With an April 8 deadline to advance non-budgetary legislation out of committee for consideration by the Senate, it was a busy week at the Statehouse.
Several notable pieces of legislation were advanced by Senate/House committees, including:
• Increasing the age to purchase tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21.
• Prohibiting colleges from asking prospective students if they have been convicted of a crime.
• Requiring drivers to slow down when passing a disabled vehicle on the side of the road.
• Creating a private foundation to help raise money to make repairs to the State Fairgrounds in Springfield and DuQuoin.
• Requiring teaching institutes to include instruction on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act at least once every two years.
Senate and House lawmakers return to Springfield April 12.