Dupage Policy Journal

Nicole La Ha introduced HB1788 in the Illinois House on Jan. 27, 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 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall prioritize projects that incorporate construction, materials, designs, products, or technologies that increase accessibility and usability beyond the highest standards established under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or federal regulations promulgated under that Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules to establish this priority within its grant application review process under the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Effective immediately."

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 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act by adding a new section that directs the Department to prioritize projects incorporating universal design elements. It mandates the Department to establish priorities and a scoring matrix for its grant application review process to encourage inclusivity in public spaces. Universal design elements include features such as poured-in-place rubber surfacing or synthetic turf for enhanced mobility, wheelchair-friendly access points and ramps, accessible ground-level and elevated play components, inclusive swings and seating, multi-sensory play elements like tactile panels and musical features, shaded areas for sensory sensitivities, and any other relevant construction or technology outlined in administrative rules. The bill takes effect upon becoming law.

Nicole La Ha has proposed another four bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

La Ha graduated from School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2004 with a BA.

Nicole La Ha is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 82nd House District. She replaced previous state representative John Egofske 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
HB1788	01/27/2025	Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall prioritize projects that incorporate construction, materials, designs, products, or technologies that increase accessibility and usability beyond the highest standards established under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or federal regulations promulgated under that Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules to establish this priority within its grant application review process under the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Effective immediately.
HB1789	01/27/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the total property tax bill for any property receiving the senior citizens homestead exemption may not exceed 101% of the tax bill for the immediately preceding taxable year, unless the increase is due to improvements to the property that increased the property's fair market value in the applicable tax year.
HB1467	01/21/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Deletes an affirmative defense to the charge of patronizing a minor engaged in prostitution that the accused reasonably believed that the person was of the age of 18 years or over or was not a person with a severe or profound intellectual disability at the time of the act giving rise to the charge.
HB1468	01/21/2025	Creates the Public Safety and Justice Privacy Act. Defines terms. Provides that governmental agencies, persons, businesses, and associations shall not publicly post or display publicly available content that includes a first responder's, member or former member of the Illinois General Assembly's, prosecutor's, public defender's, or probation officer's ("officials") personal information, provided that the governmental agency, person, business, or association has received a written request from the person that it refrain from disclosing the person's personal information. Provides injunctive or declaratory relief if the Act is violated. Includes procedures for a written request. Provides that it is a Class 3 felony for any person to knowingly and publicly post on the Internet the personal information of an official or an official's immediate family under specified circumstances. Excludes criminal penalties for employees of governmental agencies who publish information in good faith during the ordinary course of carrying out public functions. Provides that the Act and any rules adopted to implement the Act shall be construed broadly to favor the protection of the personal information of officials. Amends various Acts and Codes allowing an official to list a business address rather than a home address. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB1469	01/21/2025	Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Includes trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor in the definition of "sex offense" under the Act.
HB1114	01/09/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons and related offenses may be commenced at any time (rather than within 25 years of the victim attaining the age of 18 years).