Lake County Gazette

Nabeela Syed introduced HB1444 in the Illinois House on Jan. 17, 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 Election Code. Provides that the application for a vote by mail ballot for a single election shall include an option to apply for permanent vote by mail status in a form consistent with an application for permanent vote by mail status."

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 Election Code to permit individuals applying for a vote by mail ballot for a single election to also apply for permanent vote by mail status. The application for a single election must include an option for opting into this permanent status in a form consistent with current requirements. It specifies that both single election and permanent status applications can be combined into one form, provided the distinction is clear with separate checkboxes. The bill includes provisions for voters with print disabilities to request electronically transmitted ballots, and it outlines the process and penalties for handling applications, including a fine of $100 per application for violations. The bill clarifies procedures for party designation in primary elections and mandates timely submission of applications by organizations to the correct election authority.

Nabeela Syed has proposed one other bill since the beginning of the 104th session.

Syed graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2021 with a BA and again in 2021 from the University of California with a BS.

Nabeela Syed is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 51st House District. She replaced previous state representative Chris Bos 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
HB1444	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the application for a vote by mail ballot for a single election shall include an option to apply for permanent vote by mail status in a form consistent with an application for permanent vote by mail status.
HB1442	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that election authorities shall establish curbside voting (currently, may establish curbside voting) for individuals to cast a ballot during early voting and on election day (currently, during early voting or on election day).
HB1443	01/17/2025	Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Board Act. Establishes the Health Care Availability and Access Board to protect State residents, State and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the State, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. Contains provisions concerning Board membership and terms; staff for the Board; Board meetings; circumstances under which Board members must recuse themselves; and other matters. Provides that the Board shall perform the following actions in open session: (i) deliberations on whether to subject a prescription drug product to a cost review; and (ii) any vote on whether to impose an upper payment limit on purchases, payments, and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State. Permits the Board to adopt rules to implement the Act and to enter into a contract with a qualified, independent third party for any service necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Board. Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Stakeholder Council to provide stakeholder input to assist the Board in making decisions as required by the Act. Contains provisions concerning Council membership, member terms, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall adopt the federal Medicare Maximum Fair Price as the upper payment limit for a prescription drug product intended for use by individuals in the State. Prohibits the Board from creating an upper payment limit that is different from the Medicare Maximum Fair Price for the prescription drug product that has a Medicare Maximum Fair Price. Requires the Board to implement an upper payment limit that is the same as the Medicare Maximum Fair Price no sooner than the Medicare implementation date. Provides that Medicare Part C and D plans are not required to reimburse at the upper payment limit. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce the Act and may pursue any available remedy under State law when enforcing the Act. Effective 180 days after becoming law.
HB1445	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning public university voting, provides that each appropriate election authority must conduct voting, grace period registration, and grace period voting from the 6th day before a general primary or general election through the day before (currently the 4th day before) a general primary or general election from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Provides that the voting required by the provision must be conducted on the day of a general primary or general election from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
HB1448	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, shall not impose any prior authorization or utilization management controls on covered behavioral health services. Makes conforming changes to the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a process for receiving complaints from providers and covered individuals for violations of the mandate. Grants the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services the authority to issue cease and desist orders and administrative fines. Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall adopt rules consistent with the Act. Provisions amending the Prior Authorization Reform Act are effective immediately.