Sen Thomas M. Bennett (SD-053)
Illinois Senatesince 8 months
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SPONSORED LEGISLATION
SB3265 - ACCESS TO NUTRITION PROGRAM
Dale Fowler, Sally J. Turner, Thomas M. Bennett
Last updated 6 months ago
12 Co-Sponsors
Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall conduct an access to nutritious food program to establish and operate projects and strategies within food deserts that focus on: (1) distribution of fresh and nutritious food; and (2) education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall promote the sharing of information concerning best practices and programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition. Provides that the Department shall convene an annual meeting of nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to share best practices and information on programs, including specified projects, that have proven to be effective in improving distribution of fresh and nutritious food and education in food preparation and nutrition. Defines "food desert" and "program".
STATUS
Engrossed
SB2740 - CONDOS-ACCESSIBLE PARKING
Dan McConchie, Sara Feigenholtz, Mary Edly-Allen
Last updated about 1 month ago
12 Co-Sponsors
Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that the board of managers of a condominium must adopt a policy to reasonably accommodate a unit owner who is a person with a disability. Provides that the board of managers must make reasonable efforts to facilitate a resolution between unit owners to provide for accessible parking if the association does not own or otherwise control parking that meets the accessible parking needs of a unit owner who is a person with a disability who requires accessible parking. Provides that the board of managers must adopt a policy no later than 90 days after the effective date of the Act for existing condominiums or 90 days after the date of the election of the initial board of managers under the Act. Provides that all accessible parking spaces constructed or created in accordance with applicable statutes or ordinances must remain part of the common elements for all new construction condominiums and conversion condominiums submitted after the effective date of the Act. Provides that no developer or declarant shall construct, create, or otherwise make parking units or limited common elements of accessible parking spaces. Provides that any rules or regulations adopted by the board of managers for the use of common element accessible parking spaces must provide that a unit owner who is a person with a disability who requires accessible parking has priority over non-disabled unit owners. Requires the board must review a request for accessible parking within 45 days of receipt of the request to do so. Provides that nothing in this Act precludes a disabled person from purchasing a parking unit or a residential unit to which a limited common element parking space is assigned, and no developer or declarant shall refuse to sell a parking unit to a disabled person or assign a limited common element parking space to a residential unit purchased by a disabled person. Provides that if a disabled person purchases a parking unit or a residential unit to which a limited common element parking space is assigned, that unit owner who is a person with a disability who requires accessible parking may request use of a common element accessible parking space in exchange for permitting the association use of that disabled unit owner's parking unit or limited common element parking space.
STATUS
Passed
SB2832 - PROP TX-PROBATE
Steve McClure, Andrew S. Chesney, Donald P. DeWitte
Last updated 6 months ago
7 Co-Sponsors
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that no interest or penalties shall be imposed with respect to property that is included in a decedent's probate estate at the time of a delinquency if the representative of the decedent's estate applies with the county treasurer for a waiver of those amounts and is granted that waiver. Provides that the waiver shall apply beginning on the date of the decedent's death until the earlier of either: (i) the date on which the property is sold, transferred, or conveyed or (ii) the date on which the estate is closed.
STATUS
Engrossed
SB1960 - VEH CD-ELECTRIC SCOOTERS
David Koehler, Thomas M. Bennett, Sally J. Turner
Last updated about 1 month ago
11 Co-Sponsors
Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that a municipality or park district may authorize and regulate the operation of low-speed electric scooters within the unit of local government on any or all highways, sidewalks, trails, or other public right of way where the operation of bicycles are permitted (rather than a person may operate a low-speed electric scooter where the operation of bicycles are permitted, including, but not limited to, bicycle lanes and bicycle paths, and shall have all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the rider of a bicycle under the Code, except in specified situations). Provides that the use of low-speed electric scooters within any municipality or park district is allowed only if authorized by the municipality or park district. Provides that an authorization or regulation by a county or park district shall apply only in the unincorporated area of that county or on park district property. Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter on a highway with a posted speed limit in excess of 35 mph (rather than a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter without a driver's license, instruction permit, or State identification card). Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter unless he or she is 16 (rather than 18) years of age or older. Provides that a person may not operate a low-speed electric scooter while carrying any package, bundle, or article that prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars. Removes provisions of the Code concerning vehicles and motor vehicles. Removes language providing that an entity may not operate a low-speed electric scooter business within a municipality unless the municipality authorizes the operation of low-speed electric scooters within the municipal limits. Adds provisions relating to use of low-speed electric scooters, low-speed electric scooters in rights-of-way, and operation of low-speed electric scooters under the influence of alcohol or any drug. Exempts low-speed electric scooters from title, registration, and driver's licenses requirements. Effective immediately.
