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The Latest: Under-21 tobacco ban dies in Illinois House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on action in the Illinois General Assembly (all times local):

5 p.m.

A proposed ban on tobacco sales to those under 21 has failed in the House.

The House voted 62-45 Wednesday to override Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of the measure. But it needed 71 votes to succeed.

The legislation backed by health advocates would set a minimum age of 21 to buy cigarettes, cigars, snuff and chew, and nicotine-based products such as e-cigarettes and vaping materials . The American Lung Association cites figures showing that 95 percent of long-term smokers begin the addictive habit before turning 21.

But opponents argued that 18-year-olds may vote and serve in the military. They should be able to decide whether to smoke. Critics also took aim at the lack of penalties in the proposal and that consumers on Illinois' borders would simply buy in other states.

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The bill is SB2332 .

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4:40 p.m.

Local police officials now have 90 days to decide on helping immigrant victims of crime get visas to stay in the U.S.

The House voted 73-34 Wednesday to override Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto on the measure. The House vote makes the law effective.

Federal law allows immigrants who are victims of serious crimes to apply for visas to stay . They must cooperate with police investigations. Police must sign paperwork verifying their help.

Democrats in the General Assembly believe some agencies are lackadaisical about the paperwork. The law gives them 90 days to sign the paperwork - or decide not to.

Rauner vetoed the plan because he said it put too much pressure on local departments who don't have personnel or resources to respond that quickly.

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The bill is SB34 .

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5 a.m.

The Illinois General Assembly convenes Wednesday as its fall session winds down.

The House voted Tuesday to override a veto on raising to $2 million the cap on damage awards in lawsuits against the state. The law is now in effect.

Supporters say the $100,000 cap set in the early 1970s didn't fairly compensate victims. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner had suggested a $300,000 cap.

Override votes on key measures remain. The House has yet to take action on an override approved by the Senate on legislation setting a deadline for police to help cooperative immigrant crime victims get U.S. visas. Another Senate-approved override would reverse a veto on banning tobacco sales to those under 21 .

The fall session ends Thursday.

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The bills are SB2481 , SB34 , SB2332 .

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