State Sen. Napoleon Harris is out as chairman of legislative committee regulating the insurance industry

Chicago Sun-Times

When the Sun-Times reported last year that state Sen. Napoleon Harris III had become an “investor” in a southwest suburban insurance brokerage business — while serving as a gatekeeper on legislation impacting the industry in Illinois as head of his chamber’s Insurance Committee — the Flossmoor Democrat insisted there was no conflict of interest.“None of this bears any relationship to my work in Springfield,” Harris said at the time. “If you look at the results, it is clear the Insurance Committee has been about improving the industry for consumers.”Now Harris is out as chairman of that committee, but it’s unclear whether the 2024 revelations about his insurance side venture played into the recent decision by state Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, to transfer him out of that assignment for the new legislative session.Asked about this, Harmon spokesman John Patterson said, “With the start of every new General Assembly there is a shuffling of responsibilities to best recognize senators’ interests, experience and expertise. The leadership and committee chair announcements for the 104th General Assembly reflect the great diversity of people and talent we have in the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.”

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Patterson portrayed Harris losing the post as part of a promotion, saying: “Senator Napoleon Harris has moved into the position of Assistant Majority Leader. Senator Harris has been a leader for his community, focusing on public safety and health, specifically working to bridge the gap in health care for disadvantaged communities and on initiatives to keep kids in school.”Harris, a former NFL player, joined the General Assembly in 2013 and became Insurance Committee chairman in 2019.

Part of an economic interest statement from state Sen. Napoleon Harris III that shows his involvement in an insurance company.Illinois secretary of state’s office

He didn’t respond to calls or texts last week. Last June, the Sun-Times reported that Harris began partnering with two men who run a Crestwood brokerage called the Maxx Group.Calling it a “new business venture,” Harris said at the time, “This was an opportunity to support a local business run by two area guys with longstanding impeccable credentials in the field. These are people I’ve known for years. They’ve helped me out with my own insurance needs well before I arrived in the Senate.”While overseeing the Insurance Committee, Harris accepted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the insurance industry, including in November when he got $2,500 from a State Farm political action committee and $2,000 from the parent company of United Healthcare, records show.

State Sen. Napoleon Harris’ campaign spent $6,600 at high-end department stores, at least partly on clothes

Taking over as committee chairwoman is state Sen. Julie Morrison, a Lake Forest Democrat who Patterson says “has been an advocate for protecting vulnerable communities, most notably the disabled and the mental and physical health needs of children.”Last year, she had been chairwoman of the Illinois Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee.State Sen. Dave Syverson, a Rockford area Republican who served last year on both the health and the insurance committees, says "citizen-legislators" often bring potential conflicts, but the key is being up front about them — and Harris was."He told me at the very beginning what he was doing," Syverson said, adding that some of the bills that were voted on under Harris were "things the insurance companies did not support or like."Harris, who wants to unseat Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard in the upcoming election for Thornton Township supervisor, also has drawn criticism for using his campaign fund as what appeared to be a personal piggy bank — spending thousands of dollars at high-end department stores, on luxury auto leases and on a pizza parlor he ran in Harvey, among other questionable payments.Records show his campaign fund, Friends of Napoleon Harris, paid the Maxx Group $325 in August in what was described as “insurance for picnic.”The company’s web site says, “Our firm is committed to the highest degree of ethics, accountability and professionalism. We will provide your company with tailored solutions to effectively manage risk, from highly regarded insurance carriers, at a competitive premium.”