapists from using AI to make independent therapeutic decisions, directly interact with patients, or detect emotions or mental states. AI use would be allowed for other specified support services. The unanimously passed law took effect upon the governor\u2019s signature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Paid time for nursing mothers: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=212&amp;GAID=18&amp;GA=104&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegID=157499&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 212<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires employers to compensate mothers who take breaks at work to pump breast milk for up to a year after their child is born. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/illinois-general-assembly-passes-bills-aimed-at-helping-mothers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> prohibits employers from requiring employees to use paid leave time for pumping. It takes effect in January.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Naloxone in libraries: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=1910&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 1910<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/senate-passes-bill-requiring-illinois-libraries-to-supply-opioid-overdose-medication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">libraries maintain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a supply of opioid overdose medication, like naloxone. This drug is often administered through a nasal spray like Narcan. The law also requires that at least one staff member be trained to identify overdoses and administer the drug.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Pandemic preparedness commission: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/legislation\/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=291&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegId=157746&amp;SessionID=114&amp;GA=104\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 291<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> establishes the One Health Commission to aid in communication and collaboration between the doctors, veterinarians, and others on public health and safety when it comes to diseases that originate or mutate in animals. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/bill-establishes-commission-to-increase-communication-on-public-health-issues\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The commission<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is required to submit a report to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2028.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Police training on sexual assault: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/legislation\/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1195&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegId=159009&amp;SessionID=114&amp;GA=104\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 1195<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also known as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/bill-would-require-police-training-for-sexual-assault-conflicts-of-interest\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anna\u2019s Law<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, requires police officers in training to participate in trauma-informed programs, procedures and practices that are designed to reduce trauma for victims. The bill is named after Anna Williams, a suburban resident who brought the initiative to lawmakers following her own experience with a sexual assault investigation. The bill takes effect in January.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Implicit bias training<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/legislation\/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2517&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB&amp;SessionID=114&amp;GA=104\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 2517<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires health care providers to receive one hour of training on historic racial discrepancies in maternal care prior to renewing a state license, starting in July 2026. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/general-assembly-passes-bill-to-mandate-anti-bias-training-for-obstetric-care-providers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health care professionals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would take the course as part of required implicit bias training and be allowed to count completion of the course toward minimum continuing education requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Gluten training: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People required to receive food handling certification will now <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/lawmakers-pass-bills-on-ai-community-college-instruction-food-handling-school-bus-seat-belts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also have to learn<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about celiac disease, or gluten intolerance. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/general-assembly-passes-bill-to-mandate-anti-bias-training-for-obstetric-care-providers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 1288<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> added celiac disease education to 13 existing requirements for food handling. The training would teach about its symptoms and ways to avoid cross contamination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Underground Railroad commission: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=1607&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegId=160399&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 1607<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> establishes a Freedom Trails Commission to identify, preserve and promote historic sites in Illinois linked to the Underground Railroad. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/lawmakers-approve-bills-easing-driving-tests-on-seniors-limits-on-student-fines\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The commission<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would also work with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/orgs\/1205\/index.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Park Service\u2019s Network to Freedom<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> program to serve as a liaison between the Park Service and local entities involved in the history of the Underground Railroad.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Predatory towing: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=2040&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=SB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Bill 2040<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> gives the Illinois Commerce Commission new powers to punish predatory towing companies which sometimes tow cars under false pretenses only to charge drivers afterwards. The ICC-backed law allows the agency to revoke towing licenses, impound tow trucks and more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Lift-assist fees: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=2336&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB&amp;LegId=159987&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 2336<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allows municipalities or fire districts to charge assisted living facilities or nursing homes for calls to fire departments requesting help lifting a resident when it is not an emergency. The bill was an initiative of the Illinois Municipal League, which argued the calls to fire departments for the non-emergency service are a burden on local governments and shift liabilities for injuries that happen during the process to fire departments rather than the facility. The fees start being implemented in January.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Insurance coverage for anesthesia: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=1141&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=HB&amp;LegId=156877&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 1141<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires insurance companies to cover the cost of anesthesia for the entirety of a procedure, rather than limiting the amount insurance will cover to a certain period of time. Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, who is a physician in Peoria, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/house-approves-new-abortion-protection-plan-to-ease-college-admissions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">told lawmakers during debate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in April that patients can\u2019t control how long their procedures last and surgeons often encounter unexpected challenges during procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Therapeutic horse riding: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus?DocNum=69&amp;GAID=18&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegId=157174&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beginning in January 2026<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, state-regulated insurance plans will be required to cover therapeutic horseback riding. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/insurance-plans-could-soon-be-required-to-cover-hippotherapy-in-illinois\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hippotherapy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a type of physical, occupational and speech therapy where the movement of a horse is used to treat conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, strokes, head and spinal cord injuries, as well as behavioral disorders and psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>School bus seat belts: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/ilga.gov\/Legislation\/BillStatus\/FullText?GAID=18&amp;DocNum=191&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegId=157446&amp;SessionID=114\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beginning in July 2031<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, any newly purchased school bus in Illinois would be required to be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/lawmakers-pass-bills-on-ai-community-college-instruction-food-handling-school-bus-seat-belts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equipped with seat belts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that go over the lap and shoulders of all passengers. It does not mandate schools or bus drivers to ensure seat belts are properly fastened.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capitol News Illinois<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CAPITOL DOME LAWN: The Illinois Capitol is shown in May 2024. (Capitol News Illinois file photo)\u00a0 By BEN SZALINSKI, ANDREW ADAMS &amp; JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":15391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Aquifer Protection, Chicago Pension Boost Among More Than 100 New Laws - Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/15390-aquifer-protection-chicago-pension-boost-among-more-than-100-new-laws\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Aquifer Protection, Chicago Pension Boost Among More Than 100 New Laws - 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