Yesterday we welcomed guests at the Capitol for Illinois Muslim Action Day. Young people from across the state came to advocate for important issues for and beyond their community, and to learn about being involved in government policy. This annual event is organized by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago (CIOGC). I was happy to meet Ahmad Raza from Addison, Illinois who is a junior at Islamic Foundation School.

Ahmad hold leadership positions in various clubs at his school and spends his free time working as a tutor at Kumon Learning Center and volunteering at DuPage PADS and Northern Illinois Food Bank. He plans to attend medical school to get a PhD in psychology and become a psychiatrist or psychologist.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) advanced legislation today that would set a statewide standard for alcohol delivery from retailers.

Senate Bill 54 would allow grocery stores and other licensed retailers to alcohol to the homes of consumers if certain conditions, including age verification and training, are met.

“More and more people are ordering their groceries online,” Harmon said. “We want to keep up with this modern way of shopping and make sure that any retailers who want to provide this service to their customers are confident that they will be able to deliver anywhere in the state.”

Harmon said he is continuing to meet with working groups to finalize the legislation as it is considered in the House.

Senate Bill 54 passed the Senate without opposition and heads to the House.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is one step closer to amending its Constitution to allow for a fair tax after Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) passed a Constitutional amendment out of committee today.

The proposed Constitutional amendment would remove language requiring a flat tax and allow the General Assembly to set lower rates for those making less and higher rates for the wealthiest Illinoisans.

“Our current tax system is punitive to middle class and working families in Illinois because it imposes a greater burden on them than on the wealthiest in our state,” Harmon said. “With a fair tax, we are simply asking top earners to pay their fair share.”

Illinois is one of only nine states in the country to impose a flat tax. Harmon has worked to implement a fair tax for nearly 10 years, saying the state needs more flexibility in its tax structure.

“We have no nimbleness in our tax policy,” Harmon said. “A flat tax gives us little ability to respond appropriately to an economic downturn. Our current system is antiquated, and a majority of Illinoisans have indicated that they want to change it. We need to give them the opportunity to take this vote.”

The proposed amendment does not include specific tax rates, but Harmon said legislation to set rates will be introduced later this legislative session. Gov. JB Pritzker announced proposed rates earlier this year that would raise an estimated $3.4 billion in revenue by raising taxes on only the top 3 percent of earners in Illinois.

“The only other options we have to balance our budget are to raise taxes dramatically on everyone or make deep, draconian cuts to vital state services,” Harmon said. “A fair tax will not only help us fix our state’s finances but also give us long-term stability.”

If the amendment passes both the Senate and the House with a supermajority vote, it will be placed as a question on the November 2020 ballot.

Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 passed the Senate Executive Committee 12-5 today and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) that will reinstate parole in Illinois for youthful offenders became law today.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed Harmon’s measure allowing offenders who were sentenced for offenses committed under the age of 21 to petition the Prisoner Review Board for parole after serving 20 years for homicide or aggravated criminal assault and 10 years for all other offenses.

“The policy of locking youthful offenders away for decades without meaningful opportunity for release has disproportionately impacted minority communities,” Harmon said. “The facts show that young offenders are extremely unlikely to commit violent crimes again after release. This law will give them a chance to reenter society once they have served the time for their offense.”

Those convicted of predatory criminal assault or sentenced to natural life imprisonment for first degree murder would not be eligible for parole.

Illinois does not currently allow prisoners to petition for parole, but rather implements mandatory supervised release after they have completed their sentence.

House Bill 531 takes effect immediately.