Kane County Reporter

Barbara Hernandez introduced HB3839 in the Illinois House on Feb. 7, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to install level II electric vehicle charging stations at each rest stop along each interstate highway in the State. Provides that, subject to approval by the United States Secretary of Transportation, the Department may install direct current fast-charging stations at each rest stop along each interstate highway in the State, which charge an electric vehicle charging fee in an amount no greater than what is necessary to offset the cost to the State in constructing and maintaining the charging infrastructure and procuring electricity. Allows the Department to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the EV Charging Station Fund for expenses directly related to the installation, maintenance, procuring electricity, and other costs associated with electric vehicle charging stations at highway rest stops. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases the additional fee for registration of an electric vehicle to $150 (currently $100), with $50 being deposited into the EV Charging Station Fund."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates the Illinois Department of Transportation to install level II electric vehicle charging stations at rest stops along interstate highways in Illinois. Subject to federal approval, the department may also install direct current fast-charging stations, imposing fees only sufficient to cover operation costs. It establishes the EV Charging Station Fund to finance these projects, funded partly by an increased annual registration fee for electric vehicles, which rises from $100 to $150. Of this fee, $50 is allocated to the fund. The bill allows the department to establish rules to enforce these regulations and manage charging time limits.

Barbara Hernandez has proposed another 22 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
HB3839	02/07/2025	Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to install level II electric vehicle charging stations at each rest stop along each interstate highway in the State. Provides that, subject to approval by the United States Secretary of Transportation, the Department may install direct current fast-charging stations at each rest stop along each interstate highway in the State, which charge an electric vehicle charging fee in an amount no greater than what is necessary to offset the cost to the State in constructing and maintaining the charging infrastructure and procuring electricity. Allows the Department to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the EV Charging Station Fund for expenses directly related to the installation, maintenance, procuring electricity, and other costs associated with electric vehicle charging stations at highway rest stops. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases the additional fee for registration of an electric vehicle to $150 (currently $100), with $50 being deposited into the EV Charging Station Fund.
HB3502	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for one pair of custom-made retainers and one night guard every 2 years for each family covered by the policy. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.
HB3780	02/07/2025	Creates the Illinois Universal Health Care Act. Provides that all individuals residing in the State are covered under the Illinois Health Services Program for health insurance. Sets forth the health coverage benefits that participants are entitled to under the Program. Sets forth the qualification requirements for participating health providers. Sets forth standards for provider reimbursement. Provides that it is unlawful for private health insurers to sell health insurance coverage that duplicates the coverage of the Program. Provides that investor-ownership of health delivery facilities is unlawful. Provides that the State shall establish the Illinois Health Services Trust to provide financing for the Program. Sets forth the requirements for claims billing under the Program. Provides that the Program shall include funding for long-term care services and mental health services. Provides that the Program shall establish a single prescription drug formulary and list of approved durable medical goods and supplies. Creates the Pharmaceutical and Durable Medical Goods Committee to negotiate the prices of pharmaceuticals and durable medical goods with suppliers or manufacturers on an open bid competitive basis. Sets forth provisions concerning patients' rights. Provides that the employees of the Program shall be compensated in accordance with the current pay scale for State employees and as deemed professionally appropriate by the General Assembly.
HB3054	02/06/2025	Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. In provisions concerning radon testing of licensed day care centers, licensed day care homes, and licensed group day care homes, requires mitigation when testing confirms radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L. Provides that mitigation shall be conducted according to industry standards. Provides that, if radon test results are at or above 4.0 pCi/L, the licensed day care center, licensed day care home, or licensed group day care home shall create a corrective action plan that shall include long-term radon tests that show levels below 4.0 pCi/L. Provides that, if radon test results exceed 8.0 pCi/L, initial applicants shall mitigate before a license is issued and license renewal applicants shall close operations until the radon standard of 4.0 pCi/L or lower is achieved.
HB3055	02/06/2025	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, a student who otherwise qualifies for any grant or scholarship offered under this Act, by any other State law, or by a unit of local government shall not be denied the award of the grant or scholarship based solely on the student's status as a noncitizen. Effective immediately.
HB3109	02/06/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may award grants to match the funds received by a business through an SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal up to a maximum of $75,000 (currently, $50,000). Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may award grants to match the funds received by a business through an SBIR/STTR Phase II proposal up to a maximum of $250,000. Provides that 50% of the total Phase II grant shall be remitted to the business upon submission by the business of the Phase II final report to the federal funding agency. Provides that a business may receive only one such grant per year. Provides that, over its lifetime, a business may receive a maximum of 2 such awards.
HB2750	02/05/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any program of study at a public institution of higher education improves employability and shall be considered equivalent to an acceptable SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program component, unless prohibited by federal law. Defines "public institution of higher education". Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Provides that rulemaking shall not delay full implementation of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
HB2771	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health is authorized, upon request, to issue certificates of free sale, health certificates, or an equivalent, to Illinois food, dairy, drug, cosmetic, or medical device manufacturers, processors, packers, or warehousers for a fee of $65 (rather than $10).
