Springfield | Several bills of particular interest to Christians have been on hold due to Illinois’ March 20 primary election, said Bob Vanden Bosch of Concerned Christian Ministries. The not-for-profit organization’s recent newsletter listed bills to watch, including several that deal with the state’s abortion laws. These bills are currently in Senate or House committees:
-HB 3210 would ban abortions after 20 weeks gestation.
-Two bills, one in each house, would counteract a measure approved last year that allows taxpayer-funded abortions in Illinois, but their prospects aren’t hopeful. SB 2241 was assigned to the Senate Executive Committee and then the Subcommittee on Special Issues, where Vanden Bosch said “it is destined to die.”
-HB 4210 would ban abortions based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome.
-The Ultrasound Opportunity Act, HB 4257, requires abortion facilities to offer an ulstasound to women seeking abortions after eight weeks gestation.
-HB 4393 would regulate “pregnancy termination centers,” defined as facilities that perform 50 or more surgical abortions in a calendar year.
Illinois lawmakers also could consider:
-Legislation that would allow Bible colleges to grant degrees without the approval of the Illinois Board of Education. Senate Bill 2822 is on its second reading on the Senate floor.
-Two bills, HB 3499 and SB 2231, would ban possession of firearms on church property. The Senate bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, while the House bill is currently in the House Rules Committee.
-Two bills, one in each house, would require public elementary and high school curriculum to include “a unit of instruction studying the significant role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in society.” HB 5596 is currently in the House Rules Committee, while SB3249 is in the Senate Education Committee.