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Senate passes Stadelman bill to ban medical debt on credit reports
State Senator Steve Stadelman’s pivotal legislation aimed at safeguarding consumers from the detrimental impact of medical debt on their credit reports passed the Illionis Senate.
“Medical debt does not indicate one’s ability to pay their bills,” Stadelman said. “By prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information related to medical debt in credit reports, we are working to alleviate financial burdens and promote economic stability for individuals and families across our state.”
Senate Bill 2933 would prohibit consumer reporting agencies from incorporating any adverse information stemming from medical debt into consumers’ credit reports. According to The Commonwealth Fund, 41 percent of working-age Americans have medical bill problems or are paying off medical debt.
“This bill represents a crucial step toward ensuring fairness and equity in our financial system,” Stadelman said. “By enacting these protections, we can empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health care without fear of long-term financial repercussions.”
SB 2933 now heads to the Illlinois House of Representatives for further consideration. Click image below to watch video from a news conference on SB 2933:
Stadelman also advances anti-hazing, anti-stalking and ticket buyer-protection bills to House
During an especially productive week in Springfield, State Senator Steve Stadelman won Senate approval for his proposals to strengthen anti-hazing laws, increase transparency in the ticketing industry and expand anti-stalking laws to include electronic harassment,
- Senate Bill 2934 seeks to strengthen existing laws by explicitly stating that consent or permission from the victim does not absolve perpetrators from prosecution. “Hazing has no place in our communities," Stadelman said. "By closing legal loopholes, we are sending out a clear message: Perpetrators will be held accountable. No individual should ever feel pressured or coerced into participating in activities that jeopardize their physical or mental health.” According to the National Study of Student Hazing, more than half, or 55%, of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experience hazing. This alarming figure underscores the urgent need for legislative action to address this pervasive issue.
- Senate Bill 3678 would require ticket vendors to disclose the total price of admission upfront -- including all fees and charges -- to prevent hidden costs and speculative ticket listing. Speculative ticket listing refers to when sellers list tickets for events that they do not possess in the hope of acquiring them later at a lower price. This often leads to inflated ticket prices, and will leave customers vulnerable to price gouging. “This bill is a win for Illinois consumers,” Stadelman said. “Transparency breeds trust, and this legislation is a significant step forward in fostering a fair and transparent ticketing marketplace. Illinois residents deserve to know the full cost of their tickets upfront without any surprises.”
- Senate Bill 2683would expand the definition of stalking to include the use of an electronic tracking system to determine a person’s location, movement or travel patterns. The legislation would also allow judges to prohibit respondents from using electronic tracking systems and acquiring tracking information in a court order. “Electronic stalking is a serious threat to the safety and well-being of individuals,” Stadelman said. “By acknowledging the harmful impact of electronic stalking and providing legal recourse for victims, we are sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated in our state”
Fresh from our inbox ...
"I just saw where you are asking to allow funds from unused college plans to go to retirement. (Senate Bill 3133). WOW! FANTASTIC! AMAZING! My wife and I purchased savings plans for our two girls, a full four years for each. Our first kid got scholarships and had money left. Our second kid also got scholarships and just graduated Magna Cum Laude from UIC. On one of the two contracts, we have HALF of the semesters left. At (ages) 63 and 62, we are staring down that retirement barrel and have questioned IF we should have paid into OUR plans, rather than college. This would really be a game-changer. Keep up the good work.
-- Rob Belles, Rockford
Rock Cut fully reopened after $4.5 million state investment
After a $4.5 million makeover, Rock Cut State Park is back inperation. Work began more than a year ago to replace culverts, install wayside signage and build new new bike lanes and a children's fishing pond. Nearly half of the 3,000-acre park, which is open year-round, was closed during construction.
"Rock Cut has long been one of the most visited, if not the most visited, tourist sites in our region," State Senator Steve Stadelman said. "Because of its popularity and high visibility, it is imperative the state re-invest in and refresh this important public asset."
In case you missed me on Facebook ...
Steve Stadelman
April 8 at 3:46 PM
What a memorable experience watching the solar eclipse with Mike Tanner's sophomore integrated science class at Belvidere School District 100! I donated 1,000 pairs of ISO 1232-2 safety glasses obtained through the Illinois Optometric Association so the entire student body could view this afternoon's celestial event!
Steve Stadelman
April 10 at 9:36 AM
Congratulations to ten Rockford firefighters who were honored at last night's IAFF Local 413 annual retirement dinner: Kathleen Macias, Matthew Knott, William Hyde, Ronald Nunez, Mike Rotolo, Aaron Howard, Kyle Hill, Miguel Holland, Trent Brass and Judd Griffith. In addition to IAFF plaques, each also received a Certificate of Recognition from the Illinois Senate for nearly 250 years of combined service!
$44 million in state grants available for EV charging stations: Stadelman
State Senator Steve Stadelman this week announced $44 million in grants that are now available to bolster public electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state.
“These grants present a remarkable opportunity to enhance Illinois’ infrastructure while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint,” Stadelman said. “Investing in public, EV-charging infrastructure is not only essential for supporting electric vehicle adoption but also for fostering economic growth and sustainability in our communities.”
This marks the second round of grants available through the historic Stadelman-backed Rebuild Illinois, and authorized under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
Eligible applicants include units of local government and private organizations that are incorporated in Illinois and are in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State. Proposed charging stations must be owned by the applicant and open to public use. Required forms and information can be found on the Driving a Cleaner Illinois webpage.
“By working together with municipalities, businesses and community organizations, we can accelerate the deployment of EV charging infrastructure and make sustainable transportation options more accessible to all Illinois residents,” Stadelman said.
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