legalization

The minimum wage increase is actually the result of a 2019 law that phases in a state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. This year, it will increase by one dollar to $12 an hour.

The law allowing public housing

It applies to residents of housing units that are designated as affordable housing for low- and very-lowincome families. The bill passed both chambers in its final form on May 30 and Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law Aug. 6.

When Illinois legalized cannabis in 2020, it also made individuals previously charged with minor cannabis offenses eligible to have their records expunged. At the end of 2020, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced 492,129 cannabis-related convictions had been expunged and 9,219 people with low-level cannabis convictions had been pardoned.

Ballesteros added that ACLU of Illinois originally supported the bill because there are many reasons why a vehicle may smell of cannabis.

“And to us, that applies irrespective of age,” Ballesteros said.

The measure passed 33-20 in the Senate and awaits action in the House.

Substance use

on probation

Other new laws include:

Vehicle taxes: SB58 raises the private vehicle tax, which is a sales tax paid on the purchase of vehicles, by $75 for each model year where the purchase price is less than $15,000 and by $100 for vehicles priced above that amount. However, the registration fee for trailers weighing less than 3,000 pounds will drop to $36 instead of $118.

“It was incredibly important as we were looking to legalize this product that has clearly demonized so many communities,” Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, said of the legalization law at a Tuesday news conference.

Both bills will still need approval in the House and a signature from the governor to become law.

Cannabis odor in motor vehicles

SB 125 would ensure that the smell of “burnt or raw cannabis in a motor vehicle” cannot alone be probable cause for an individual’s vehicle to be searched.

SB 1886 would bar courts from preventing individuals from using cannabis or alcohol if they’re on probation, conditional discharge or supervision.

The bill has several exemptions, though, including if the person is sentenced to a crime that involved “the presence of an intoxicating compound in the person’s body.”

Courts would also still be allowed to impose substance use restrictions if the person is under the age of 21 or if they are participating in “problem-solving court,” a system of courts designed to help people with mental health and substance abuse problems.

The measure passed with a 34-21 vote and will head to the House.

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

Darrell President / Publisher

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

“People – especially people of color – are unnecessarily pulled over far too often,” Sen. Rachel Ventura, a Democrat from Joliet and lead sponsor on the bill, said of the legislation during floor debate. “The odor of cannabis alone shouldn’t be one of those reasons (for their car to be searched). Cannabis is legal in Illinois and it’s a pungent scent that can stick to clothes for extended periods of time.”

An amendment to the bill created an age exemption, specifying

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/ General Manager

College admissions: HB226, establishing the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, prohibits public colleges and universities from requiring applicants to submit SAT, ACT or other standardized test scores as part of the admissions process, although prospective students may choose to submit them if they wish.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide, as well as hundreds of radio and TV stations. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Midwest Alliance For Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) Submits Full Application to Department of Energy for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (H2Hub)

CST Weekly, published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issues annually). W ritten permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or part from the General manager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is every Monday at noon. For information on subscriptions or advertising call us at (773) 783-1251. Our office is located at 8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

Editorial: clean hydrogen economy in the region that will create good-paying jobs, expand economic opportunity, promote energy independence, and improve public health outcomes,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Establishing a clean hydrogen hub in our region will also help Michigan achieve its goal of economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050. Let’s get it done.”

Drug prices: SB1682 requires pharmacies to post a notice informing consumers that they may request current pharmacy retail prices at the point of sale.

CHICAGO — The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) has announced it has officially submitted a full application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub (H2Hub), funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Midwest is an optimal region for an H2Hub given its existing hydrogen demand and infrastructure, multiple hard-to-decarbonize industries, favorable geology and policy for carbon storage, its own abundant supply of zero-carbon energy to produce clean hydrogen, and its central, strategic location for national hydrogen distribution and access to major freight routes primed for decarbonization.

MachH2’s application is backed by a bipartisan group of Midwestern legislators and Governors, including Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL), Governor Eric Holcomb (R-IN), and Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI).

