Barbara Isabel Hernandez, State Representative for 83rd District (D) | https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=103&MemberID=3159
Barbara Isabel Hernandez, State Representative for 83rd District (D) | https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=103&MemberID=3159
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Eliminates provisions that a person must serve various percentages for particular offenses. Provides that the rules and regulations of the Department of Corrections shall provide that the individual in custody shall receive one day of sentence credit for each day of service in prison other than when a sentence of natural life imprisonment has been imposed. Provides that each day of sentence credit shall reduce by one day the incarcerated person's period of incarceration set by the court. Provides that within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Corrections shall recalculate each incarcerated person's release date by crediting each person one day sentence credit for each day the incarcerated person has spent in prison on the current sentence. Provides that an incarcerated person serving a term of natural life imprisonment shall be eligible to accumulate sentence credit so that in the event that his or her sentence is reduced to something less than a sentence of natural life imprisonment, it can thereafter be credited toward his or her new sentence. Makes technical changes. Effective January 1, 2026."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Unified Code of Corrections in Illinois, changing the rules around sentence credits for incarcerated individuals. It eliminates specific percentage requirements previously required for particular offenses, allowing for a more generalized approach whereby each day served in prison equates to one day of sentence credit, effectively reducing the sentence period by the same amount, excluding those under natural life imprisonment. The Department of Corrections has six months upon the law’s enactment to recalculate release dates accordingly. Moreover, for individuals with life sentences, credits can be accrued to apply if their sentence is reduced. Additionally, provisions are made for awarding extra sentence credits for good conduct, participation in specific programming, or educational achievements, with stipulations varying based on the type and duration of sentences. The bill takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Barbara Hernandez has proposed another six bills since the beginning of the 104th session.
Hernandez graduated from Aurora University in 2014 with a BA.
Barbara Hernandez is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 50th House District. She replaced previous state representative Linda Chapa LaVia in 2023.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB2367 | 01/30/2025 | Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Eliminates provisions that a person must serve various percentages for particular offenses. Provides that the rules and regulations of the Department of Corrections shall provide that the individual in custody shall receive one day of sentence credit for each day of service in prison other than when a sentence of natural life imprisonment has been imposed. Provides that each day of sentence credit shall reduce by one day the incarcerated person's period of incarceration set by the court. Provides that within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Corrections shall recalculate each incarcerated person's release date by crediting each person one day sentence credit for each day the incarcerated person has spent in prison on the current sentence. Provides that an incarcerated person serving a term of natural life imprisonment shall be eligible to accumulate sentence credit so that in the event that his or her sentence is reduced to something less than a sentence of natural life imprisonment, it can thereafter be credited toward his or her new sentence. Makes technical changes. Effective January 1, 2026. |
| HB2366 | 01/30/2025 | Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Agency shall (rather than may) adopt rules requiring the electronic submission of any information required to be submitted to the Agency pursuant to any State or federal law or regulation or any court or Board order. Requires the rules adopted under this provision to take effect no later than January 1, 2030. |
| HB1821 | 01/28/2025 | Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules specifying the standards for registration of certain signs under the Act. Adds the failure of the Department to act upon any permit within the designated time limit under the Act or the rules adopted by the Department to reasons a person can appeal a decision by the Department. Provides that a hearing for an appeal shall commence within 30 days after the receipt of the appeal request. Adds requirements for a hearing conducted under the Act and requires an administrative law judge to present a written proposal that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for a final decision to the Secretary of Transportation within 30 days after conclusion of a hearing. Adopts and incorporates the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules regarding the implementation and enforcement of the Act (rather than permits the Department to establish rules and regulations). Effective immediately. |
| HB1842 | 01/28/2025 | Amends the Administrative Adjudications Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that an ordinance established under the Division to establish a system of administrative adjudication shall allow hearing officers presiding over adjudicatory hearings to enter orders prohibiting further code violations or compelling the remediation of existing code violations. |
| HB1776 | 01/27/2025 | Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that an individual who is legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law is authorized to apply for the position of firefighter, subject to all requirements and limitations, other than citizenship, to which other applicants are subject. Effective January 1, 2026. |
| HB1598 | 01/22/2025 | Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2027 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an individual from performing surgical technology services if the individual is acting within the scope of the individual's license or registration or is a student or intern under the direct supervision of a licensed health care provider. |
| HB1375 | 01/15/2025 | Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Creates emergency rulemaking procedures for the student teaching stipend program. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a person to establish optional credit for periods of service as a student teacher under a specified provision of the Board of Higher Education Act. In provisions requiring an additional employer contribution for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude any stipends paid to an eligible cooperating teacher under the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Creates the student teaching stipend program. Defines terms. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of Higher Education of all eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend program. Creates requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating teacher who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report in collaboration with the State Board of Education evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately. |
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