Johnson law prohibits corporal punishment in private schools

SPRINGFIELD – To safeguard students statewide and ensure they are treated with respect in schools, State Senator Adriane Johnson spearheaded a law tackling corporal punishment in private and non-public schools.

“Every child deserves a safe and nurturing learning environment,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “Extending the ban on corporal punishment to all schools ensures no student in Illinois is subjected to physical punishment – which has been shown to have damaging effects on their well-being and development.”

The new law extends prohibitions on corporal and physical punishment in all schools in Illinois, rather than just public schools, except the use of certain restraints in specific circumstances to prevent a student from imminently harming themselves or others. Johnson’s law makes Illinois the fifth state in the nation to extend the ban on corporal punishment to non-public schools. 

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Villa law supports body positivity

SPRINGFIELD – To promote healthy body image, State Senator Karina Villa passed a law to facilitate practices for affordable access to laser hair removal treatment.

“Appearance plays a major role in how people see themselves,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “We must maintain the safety of laser hair removal while increasing accessibility."

The new law allows trained professionals, including registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, to perform non-ablative laser hair removal procedures as long as a physician delegated it and supervision protocol is in place.

The law also provides that an on-site physician exam is not required prior to these procedures under specific conditions and will allow an advanced practice registered nurse to conduct the exam in place of a physician.

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Harris’ new law will increase transparency for homeowners

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon B. Harris, III fought for a new law to increase transparency of homeowner insurance policy coverage.

“Homeowners should have a clear understanding of what their homeowner insurance policy covers,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “This new law will help empower residents to make informed financial decisions about their homeowner insurance policies.”

House Bill 5357 will require an insurer to disclose whether a homeowner's insurance policy covers damage from a sewer backup or overflow from a sump pump when issuing or quoting a homeowner's policy. Further, the law will require insurance companies to offer the policyholder an opportunity to purchase this coverage if the policy does not already include it.

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Ventura law to protect tenants from rental transaction fees

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a new law State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced, landlords will now be required to be more flexible with payment options to protect renters from additional payment transaction fees.

“Some leases require 2-3% of rent to cover processing fees, which adds a lot to an already high rent,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “By requiring landlords to also accept cash or check, we help save Illinoisans from unnecessary transaction fees on their rental payments.”

Transactional fees on rent payments can vary depending on the total rent payment and the service a landlord uses. For example, if a tenant is paying $1,000 a month on rent and is required by the landlord to use a credit or debit card, the processing fee could be around 2-3%, making it an additional $20-30 per month.

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