Senator Joyce joins President Biden at Kankakee farm

KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce joined discussions on the impact of rising input costs and food supply issues – a problem that has drawn attention from President Joe Biden, who stood alongside Joyce and others at a Kankakee farm Wednesday.

“When you have the unique opportunity to advocate for our local communities to the President of the United States, you take it,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “You know that Ag inputs and food shortages are an important issue when it has gotten the attention of our nation’s top leader.”

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Murphy law eliminates outdated bureaucratic procedures, allows physician assistants to begin new employment faster

SPRINGFIELD – Physician assistants will soon be able to begin new employments at a quicker rate, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D--Des Plaines) that eliminates an outdated rule requiring physicians to file a notice of employment before an assistant can begin work.

“Before this initiative, the process to become a physician assistant was stalled with unnecessary paperwork and bureaucratic red tape,” Murphy said. “This law will encourage physician assistants to practice in Illinois—ensuring we have more high-quality practitioners administering care.”

Under Murphy’s law, physicians are now required to file a notice of employment with an assistant within 60 days instead of at the time of employment. Assistants may also begin employment before this notice has been filed—allowing them to join the workforce sooner.

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Collins’ law makes meaningful support for families of murdered children a reality

SPRINGFIELD– State Senator Jacqueline Collins was joined by advocates to highlight Collins’ new law –the Funeral and Burial Assistance Act –that was signed into law Tuesday.

“Every child deserves to grow up free from gun violence,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “What happened to Mychal Moultry Jr. should not have happened, but the death of children from gun violence is something that families are becoming increasingly accustomed to. We have to put a stop to it.”

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Senators push to restore vehicle emissions testing sites in Chicago

CHICAGO – During a press conference Wednesday, State Senators Sara Feigenholtz and Robert Martwick outlined their plan to restore vehicle emissions testing sites in Chicago that was signed into law last week.

“The basic service of getting your vehicle’s emissions checked must be more accessible,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “People shouldn’t have to spend hours in the car to travel outside the city to get to an emissions testing site.”

Senate Bill 1234 requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to submit a report to the General Assembly by Oct. 1 on its plan to open additional emissions testing sites. It must outline potential locations of the testing stations within Chicago, information on possible programs implemented in other states, and a projected date for full operation of the restored sites.

“People are driving an hour to get to testing centers that are overextended due to the influx of visitors,” said Martwick (D-Chicago). “We now have a plan to address the shortage of testing facilities, and this new law helps us do just that.”

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