HB2773	02/05/2025	Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall furnish the record of all specified proceedings to an interested party at $3 per page (instead of 70 cents) for each original transcript and 75 cents per page (instead of 25 cents) for each certified copy. Provides that the charge for any part of the transcript ordered and paid for previous to the writing of the original record shall be 75 cents (instead of 25 cents) per page.
HB2774	02/05/2025	Amends the Domestic Violence Shelters Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall be responsible for the provision of a single, easy to use telephone number for public access to information and referral for domestic violence services. Authorizes the Department to identify and enter into a contract with a lead entity to provide governance and oversight, including the ability to design, implement, support, and coordinate a State-wide Domestic Violence Hotline system. Provides that the lead entity must: (i) have the ability to provide statewide, toll-free, 24-hour, 7 day-a-week, multi-lingual, confidential referral services to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and information to people calling on behalf of a victim, including friends or family of the domestic violence victim and first responders such as the police; (ii) have a record of providing effective, victim-centered referral services to victims of domestic violence for at least 2 years prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act; (iii) be an Illinois 501(c)(3) non-profit agency or organization; (iv) provide the most up-to-date technology to increase access to domestic violence services for the deaf and hard of hearing; and (v) have other specified qualifications. Requires the lead entity to provide periodic programmatic and fiscal reports on activities, accomplishments, and other issues to the Department. Requires the Department to ensure, prior to awarding a contract, that the Domestic Violence Hotline lead entity has the organizational capacity to carry out the terms of the contract.
HB2783	02/05/2025	Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that it is the duty of the Department of Central Management Services to provide free menstrual hygiene products in all State government buildings and in any public restrooms maintained by the State government that are not designated as male-only restrooms. Provides that it is the policy of the State of Illinois to provide free menstrual hygiene products in all State government buildings, unit of local government buildings, and school district buildings, and in all public restrooms maintained by any of those entities that are not designated as male-only restrooms. Provides that the Department shall coordinate with units of local government and school districts and may award grants to units of local government or school districts to effectuate this policy. Provides that the Department shall coordinate with school districts to ensure that, in the case of the provision of menstrual hygiene products in school restrooms, the employee or third-party contractor who is normally responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of toilet tissue and paper towels in school restrooms shall also be responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of menstrual hygiene products in the school restrooms. Allows the Department to adopt rules. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB2590	02/04/2025	Appropriates $26,282,000 from the Education Assistance Fund to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy to meet its ordinary and contingent expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Appropriates $5,925,000 from the IMSA Income Fund to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy to meet its ordinary and contingent expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2591	02/04/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a transitional benefits program for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is designed in such a way that a SNAP beneficiary will not experience an immediate loss of benefits should his or her income exceed the maximum allowable income for the SNAP program. Provides that transitional benefits offered shall gradually step down the beneficiary's monthly benefit proportionate to the increase in the beneficiary's income thereby allowing for a transition to self-sufficiency while incentivizing work and financial stability. Sets forth how a SNAP beneficiary's transitional benefit will be determined under the transitional benefits program. Requires SNAP beneficiaries who are receiving transitional benefits to comply with all SNAP requirements, including work requirements. Makes implementation of the transitional benefits program subject to appropriation and any necessary federal waivers or approvals. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB2439	02/03/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, in addition to the other requirements for eligibility for an electronic monitoring or home detention program, a person serving a sentence for conviction of an offense that is a Class X or Class 1 felony, other than for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, or felony criminal sexual abuse, may be placed in an electronic monitoring or home detention program for a period not to exceed the last 18 (rather than 12 months) of incarceration, provided that the person is 50 (rather than 55) years of age or older.
HB2468	02/03/2025	Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician assistant may prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices without delegation of authority by a physician. Provides that a physician assistant may practice without a written collaborative agreement. Provides that a physician assistant who files with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification shall not require a written collaborative agreement to practice. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; physician assistant title; collaboration requirements; written collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority, and physician assistants in hospitals, hospital affiliates, or ambulatory surgical treatment centers; inactive status; limitations; and grounds for disciplinary action. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to make corresponding changes.
HB2410	01/31/2025	Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Provides that nothing in the Act permits the euthanization of a dog or cat or other pet in an animal shelter except in accordance with the requirements under certain provisions of the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act. Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. In the definition of "humanely euthanized", provides that "humanely euthanized" does not include euthanization of a dog, cat, or other pet in an animal shelter for any reason other than health reasons, attitude issues, or aggressiveness. Amends the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of any law, no person may euthanize a cat, dog, or other pet in an animal shelter unless the euthanization is for health reasons, attitude issues, or aggressiveness. 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.
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.
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.