South Cook News

Napoleon Harris, III introduced SB2330 in the Illinois Senate 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 Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall be required to ensure all persons under its care are assessed for substance use disorder, as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that this process includes screening and assessment for opioid use disorders. Provides that for a committed person diagnosed with opioid use disorder, the Department shall offer, or facilitate access to, all medication-assisted treatment options deemed appropriate by an authorized health care professional. Provides that the Department shall not impose limitations on the types of medication assisted treatment that may be recommended by an authorized health care professional as part of a treatment plan. Provides that an individual receiving medication-assisted treatment prior to being committed to a Department of Corrections facility shall be entitled to, upon request, continue such treatment in the medication assisted treatment program for any period of time deemed medically necessary by an authorized health care professional. Provides that no person shall be denied participation in medication-assisted treatment program on the basis of a positive drug screening upon entering the Department's custody; nor shall any person receive a disciplinary infraction for such positive drug screen. Provides that no person shall be denied participation in medication-assisted treatment based on prior success or failure of any medication-assisted treatment program. Provides that for each Parole District, the Department shall develop a plan to facilitate access to medication-assisted treatment for persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder in the community following release. Provides that the Department may adopt rules for the implementation of these provisions. 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 to mandate that the Illinois Department of Corrections assess all individuals under its care for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorders, as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act. It requires the Department to offer or facilitate access to all FDA-approved medication-assisted treatment options deemed suitable by authorized health care professionals, without limitations on treatment types. The bill ensures continuation of such treatment for individuals who were receiving it prior to incarceration and prohibits denial based on drug screening results or past treatment outcomes. It mandates the development of plans for post-release medication-assisted treatment access in each Parole District. The bill allows the Department to create rules for implementation and becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Napoleon Harris, III has proposed another six bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Harris graduated from Northwestern University with a BA.

Napoleon Harris is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 15th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator James T. Meeks in 2013.

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
SB2330	02/07/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall be required to ensure all persons under its care are assessed for substance use disorder, as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that this process includes screening and assessment for opioid use disorders. Provides that for a committed person diagnosed with opioid use disorder, the Department shall offer, or facilitate access to, all medication-assisted treatment options deemed appropriate by an authorized health care professional. Provides that the Department shall not impose limitations on the types of medication assisted treatment that may be recommended by an authorized health care professional as part of a treatment plan. Provides that an individual receiving medication-assisted treatment prior to being committed to a Department of Corrections facility shall be entitled to, upon request, continue such treatment in the medication assisted treatment program for any period of time deemed medically necessary by an authorized health care professional. Provides that no person shall be denied participation in medication-assisted treatment program on the basis of a positive drug screening upon entering the Department's custody; nor shall any person receive a disciplinary infraction for such positive drug screen. Provides that no person shall be denied participation in medication-assisted treatment based on prior success or failure of any medication-assisted treatment program. Provides that for each Parole District, the Department shall develop a plan to facilitate access to medication-assisted treatment for persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder in the community following release. Provides that the Department may adopt rules for the implementation of these provisions. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB2189	02/07/2025	Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take powers may be used for a period of no more than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act by Will County for the acquisition of certain described property for the purpose of road construction. Repeals the new provisions 3 years after the effective date. Effective immediately.
SB1664	02/05/2025	Amends the Personnel Record Review Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency shall only release a law enforcement personnel file upon receipt of a written request from a law enforcement agency for the purpose of making an employment determination by the law enforcement agency or a hiring board. Provides that a written request shall be on the law enforcement agency's official letterhead, signed by the agency head or the agency head's designee, and shall include either a waiver signed by the law enforcement officer applying for employment with the law enforcement agency or a copy of the law enforcement officer's application for employment. Provides that, if a request is made for release of a law enforcement personnel file that satisfies the requirements, the law enforcement agency shall release a copy of the complete law enforcement personnel file to the requesting law enforcement agency. Provides that a requesting law enforcement agency shall not maintain the law enforcement personnel file following the employment determination. Permits an employer to keep records concerning an employee's activities or associations with extremist or terrorist organizations. Defines terms.
SB1727	02/05/2025	Creates the Ground-Based Sparkler Purchaser Excise Tax Act. Imposes a tax, beginning July 1, 2025, upon purchasers for the privilege of using ground-based sparklers and not for the purpose of resale at the rate of 6% of the purchase price of ground-based sparklers. Prohibits certain retail combinations or bundles. Requires every retailer required to collect the tax to apply to the Department of Revenue for a certificate of registration. Provides that any retailer required to collect the tax shall be liable to the Department for the tax, whether the tax has been collected, and any such tax shall constitute a debt to the State. Provides for the making of returns. Provides that from the revenue collected, the Department shall pay 25% into the Fireman's Annuity and Benefit Fund, 25% into the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund, and 50% into the General Revenue Fund. Provides for recordkeeping requirements. Establishes penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department shall have full power to administer and enforce the Act. Allows for the arrest of any person who violates the Act, the search of any place of business to inspect all ground-based sparklers, and the seizure of any ground based-sparklers without a warrant. Sets forth hearing requirements after seizure. Allows the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois. Allows a municipality to prohibit the sale and use of ground-based sparklers on public property. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Amends the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1640	02/04/2025	Amends the Vital Records Act. In provisions regarding information required on forms, provides that (i) the decision with respect to burial or cremation shall be made by the authorized person and shall be properly communicated to relevant persons within 7 days after a death, and (ii) the funeral director shall indicate the name of cemetery on the death certificate within 7 days before burial. In provisions regarding death certificates, provides that (i) the administrator of the nursing home, hospital, or hospice facility where the death occurred shall be responsible for creating the death registration file in the electronic reporting system for death registrations, and (ii) signatures may be electronic.
SB1418	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2026 must provide coverage, no less than once every 12 months, for a peripheral artery disease screening test for any at-risk individual. 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.
SB1303	01/28/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a person who rents a motor vehicle to another may hold the renter liable for physical or mechanical damage to the rented motor vehicle that occurs during the time the motor vehicle is under the rental agreement as well as loss of use which stems from such damage.