UPDATE x1: At 10:39 PM Wednesday night (10/27), the Illinois House passed 64-52 another version of Rep. Gabel's changes to SB 1169 - with 7 Democrats joining the House's 45 Republicans in voting no. An effort rushed to vote during the short "veto" session, the measure now moves to the Illinois Senate, where it is sponsored by Senators Don Harmon and Melinda Bush - both Democrats.
Amendment 3 amends the Health Care Right of Conscience Act. Provides that it is not a violation of the Act for any person or public official, or for any public or private association, agency, corporation, entity, institution, or employer to take any measures or impose any requirements intended to prevent contraction or transmission of COVID-19 or any pathogens that result in COVID-19 or any of its subsequent iterations. Provides that it is not a violation of the Act to enforce such measures or requirements. Provides that the Section applies to all actions commenced or pending on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act.
UPDATE x2: Here's what State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) wrote on a Facebook page about the vote:
Democrats did not have the votes to change the law so they did what they do best, changed the rules and lowered the number of votes needed to pass the bill.
Under the new bill the law does not go into effect until June of ‘22 . This tells you it is not about Covid.As I have said from day one, this is about the Governor taking full control over peoples lives.These people are dangerous!
UPDATE x3: Despite thousands of opposition slips, the Illinois Senate rushed through a vote on SB 1169 late Thursday night (10/28)- and the Democrats carried the vote across the finish line with Rep. Gabel's amendment above. However, the measure does NOT go into effect until June 2022. Until then, the unamended state law remains in effect - even after Governor Pritzker signs SB 1169 into law.