State assault weapons ban gains widespread support

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. JB Pritzker, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon issued a joint statement in support of a sweeping assault weapons ban. The Senate passed the legislation Monday and the House is expected to put final approval on it Tuesday to send to the governor’s desk.

Joint statement from the three leaders:

“After continued negotiations between the leaders, stakeholders and advocates, we have reached a deal on one of the strongest assault weapons bans in the country. 

“Gun violence is an epidemic that is plaguing every corner of this state and the people of Illinois are demanding substantive action. With this legislation we are delivering on the promises Democrats have made and, together, we are making Illinois’ gun laws a model for the nation.” 

Read more: State assault weapons ban gains widespread support

Senate improves landmark criminal justice legislation

SPRINGFIELD -- Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement today after the Senate passed legislation clarifying certain portions of the Pretrial Fairness Act:

“Our goal when we passed the Pretrial Fairness Act nearly two years ago was to overhaul a broken criminal justice system, one in which dangerous people could buy their way out of jail while people accused of non-violent crimes remain detained as they await their day in court simply because they lack resources.

“The measure we passed today preserves that goal while providing clarifications to eliminate any misunderstandings and ensure the implementation of this groundbreaking reform is smooth.”

Senate votes to bar investments in Russia

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate approved legislation Wednesday prohibiting the investment of state funds in Russia.

“The Illinois Senate joins the international community in denouncing Russian’s ongoing, unconscionable acts of aggression against the Ukrainian people,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat who sponsored the legislation in the Senate.

The proposed law would require the state to divest or withdraw any existing investments in Russian banks and companies and prohibit such investments going forward.

The Senate’s 50-0 approval on Wednesday sends the proposal (HB 1293) back to the Illinois House for final action.

What else it does:

• Requires state colleges and universities to disclose endowments and donations provided by Russian companies or sources subject to Russia-related sanctions.
• Requires the State Police to investigate property-related crimes involving individuals or companies sanctioned in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Gives the Department of Human Services added authority to address Ukrainian refugee resettlement.
• Creates a task force to investigate vulnerabilities in the real estate sector that could facilitate Russian money laundering.
• Creates a task force to recommend state protections against possible Russian or other foreign interference in Illinois elections.

Harmon vows to protect women’s right to choose

CHICAGO - Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) released the following statement on reports indicating that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade:

“The Supreme Court seems ready to deprive millions of women the right to choose. This is upsetting, but not shocking. It’s why we took so many steps in Illinois to protect this fundamental right.

“The Republican Party continues to disregard the will of the people. This is the most extreme example yet.

“As long as there is a Democratic majority in the Illinois State Senate, women will have their rights protected. We will stand as a bulwark against any efforts to turn back the clock to darker days.”