Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, speaks against legislation to limit where pet stores can source cats and dogs from. Barickman was one of 12 senators to vote against legislation, while a further 4 voted present.
A bill to limit where Illinois pet stores source their cats and dogs from passed the State Senate in the final hours of the General Assembly s session. Supporters of the bill want to close what they call a puppy mill pipeline.
The bill would allow pet store owners to offer cats and dogs for sale only if the dog or cat is obtained from an animal control facility or animal shelter, located in-state or out-of-state, that is in compliance with new regulations also set out in the bill.
A bill to allow special education students who turn 22 to continue with their classwork until the end of the school year has passed unanimously through the State Senate.
The measure was approved by the Senate, 37-18, on May 20.
Opponents of the bill said they worry inappropriate information would be taught, and children would be taught at too young of an age about gender and sexuality, types of sexual activities and abortion.
Even though the bill would allow parents and guardians to opt their children out of the curriculum, opponents said they believe many school districts would decide to opt out of the curriculum entirely. In that case, the bill would require that nothing about personal health and sexuality is taught in a district.
Advocates for the bill said it is needed because the content of sex education teaching varies throughout the state.