Ventura introduces historic AI protection package

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Rachel Ventura introduced a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at protecting Illinois residents from unchecked artificial intelligence, strengthening data privacy rights, improving online safety for young people and holding AI developers and data center operators accountable for real-world harms.

“As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in our daily lives, Illinois has a responsibility to ensure innovation does not come at the expense of privacy, safety or basic fairness,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “These bills put people first by setting clear rules, increasing transparency and protecting consumers, workers and communities.”

The legislative package includes Senate Bill 2994 to safeguard sensitive personal data, including neural and biometric information collected by consumer devices such as health apps, sleep trackers and wearable technology. By extending privacy protections to emerging forms of neuro-data, the legislation would prevent companies from exploiting deeply personal biological information without meaningful consent.

Ventura’s proposal also includes Senate Bill 3890, which would establish a comprehensive data privacy and artificial intelligence governance framework modeled on leading protections adopted in Minnesota and California. The bill would grant consumers the right to access, correct, delete and transfer their personal data and to opt out of targeted advertising, data sales and profiling, particularly when automated systems are used to make decisions affecting housing, employment or other significant life outcomes. It would require businesses to minimize data collection, obtain affirmative consent for sensitive data, conduct risk assessments for high-risk AI systems and implement safeguards against bias and discrimination – with heightened protections for children and vulnerable populations.

Senate Bill 2995 would strengthen transparency and accountability around AI use by requiring disclosure when individuals are interacting with an AI system, whether through chat, phone, email or drive-thru services, and guaranteeing access to a human upon request. Another measure, Senate Bill 3364, would expand notice requirements when AI is used in decision-making processes, such as housing or employment determinations.

To protect consumers from harmful or deceptive practices, Ventura introduced Senate Bill 3180 with the goal of prohibiting companies from training AI systems on user content by default without clear, separate consent. Another proposal, Senate Bill 3502, would establish product liability standards for AI developers, ensuring systems are designed to account for foreseeable harms, while Senate Bill 2993 would prohibit artificial intelligence from independently prescribing medication without human oversight by a licensed pharmacist.

Recognizing the growing environmental and community impacts of AI infrastructure, Ventura also advanced Senate Bill 3830, which would require data centers and AI operators to secure long-term water and carbon-free energy plans, monitor and report resource usage, mitigate community harms and comply with decommissioning and e-waste standards.

Finally, the package includes Senate Bill 3264, or the Illinois Online Safety Act, which would strengthen protections for youth on social media platforms by requiring cyberbullying prevention policies and the creation of Online Safety Centers.

“This package is about responsibility,” Ventura said. “Responsible innovation, responsible data practices and responsible stewardship of our communities and resources. Illinois can lead by setting smart, balanced guardrails that protect people while allowing technology to serve the public good.”

The measures in this package await Senate committee assignment.

Ventura introduces bill to keep water systems away from private companies

SPRINGFIELD – Following severe water rate hikes that affected Bolingbrook and the surrounding area, State Senator Rachel Ventura introduced a new measure that would discourage municipalities from selling off their water lines to private companies and would disincentive companies from raising prices for the rest of the ratepayers.

“Access to water is a human right, and the exorbitant price hikes put in place by private water companies put that right in danger,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation would encourage local governments to keep their water systems in their own hands and prevent private water companies from passing off the cost of out of town systems onto existing ratepayers."

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Ventura leads legislation to reform tax increment financing

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura introduced a new measure to modernize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) programs by strengthening transparency, protecting taxpayers and ensuring economic development incentives deliver meaningful benefits to local communities.

“TIF districts can be a powerful tool for promoting economic development, revitalizing underinvested communities and promoting growth and development of our cities and towns,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation ensures TIFs are used responsibly, prevents abuse of incentive programs and helps direct resources where they are needed most.”

TIF districts are used by municipal governments to stimulate economic development in targeted areas — those categorized as “blighted.” Ventura’s initiative would reform several key components of TIFs. The measure would tighten the criteria used to designate areas as blighted, preserves important definitions such as dilapidation and clarifies that farmland cannot be classified as blighted for TIF eligibility.

The proposal limits the duration of new TIF districts to 10 years, with the option for a single five-year extension, helping ensure redevelopment tools remain targeted and temporary. School districts would be allowed to opt out of a TIF district, and 10% of annual TIF funds would be set aside for local chambers of commerce to distribute small business grants within the district.

To prevent municipalities from shifting businesses from one area to another simply to capture tax incentives, the bill strengthens anti-poaching protections. The legislation expands restrictions on overlapping economic development zones and applies them across multiple incentive programs, including TIFs, Enterprise Zones, STAR bonds and similar tax incentive structures.

“We have seen these economic incentives come at the expense of our schools, small businesses and homeowners,” said Ventura. “This legislation strikes a balance between supporting economic development and protecting taxpayers, schools and local governments.”

Senate Bill 3829 currently awaits committee assignment.

Ventura champions legislation to remove big money from elections

SPRINGFIELD – In response to the far-reaching effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, State Senator Rachel Ventura has filed two measures aimed at reducing the influence of corporate and billionaire spending in Illinois elections and restoring power to voters.

The Citizens United ruling allowed corporations to spend unlimited money to influence elections, fundamentally reshaping campaign finance across the country. Ventura’s legislation seeks to counter those effects at the state level by increasing transparency around corporate political spending and restricting corporations from directly influencing state and local elections.

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