Gov. Pritzker signs legislation transforming Illinois' criminal justice system

On Monday, Gov. Pritzker signed House Bill 3653, the controversial criminal justice reform bill that was passed in the extremely early hours of the lame-duck session, despite being opposed by nearly every law enforcement organization in the state.

The new law empowers criminals by making it harder to arrest violent offenders and keep them off the streets. It also increases both costs and requirements on police departments, meaning that many communities would likely see cuts to their local police departments, higher property taxes, or a combination of the two.

“This is a dangerous new law that will make our communities less safe, it’s that simple. I had hoped Governor Pritzker would listen to the voices of people from across this state, including police officers, prosecutors, and every-day people, who urged him to veto this bill," said Senator Bailey. "This new law will make it harder for police officers to arrest criminals, make it more difficult for prosecutors to keep offenders off the streets, and will force police departments to make cuts or raise taxes. By signing this bill, Governor Pritzker has given criminals the upper hand over the brave men and women of our law enforcement community.”

Secretary of State reminding motorists of Scott’s Law amid recent violations

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is urging drivers to slow down and move over for stopped emergency vehicles. This latest Scott’s Law campaign comes after 10 Illinois State Police troopers have been victims of violations so far this year.

Scott’s Law, known as the state’s Move Over Law, is designed to protect law enforcement and emergency responders who are stopped along the side of roadways.

Motorists convicted of violating Scott’s Law face a minimum fine of $250 up to $10,000, and the offense goes on their driving record. Driving privileges can be suspended for 24 months in the event of a fatality and six months for a crash causing personal injury.

State’s smallest businesses prioritized for PPP loans

Prioritizing those hit hardest throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration began accepting applications on Feb. 24 from businesses with fewer than 20 employees for the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Those who meet the criteria have until March 10 to apply.

The PPP provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis.

For more details, visit the SBA website here.

Help coming for communities hurt by natural gas rate spike

Following last week’s freezing temperatures, many communities across Illinois are grappling with massive spikes in natural gas prices, with some being forced to pay 100 times their normal costs. For some of the affected communities, this will likely mean monthly natural gas bills that are substantially higher than what they would normally pay for an entire year.

To help alleviate the immediate financial crisis, the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) is launching a $15 million low-interest loan program. Loans will be made available to affected municipalities with an annual interest rate of 1%. The IFA met on Thursday to approve the creation of the program, and officials are still finalizing details including the application and documentation for applicants.