In Illinois, the House has passed several bills on a range of topics [4936c764]. House Bill 4446 criminalizes the possession of kangaroos, wallabies, servals, and caracals, expanding the list of outlawed animals. The penalty for illegally owning one of these animals remains a Class C misdemeanor [4936c764].
Another bill, House Bill 4623, aims to outlaw the creation and sharing of child pornography made using artificial intelligence [4936c764].
House Bill 5142, which has advanced to the Senate, seeks to expand insurance coverage for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care. The bill includes provisions to extend coverage to doulas, midwives, home births, lactation consultants, and breastfeeding supplies [4936c764].
Additionally, the House passed House Bill 4629, which aims to prevent companies from imposing hidden fees on consumers. The bill requires companies to provide consumers with the full price of goods or services, removing any hidden fees [4936c764].
The House also approved House Bill 4895, which requires the Illinois State Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers regarding climate change curriculum. The bill grants the ISBE the authority to provide training materials to teachers based on that curriculum [4936c764].
Furthermore, the House passed House Bill 5396, which adds transparency and reporting measures to prisoner medical release hearings. The bill amends the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act and clarifies that hearings concerning a prisoner's potential release are public by default unless requested to be closed by the inmate [4936c764].
These bills reflect a range of legislative efforts in Illinois, addressing issues such as animal possession, child pornography, insurance coverage for maternal and newborn care, hidden fees, climate change curriculum, and prisoner medical release [4936c764].
Meanwhile, in Arkansas, the House of Representatives passed S.B. 64, providing $2 million in state grant funding for pregnancy help organizations. The funding will provide grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that promote infant and maternal health and provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies. In 2022, Family Council worked with the legislature and the governor to secure $1 million for pregnancy centers. S.B. 64 would increase state funding from $1 million per year to $2 million and clarify that 'pregnancy help organizations' include nonprofit organizations that promote infant and maternal wellness. The measure also includes language preventing state funds from going to abortionists and their affiliates. The bill passed with virtually no opposition [219ff73d].