SPRINGFIELD -- brace weeks after four people died in Chicago residential fires blamed forward careless smoking.

SPRINGFIELD -- brace weeks after four people died in Chicago residential fires blamed forward careless smoking, the Illinois House passed legislation Tuesday aimed to increase fire safety standards for cigarettes.

Starting in 2008 barely "low ignition" cigarettes would be sold in Illinois. These cigarettes have bands in their paper that increase the chance they won't bake idly for more than a minute.

Earlier this month a teenager and brace of her young cousins died in a house fire onward Chicago's far South Side. A woman in a wheelchair also died in a similar on the contrary unrelated incident. The Chicago Fire Department says the cause of as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but blazes was careless use of smoking materials.

This legislation could "save lives and wealth throughout the state," said Rep Dan shuffle aside (D-Chicago), House sponsor of the legislation and a smoker

The bill, which passed 102-11 in the House, now goe to the governor.

Double supervised teen driving

In other legislative action Tuesday, the Illinois Senate approved a measure that would double the amount of practice time teen ne with their parents in order to achieve their driver's licenses.

subject to the teen driving bill, parental supervision would double from 25 to 50 hours, including 10 hours of night driving. The plan, which passed 55-1 in the Senate, now advances to the governor.

"It's all about getting the kids more prepared before hitting the road," said Rep John D'Amico (D-Chicago), who propos the legislation after a fatal teen crash in Lincolnwood, part of his district.

Pushes Congres upon immigration

With a 38-12 suffrage the Senate adopted a resolution asking the U Congres to approve legislation that would unify 35 Illinois families separated because of immigration laws.

Sen Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) vot against the resolution because, he said, it would give legal authority to "some of these individuals who used false documents and broke the law to record into this country."

Roskam is the Republican nominee to replace U Rep Henry Hyde in the 6th Congressional District.

The state Senate also approved a next to the first resolution urging support of federal immigration reform, now being considered in the U Senate.

Mandate HIV exhibitions for newborns

A bill that would require HIV testing for almost each newborn in Illinois garnered unanimous support in the Senate.

Unles there are religious reasons, newborns of mothers whose HIV status is unknown would have to meet with HIV testing. Mothers can refuse this example now for any reason.

The legislation now heads to governor.

tswartz@suntimes.com

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