SPRINGFIELD – Minority and women-owned businesses will be accepted for participation in the state’s Business Enterprise Program if they have already been certified by Chicago or Cook County’s program thanks to a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) that was signed into law today.

The Business Enterprise Program was developed to ensure that businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities are awarded at least 20% of the total dollar amount of state contracts.

“Minority-owned businesses are often at a disadvantage compared to other businesses in the state,” Munoz said. “These businesses will now have a better chance to compete for state contracts.”

The new law requires the Business Enterprise Program to recognize and accept the certifications of businesses certified as minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses by the city of Chicago, Cook County, or other entities approved by the Business Enterprise Program Council for purposes of participating in the program.

“Illinois is a very diverse state,” Munoz said. “It’s important that the contracts we award reflect that diversity. That’s one more way we can remove the barriers minorities face in the economy.”

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD – Registration fees for small trailers will be $36, a significant decrease from the current $118, thanks to a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) that was signed into law today.

“A lot of good times start with a trailer, and especially after the year Illinoisans have had, it’s a great time to lower the up-front cost,” Munoz said. “The previous amount was extremely high, and now people can spend that money on any of the fun activities they’re going to use that trailer for, rather than on the fee.”

The new law classifies all trailers weighing 2,000 pounds or less as “utility trailers” and sets the utility trailer registration fee at $36. Fees were increased on these trailers in 2019 as a part of the Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure plan.

The measure applies only to trailers primarily designated for personal use.

The legislation also removes the $10,000 cap on sales tax credits on vehicle trade-ins. The cap, which has been in effect since 2020, required sales tax to be applied to any trade-in with a value above $10,000, costing residents hundreds of dollars more when purchasing a new vehicle.

“This measure is key to helping motorists feel that they are not throwing away cash when trading in a car,” Munoz said. “As we look to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic, it’s important we continue to save residents money, especially on things like travel and recreation.”

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD - Biomarker testing — the medical technology used to determine medical risk factors like cancer — will be covered under state-regulated insurance plans, thanks to a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) that was signed into law today.

“Patients looking to find answers about their health issues will now be able to without worrying about the costs,” Munoz said. “State-regulated insurance plans will cover biomarker testing, which helps figure out the right treatment at the right time to improve the quality of life for patients.”

A “biomarker” is a sign of disease or abnormal function that can be measured in blood, tissue or bodily fluid. In cancer care, biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient. Biomarker testing analyzes a patient’s tissue, blood or other biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker.

Insurance coverage for biomarker testing is limited and disparate, a fact Munoz said leads to inequities in care for cancer patients.

The new law requires group and individual accident and health insurance policies and managed care plans to include coverage for biomarker testing for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment.

“Communities of color and people with lower income face inequalities in our health care services,” Munoz said. “This gives all patients, no matter their income, access to these medical advancements.” 

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.