STATUS
Passed
SB0290 - ELEC CD-FOREIGN NATIONALS
Michael W. Halpin, Sally J. Turner, Andrew S. Chesney
Last updated over 1 year ago
5 Co-Sponsors
Amends the Election Code. Provides that a foreign national may not make, directly or indirectly, a contribution to a ballot initiative committee or an independent expenditure committee for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters, and neither a ballot initiative committee nor an independent expenditure committee may knowingly solicit or accept a contribution from a foreign national for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Provides that a foreign national may not make an independent expenditure for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Effective immediately.
STATUS
Introduced
SB1487 - SCH CD-EDUCATOR LICENSE-ENDORS
Sally J. Turner, Doris Turner, Donald P. DeWitte
Last updated over 1 year ago
4 Co-Sponsors
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a specialized educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who is employed in a teaching position at an accredited institution of higher education in this State that has officially announced its intent to cease all academic programming at the time the announcement was officially made or was employed in a teaching position at an accredited institution of higher education in this State that has ceased all academic programming within 5 years prior to or on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, meets specified criteria. Provides that the specialized educator endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. Provides that the holder of a specialized educator endorsement shall be permitted to teach in the content area in which he or she previously taught at the accredited institution of higher education. Effective immediately.
STATUS
Introduced
SB3686 - BATTERY STEWARDSHIP ACT
David Koehler, Adriane Johnson, Mary Edly-Allen
Last updated about 1 month ago
17 Co-Sponsors
Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Creates the Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act (rather than the Portable Battery Stewardship Act). Requires those who sell, offer for sale, or distribute (rather than only sell or distribute), covered batteries or battery-containing products containing one or more covered batteries in or into the State to implement and participate in a battery stewardship plan. Makes changes to provisions regarding timelines for covered batteries, as well as timelines for battery stewardship organizations to submit plans to the Agency for approval. Provides that the Illinois Pollution Control Board (rather than the Agency) may adopt rules regarding certain labeling requirements. Repeals a provision regarding rechargeable batteries in the Environmental Protection Act. Changes some defined terms and removes some defined terms.
STATUS
Passed
SB2639 - INS CD-INFERTILITY COVERAGE
Michael E. Hastings, Susan Rezin, Christopher Belt
Last updated 5 months ago
38 Co-Sponsors
Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that, for a group policy of accident and health insurance that provides pregnancy related benefits (rather than providing coverage for more than 25 employees that provides pregnancy-related benefits) that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this State after January 1, 2026 (rather than the effective date of the amendatory Act), if a covered individual obtains, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a recommendation approving the covered individual to seek in vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian tube transfer, or zygote intrafallopian tube transfer based on any of the following: the covered individual's medical, sexual, and reproductive history; the covered individual's age; physical findings; or diagnostic testing, then the procedure shall be covered without any other restrictions or requirements. Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require plans under those Acts to comply with provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code requiring coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Adds a January 1, 2026 effective date.
STATUS
Engrossed
SB3237 - SCH CONSTRUCT LAW-GRANT AWARDS
Christopher Belt, Thomas M. Bennett, Rachel Ventura
Last updated about 1 month ago
16 Co-Sponsors
Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning grant award amounts and required local matches, provides that the required local match and grant award amount are calculated by multiplying the required local match percentage and the grant award percentage by the recognized project cost, provided that, for the first application in which an applicant is funded (instead of only during the first application cycle after June 30, 2022), the amounts may be adjusted. Provides that to receive an adjustment, a school district on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List must initially apply and be approved during the first 3 application cycles after June 30, 2024. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.
STATUS
Passed
SB1216 - TRANSPORTATION-TECH
Thomas M. Bennett, John F. Curran
Last updated over 1 year ago
2 Co-Sponsors
Amends the Railroad Incorporation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
STATUS
Introduced
BIOGRAPHY
INCUMBENT
Senator from Illinois district SD-053
COMMITTEES
Illinois Senate
BIRTH
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ABOUT
Thomas M. Bennett was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Colorado in 1973. He has served on the Board of County Commissioners in San Miguel County since 2017. Bennett graduated from Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado. He attended Mesa State College in Grand Junction. Bennett is the owner of San Miguel Engineering and Surveying, Inc. and was president of the Telluride Association of Realtors. He currently resides in Placerville.read less
OFFICES HELD
Illinois Senate from Illinois
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