Made up of more than 60 public and private entities representing every phase in the hydrogen value chain, MachH2 members are united in a shared vision to create an immediately scalable hydrogen hub in the Midwest that deploys the region’s abundant carbon-free energy to create a clean hydrogen economy and reduce emissions across multiple heavy emitting sectors. A full list of MachH2 alliance members is viewable here.

Editorial:

Editorial:

Send press releases,newstips, calendar listingetc. to: editorial@cstweekly.com

Send press releases, news tips, calendar listing etc. to: editorial@cstweekly.com

Send press releases,newstips, calendar listingetc. to: editorial@cstweekly.com

Advertising advertising@cstweekly.com

FOID card changes: HB562 enacts several changes to the Firearm Owner Identification card law. Among other things, it provides for a streamlined renewal process for FOID cards and Concealed Carry Licenses for people who voluntarily submit fingerprint records. It also allows the Illinois State Police to issue a combined FOID card and Concealed Carry License to qualified applicants, and it establishes a new Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force to take enforcement action against people with revoked FOID cards.

“The Midwest continues to be a leader in the clean energy economy, from Illinois’ passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act to multi-state initiatives like MachH2 that redefine what it means to be climate-conscious in our ever-changing economy,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “This partnership—which exemplifies Midwestern innovation and leadership—is a crucial step towards establishing an effective clean hydrogen economy in the region while also creating stable, well-paying jobs, and laying the foundation for a cleaner Illinois for future generations.” to the appropriate school support personnel.

When made with clean energy, hydrogen is an essential resource in meeting our nation’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. As an energy source, hydrogen does not emit carbon and can be used to reduce emissions from multiple difficult-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy, including aviation, steelmaking, agriculture, and long-haul transportation.

Official flags: HB605 requires state agencies and institutions to purchase Illinois and American flags that are made in the United States.

United States. In June, President Joe Biden also signed a bill designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Advertising advertising@cstweekly.com

Advertising advertising@cstweekly.com

Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251

Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251

Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251

Student mental health: HB576 and SB1577 allow students in Illinois up to five excused absences to attend to their mental or behavioral health without providing a medical note. Those students will be given an opportunity to make up any work they missed during the first absence and, after using a second mental health day, may be referred

“Uniquely situated as The Crossroads of America, Indiana and our neighboring Midwestern coalition states are essential in developing and deploying a robust hydrogen economy,” said Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “In Indiana, our expertise and leadership in traditional industries and the economy of the future, combined with the ability to incorporate hydrogen into existing and new manufacturing processes, offer outstanding opportunities to support America’s global competitiveness and our nation’s workforce.”

Hair styles: SB817 prohibits discrimination in schools against individuals on the grounds of wearing natural or ethnic hairstyles, which include dreadlocks, braids, twists and afros.

Lemonade stands: SB119 prohib- its public health authorities from regulating or shutting down lemonade stands or similar operations that are operated by children under the age of 16. Known as “Hayli’s Law,” it was inspired by 12-year-old Hayli Martinez, whose lemonade stand in Kankakee was shut down by local officials.

Just as the Midwest played a leadership role in transitioning the U.S. to an economic and industrial giant in the mid-1800s, it is now well-positioned to lead a new energy renaissance fueled by clean, affordable, and safe hydrogen. MachH2 is built specifically to accelerate this clean hydrogen transformation, advancing the delivery of abundant, reliable, and increasingly affordable clean energy solutions in the coming decade and beyond to achieve DOE goals.

Juneteenth: HB3922 recognizes June 19, or “Juneteenth,” as an official state holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the

“Michigan is proud to be part of this multi-state effort to create a www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

After announcing its bid and initial concept paper in November of 2022, MachH2 received a letter of encouragement from the DOE in December of 2022. In February, MachH2 announced it had joined forces with the Indiana-led Midwest Hydrogen Corridor Consortium as a single hub.

The DOE is expected to select 6-10 hubs later this year.