Lake County Gazette

Tom Weber introduced HB1796 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 Limitations Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that no product liability action based on the doctrine of strict liability in tort shall be commenced except within the applicable limitations period and within 15 years from the date of first installation of any medical joint replacement product that is claimed to have injured or damaged the plaintiff, unless the defendant expressly has warranted or promised the product for a longer period and the action is brought within that period. If personal injury, death, or property damage occurs in relation to a medical joint replacement within 12 years from the date of first sale, lease, or delivery of possession by a seller, within 10 years from the date of first sale, lease, or delivery of possession to its initial user, consumer, or other non-seller, or within 10 years from the date of alteration, modification, or change, allows a plaintiff to bring an action within 4 years after the date on which the claimant knew, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have known, of the existence of the personal injury, death, or property damages, but in no event more than 8 years after the date on which such personal injury, death, or property damage occurred."

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 Limitations Article of the Code of Civil Procedure to establish specific timeframes for initiating product liability actions based on strict liability related to medical joint replacement products. It sets a 15-year limit from the first installation for such actions, unless a longer warranty period is provided. For personal injury, death, or property damage claims within 12 years of the product's first sale, lease, or delivery, or within 10 years to the initial user or post-alteration, the bill allows filing within four years of discovering the issue, but no later than eight years from the event. Additionally, if the claimant was under 18 or legally disabled at the time, the limitation period begins when they reach 18 or the disability is removed. The rules apply to actions involving products in commerce since Jan. 1, 1979.

Tom Weber has proposed another 11 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Tom Weber is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 64th House District. He replaced previous state representative Barbara Wheeler in 2019.

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
HB1796	01/27/2025	Amends the Limitations Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that no product liability action based on the doctrine of strict liability in tort shall be commenced except within the applicable limitations period and within 15 years from the date of first installation of any medical joint replacement product that is claimed to have injured or damaged the plaintiff, unless the defendant expressly has warranted or promised the product for a longer period and the action is brought within that period. If personal injury, death, or property damage occurs in relation to a medical joint replacement within 12 years from the date of first sale, lease, or delivery of possession by a seller, within 10 years from the date of first sale, lease, or delivery of possession to its initial user, consumer, or other non-seller, or within 10 years from the date of alteration, modification, or change, allows a plaintiff to bring an action within 4 years after the date on which the claimant knew, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have known, of the existence of the personal injury, death, or property damages, but in no event more than 8 years after the date on which such personal injury, death, or property damage occurred.
HB1764	01/27/2025	Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act. In a provision setting forth the specified household income eligibility limits used to determine eligibility for reduced vehicle registration fees and free transit services, provides that the Department on Aging shall (rather than may) adopt rules such that on January 1, 2026, and thereafter, the specified household income eligibility limits shall be changed to reflect the annual cost of living adjustment in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits. Effective immediately.
HB1792	01/27/2025	Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the health examinations and immunizations that school children are required to receive, provides that a child may not be required to submit proof of having received an immunization against COVID-19 upon enrolling in school nor may a child already enrolled in school be required to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. Pursuant to the School Code provisions, prohibits the Department of Public Health from adopting any rules that require children to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Effective immediately.
HB1793	01/27/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that no later than 30 days before a school district submits to the voters of that district a question on whether to issue bonds or increase the school district's property tax rate, the school district must send informational material to each resident of voting age in the school district; defines "informational material". Specifies what must be included in the informational material. Effective immediately.
HB1794	01/27/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes that an owner of a boat trailer capable of carrying a gross weight between 3,000 to 6,000 pounds shall pay an annual registration fee of $60 to the Secretary of State. Provides for the distribution of collected fees.
HB1795	01/27/2025	Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act, the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Massage Therapy Practice Act, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act, the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, and the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that any Department of Financial and Professional Regulation process under statute or rule used to verify the criminal history of an applicant for licensure shall be used for all applicants for licensure, applicants for renewal of a license, or persons whose conviction of a crime or other behavior warrants review of a license. Provides that a finding of guilt by a judge or jury, a guilty plea, or plea of no contest to specified offenses entered after the effective date of the amendatory Act is a disqualifying offense, and the individual's license shall be automatically revoked when the Department is notified that the individual has been found guilty or has pled guilty or no contest. Provides that the individual may appeal the revocation to the Department only upon the reversal of the criminal conviction. Provides that crime victims have the right to file a complaint against the accused with the agency or department that licensed, certified, permitted, or registered the accused if the accused holds a license, certificate, permit, or registration to practice a profession. Effective 6 months after becoming law.
HB1797	01/27/2025	Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that any report received by the Department of Children and Family Services alleging the abuse or neglect of a child by any person (rather than a person who is not the child's parent, a member of the child's immediate family, a person responsible for the child's welfare, an individual residing in the same home as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent) shall immediately be shared with (rather than referred to) the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Provides that, upon receipt of the shared report, the local law enforcement agency may, in its discretion, conduct a criminal investigation or other action based on the information contained within the report. Provides that the Department shall be the sole agency responsible for receiving and investigating reports of child abuse or neglect made under the Act, except where investigations by other agencies may be required with respect to reports alleging the abuse or neglect of a child by any person (rather than except where investigations by other agencies may be required with respect to reports alleging the abuse or neglect of a child by a person who is not the child's parent, a member of the child's immediate family, a person responsible for the child's welfare, an individual residing in the same home as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent).
HB1798	01/27/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that final approval for placement of a child with a prospective foster or adoptive parent shall not be granted if a criminal records background check reveals the prospective foster or adoptive parent has a felony conviction for human trafficking or sex trafficking. Effective immediately.
HB1799	01/27/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer is entitled to an income tax credit for each person who is (i) 62 years of age or older during the taxable year and (ii) employed by the taxpayer at a location in this State for not less than 185 days during the taxable year. Provides that the credit may be carried forward. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.
HB0036	01/09/2025	Amends the Gasoline Storage Act. Provides that the State Fire Marshal shall allow residential refueling services to be provided by watercraft within the Chain O' Lakes waterway system of northeastern Illinois that are approved by the State Fire Marshal to provide fuel and that meet all applicable fire safety standards.
HB1068	01/09/2025	Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1069	01/09/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1070	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1071	01/09/2025	Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.