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Greetings! Welcome to the inaugural edition of the quarterly Issues & Advocacy Report. This e-publication is designed to bring you the latest developments in LWVIL issues, Illinois policy-making and the tools you need to take action and make a difference. Take a look back at the legislative victories you made happen this year and get ready to be part of another successful year of League advocacy. Jean Pierce & Rosemary Heilemann Co-Chairs, Issues & Advocacy Committee League of Women Voters of Illinois

2019-2021 Priority Issues

At our 59th Biennial LWVIL State Convention in June, attendees voted to focus on the following eight issues over the next two years:

2020 Census Affordable Housing Abolishing the Electoral College Environment

Fair Tax/Graduated Rate Income Tax Gun Violence Prevention Immigration Redistricting

To create any change in these issues, our efforts will need people power! All are welcome to take part in whatever way works for you. To learn more or join a team for any of the Priority Issues for 2019-2021, please reach out to the LWVIL office . To request a speaker for your local League or organization on any of these or other LWVIL issues, please contact the Issues & Advocacy Committee.

Action To Take

The Priority Issues are those advocacy subjects that have the highest priority for our state Program for the 2019-2021 Biennium . Action plans, and the Issues Specialists who are spearheading their efforts for 5 of those 8 issues, are outlined below. Each action plan is based on carefully researched positions, which can be found in Where We Stand , the publication that forms the basis for all action taken by the Illinois local Leagues on state and national issues. Additional information is available on the LWVIL website . For questions or more information, contact the LWVIL Issues & Advocacy Committee.

2020 Census The League of Women Voters of Illinois stands for an accurate Census Count because  it is essential to all basic functions of our society. For every person uncounted, Illinois would lose $1,500 per person for the next 10 years. The data also guides important community decisions affecting schools, housing, health care services, business investments, and much more.   What WE can do: Host an educational community event to explain to the public the importance of a complete count and the challenges in making that happen;   Contact your county and municipal leaders to find out whether they have formed a Complete Count Committee (CCC). If yes, send a member to its meetings. If no, inquire who the point person on the 2020 Census will be and encourage them to join a nearby CCC;  Share 2020 Census information on your social media. Issue Specialists: Hilary Denk, Siobhan Greene, and Jane Ballengee Questions?

Environment The League of Women Voters of Illinois have declared that there is a Climate Emergency because the world’s leading climate scientists predict that serious impacts of climate change will worsen catastrophically if prompt action is not taken to curb emissions.

What WE can do: Host a presentation about the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA); Ask your city to support stricter building codes; Read the Climate Emergency Resolution adopted at the 2019 LWVIL Convention. Issue Specialists: Bill Koehl, Di Niesman, Laura Kratz, and Krista Grimm

Questions?

Fair Income/Graduated Rate Income Tax For the past 40 years, the League of Women Voters of Illinois has supported a Graduated Rate Income Tax because it is based on one's ability to pay.

What WE can do: Become informed about why a Fair Income/Graduated Rate Income Tax would benefit people in your community; Identify other respected individuals in your community who are willing to be trained as Fair Income Tax spokespersons with large and small groups;  Host an educational community presentation about the benefits of a Fair Income /Graduated Rate Income Tax.  Issue Specialists: Jean Pierce, Hilary Denk, and Ann Courter

Questions?

Gun Violence Prevention The League of Women Voters of Illinois believes that the proliferation of handguns and semi-automatic assault weapons in the United States is a major health and safety threat to its citizens. What WE can do: Request information about the Firearms Restraining Order law; Interview your community leaders to learn whether they and their staffs are aware of the Firearms Restraining Order law, which went into effect in January 2019. If not, distribute information and ask them to share that information with their staffs so that they are prepared to counsel any concerned individual to go to law enforcement to get help with filling out the court order. Issue Specialist: Mary Klonowski Questions? Redistricting The League of Women Voters of Illinois seeks a better system of redistricting because the current process allows officials to select their voters rather than voters to select their officials. What WE can do: Take part in the LWVIL efforts on the newly launched, nationwide LWVUS initiative, People Powered Fair Maps Action Campaign; Identify people in your local League who would like to help pass a Fair Map Amendment in Illinois. Issue Specialists: Paula Lawson and Jane Ballengee

Questions?

Spring 2019 Advocacy Results

During the 2019 spring session of the Illinois General Assembly, LWVIL members and supporters advocated for the passage of 26 bills and opposed 1 bill. Of these 27 bills, 15 became new laws, 1 resolution was adopted and the Fair Tax amendment to the Constitution was slated to be placed on the ballot for November 2020. You called. You wrote. You made a difference. Thank you for contacting your legislators to advocate for the many bills LWVIL supported this year. What's next? In just a few weeks, beginning October 28, 2019, legislators will reconvene for a Veto Session to consider the Governor's vetoes.

Criminal Justice

HR94  Time off sentence for rehabilitation

Resolution Adopted

HB900  Never require people to reimburse costs of incarceration

New Law

HB2045 Eliminates $5 medical copays for prisoners

New Law

HB2444 Children's Best Interest Act

New Law

HB2541  Civic education for re-entering citizens

New Law

H B2649  Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents

New Law

SB1965  Healthcare jobs for people with criminal records

New Law

SB2090   Expand voter access and education in jails and prisons

New Law

Education

SB1226  Abolish Charter Commission

New Law

HB2665  Civic education in middle schools

New Law

Environment

SB1184  Ban coal tar sealants

Still in Committee

SB 1532/HB 3445  Lead pipe removal

Still in Committee

SB2132/HB3624 Clean Energy Jobs Act

Still in Committee

Fiscal Policy

SJRCA1 Fair Income Tax

Adopted (will appear on 2020 ballot)

Gun Violence Prevention

HB367  Dilute gun dealer certification law (OPPOSED)

Still in Committee

SB1966  Fix the FOID

Still in Committee

HB2254  Strengthen requirements for safe storage of firearms

Still in Committee

HB3553  Prohibit municipalities from restricting enforcement of state firearms laws (i.e.“gun sanctuary counties”)

Still in Committee

Healthcare

HB345  Tobacco merchants penalized for sales to persons younger than 21

New Law

HB2665  Medical minors' consent

New Law

SB155  Preventative care for children at risk of lead poisoning

Still in Committee

SB1594  Repeal Parental Notice of Abortion Act

Still in Committee

SB1321  Medicaid eligibility reforms

New Law

Immigration

HB1637  Keep Illinois Families Together Act

New Law

HB2040  Ban private/for-profit detention facilities

New Law

HB2691  RISE Act

New Law

Redistricting

SJRCA4/HJRCA15 Fair Maps Amendment

Still in Committee

Stay in Touch

There are several ways to keep up to date with the LWVIL Issues & Advocacy Committee. You can: Sign up for Time for Action alerts via text! Sign up online or text VOTING to 50597. If you aren't already subscribed to our Time for Action email list, you can sign up today. Visit the LWVIL Issues & Advocacy webpages. Follow LWVIL on social media. We are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.