South Cook News

Abdelnasser Rashid introduced HB1621 in the Illinois House on Jan. 23, 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 Election Code. Provides that it is unlawful for any public utility to make a campaign contribution to any candidate for State office or political committee organized to support any candidate for State office. Provides that it is unlawful for any water or sewer utility to make a campaign contribution to any candidate for municipal or State office or a political committee organized to support any candidate for municipal or State office. Defines terms."

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 Election Code to prohibit campaign contributions from public utilities to candidates for state office or political committees supporting such candidates. It also bans water or sewer utilities from making campaign contributions to candidates for municipal or state office or related political committees. The bill aims to prevent any potential influence or conflict of interest by restricting financial contributions from these utility entities directly involved in state and municipal regulatory environments. Definitions for "public utility" and "water or sewer utility" are provided according to references in the Public Utilities Act.

Rashid graduated from Harvard University in 2011 with a BS and again in 2022 from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Abdelnasser Rashid is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 21st House District. He replaced previous state representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr. 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
HB1621	01/23/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that it is unlawful for any public utility to make a campaign contribution to any candidate for State office or political committee organized to support any candidate for State office. Provides that it is unlawful for any water or sewer utility to make a campaign contribution to any candidate for municipal or State office or a political committee organized to support any candidate for municipal or State office. Defines terms.
HB1631	01/23/2025	Amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. Repeals the definition of "client agency" and makes changes in the definitions of "dedicated unit", "State agency", and "transferring agency". Replaces references to "transferring agency" with references to "transferred agency". Makes changes in provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Department of Innovation and Technology, including changes in the scope of services provided by the Department and in the classes of persons to whom those services are to be provided. Authorizes the Department to charge fees for service to all State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor (rather than only client agencies). Repeals from the Department of Innovation and Technology Act and adds to the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act a provision requiring the principal executive officer of specified units of local government to designate a local official or employee as the primary point of contact for local cybersecurity issues. Requires the name and contact information for the specified individual to be provided to the Statewide Chief Information Security Officer. Further amends the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act. Makes changes concerning the duties of the Office of the Statewide Chief Information Security Officer and the Secretary of Innovation and Technology. Changes the definition of "State agency".
HB1632	01/23/2025	Amends the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. In provisions regarding the acceptance and distribution of electronic records and electronic signatures by governmental agencies, provides that, to the extent that a governmental agency uses electronic records and electronic signatures, the governmental agency (rather than the Department of Innovation and Technology and the Secretary of State) may specify (rather than shall adopt rules specifying) the required format and attributes of the electronic records and electronic signatures and the specific processes and procedures governing their use. Authorizes the Secretary of State and the Department of Innovation and Technology to adopt rules setting forth minimum requirements concerning the required format and attributes of electronic records and electronic signatures and the processes and procedures governing their use. Provides that the rules adopted by the Secretary of State shall apply only with respect to the Secretary of State. Further provides that the rules adopted by the Department of Innovation and Technology shall apply only with respect to client agencies, as that term is defined in the Department of Innovation and Technology Act.