McHenry Times

In an order released on July 2, the United States Supreme Court declined to take up a legal challenge to Illinois' "assault weapon" ban but left open the possibility of hearing the case in the future. Petitioners had requested that the nation's highest court issue an injunction against enforcing the ban. This request followed conflicting rulings on multiple challenges to the law, including a temporary injunction issued by a judge in the Southern District of Illinois that was later overturned by the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, where a challenge is still pending.

The Supreme Court has decided not to hear the case while that challenge is ongoing but reserved the right to take it up at a later date. A Justice noted, “…if the Seventh Circuit ultimately allows Illinois to ban America’s most common civilian rifle, we can – and should – review that decision once the cases reach a final judgment.” He added, “The Court must not permit ‘the Seventh Circuit [to] relegat[e] the Second Amendment to a second-class right.’”

State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-Woodstock) expressed optimism that Illinois' ban would ultimately be found unconstitutional once the legal process concludes. He opposed the ban in the Senate, viewing it as an unconstitutional overreach and an attack on Second Amendment rights.

Legislation aimed at alleviating some financial burdens placed on disabled veterans in Illinois was signed into law on July 1. Cosponsored by Sen. Wilcox, this new law waives permit fees for disabled veterans who need to modify their homes for accessibility.

Previously, disabled veterans returning from service who needed to adapt their homes were required to pay permit fees to their local government in addition to covering renovation costs. This added financial strain often made essential home modifications even more challenging.

Senate Bill 2751 addresses this issue by waiving permit fees for disabled veterans making necessary home modifications. The bill passed both chambers unanimously and was signed into law on July 1, 2024; it will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Schools across Illinois will be better prepared for cardiac emergencies under a new law mandating cardiac response plans. According to the American Heart Association, thousands of students younger than 18 have experienced cardiac arrest. Statistics show that without prompt response or training, nearly 90 percent of these incidents can be fatal.

House Bill 5394 requires Illinois schools to implement cardiac response plans and provide school personnel with information and hands-on cardiac emergency response training. This includes hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Under this new law, school boards must review procedures and emergency plans annually. School districts will also be eligible for matching grants covering 50 percent of First Aid certification costs. The bill passed both chambers unanimously and was signed into law on July 1, 2024; it will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Applications are now being accepted for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This state-financed grant program provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquiring or developing land for public parks and open space.

All local governments must be authorized by Illinois law to spend public funds for these purposes; school districts are not eligible. Projects can range from smaller neighborhood parks to larger county nature areas.

Grants can cover up to 50 percent of approved project costs or up to 90 percent for economically distressed communities. Grants for acquisition projects can be awarded up to $1.725 million, while development or renovation projects are limited to $600,000 maximums. Applications must be submitted by September 13 at 5:00 p.m.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has launched a pilot program allowing professionals in select fields to pay application fees online through its ePay Portal starting June 4. This initiative aims to streamline application processes statewide.

ePay is an electronic payment system offering fast and secure processing of payments around-the-clock. The new feature benefits professionals in both the Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) and Division of Real Estate (DRE). More information about eligible professions is available on IDFPR's website.