Fine advances measure to test baby food for toxic metals out of the Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure families and their children are protected from toxic heavy metals, State Senator Laura Fine advanced a measure to strengthen safety regulations for baby foods.

“Parents expect baby food to be manufactured safely,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “By informing families of the potential presence of toxic heavy metals in baby food, we can prevent exposure and give parents peace of mind about what their child is eating.”

To expand safety regulations for baby food, Fine’s bill would require manufacturers to test samples of their baby food products for toxic elements – such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury – and disclose this information directly on the product’s website.

Read more: Fine advances measure to test baby food for toxic metals out of the Senate

Preston’s speech therapy coverage for stuttering passes the Senate

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure to require health insurance companies to provide coverage for speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering.

“In Illinois, we are committed to providing topnotch health care for all individuals,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This legislation grants those from all financial backgrounds with an equal opportunity to receive speech therapy services. It also gives them confidence, relief, encouragement, and support.”

Senate Bill 40 would expand coverage for speech therapy to include rehabilitative services in addition to habilitative services for any child under 19 years of age with an early-acquired disorder that is diagnosed as a speech-language disorder, including stuttering.

Read more: Preston’s speech therapy coverage for stuttering passes the Senate

Turner sends bill creating one-stop shop for higher education scholarships to House

SPRINGFIELD – Higher education scholarships would be easier to find under a measure sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner that passed the Senate Thursday.

“College is expensive, and scholarships should be easy for students to find,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “There’s a need for a one-stop shop that includes all scholarships for Illinois students seeking higher education.”

Senate Bill 1331 would create the Illinois Scholarship Database, developed and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to be used as a tool for improving Illinois students' knowledge of and access to higher education scholarships.

Read more: Turner sends bill creating one-stop shop for higher education scholarships to House

Turner measure expanding ASL curriculum passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through the Senate to give students and teachers more materials to learn about American Sign Language.

“We have so many residents across Illinois who are either deaf or hard of hearing who use ASL to communicate,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “If we teach our children about ASL at a young age, we could foster a generation of people who can reach out to those in the deaf and hard-hearing communities.”

Read more: Turner measure expanding ASL curriculum passes Senate