Senate approves legislation led by Fine to reduce excess plastic waste in the hotel industry
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SPRINGFIELD – Promoting an environmentally conscious approach to hospitality, State Senator Laura Fine passed a measure out of the Senate to phase out the use of small, single-use plastic bottles in hotels across Illinois.
“According to researchers, by 2050, plastic could outweigh all fish in the oceans,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Personal products available in plastic bottles are common in hotels and pose immediate risk to our environment once they are thrown away. This bill puts our state on the path to being part of a solution by reducing plastic pollution.”
Senate Bill 2960 creates the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act, which requires hotels with 50 or more rooms to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan. 1, 2026, all hotels with fewer than 50 rooms are expected to make this transition.
Ellman’s measure enhancing water protections passes Senate
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman’s legislation to prioritize water protections by targeting critical water issues and implementing necessary recommendations passed the Senate on Tuesday, moving it one step closer to becoming law.
“Access to clean, high-quality water is vital to sustaining a healthy and safe future for everyone,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure will allow Illinois to standardize evaluations of existing water issues and the needs of our environment.”
Senate Bill 2743 would require the State Water Plan Task Force to address water issues and reevaluate environmental needs by assisting state and local authorities in the implementation of recommended plans. The measure would also require the task force to publish a State Water Plan at least once every 10 years and meet once per quarter each calendar year.
Read more: Ellman’s measure enhancing water protections passes Senate
Villivalam measure to expand pathways for in-state tuition eligibility
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SPRINGFIELD - To create continued opportunities in higher education for immigrants, State Senator Ram Villivalam advanced a measure out of the Senate Higher Education Committee to expand pathways for an individual to be eligible for in-state tuition.
“Expanding eligibility pathways for in-state tuition is vital to providing affordable and accessible higher education for all people within our communities,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “It is important to continue diversifying avenues to access higher education to ensure a talented workforce in the state of Illinois.”
Under Villivalam’s measure, an individual could obtain in-state tuition by being an Illinois resident prior to enrolling in the respective university, be a high school graduate from a school within Illinois, or have attended a high school within Illinois for at least two years prior to enrollment.
Read more: Villivalam measure to expand pathways for in-state tuition eligibility
Morrison bill creates registry for end of life care requests passes Senate
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SPRINGFIELD – To help physicians meet patients’ end-of-life wishes, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure to create an electronic registry to store treatment preferences for critically ill individuals.
“How much or how little treatment a person receives at the end of their life should be up to each individual instead of the one-size-fits-all approach,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This measure will enable physicians to access forms detailing patients’ wishes in a single, accessible location.”
Senate Bill 2644 would establish a statewide electronic registry that would contain Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment forms, which detail what type of medical treatment a critically ill patient does and does not want. POLST forms can help health care practitioners to uphold a person’s wishes regarding their care.
Read more: Morrison bill creates registry for end of life care requests passes Senate
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CHICAGO – State Senator Willie Preston joined the Eugene S. Pike House Foundation, Beverly Area Arts Alliance and Commissioner Stanley Moore Saturday to announce significant state funding secured by Preston to save, renovate and reinvigorate the Pike... -
CHICAGO — State Senator Natalie Toro joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in announcing $15 million in funding for the Job Training and Economic Development program, including more than $280,000 for workforce training i... -
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AURORA – An additional $4.5 million has been provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for Batavia’s ongoing lead water line replacement program, State Senator Linda Holmes announced Friday. The city will replace approximately 150 lead... -
CHICAGO - Senator Willie Preston commended the Food and Drug Administration for its decision to ban brominated vegetable oil, a harmful food additive that has posed significant health risks to consumers for decades. "It’s great that the FDA has final...
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