Belt, elected officials, firefighters highlight measure to encourage long-term volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) joined state legislators and fire officials to highlight a measure that would help recruit more volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel by providing an income tax credit at a press conference Wednesday.

“When your house catches on fire or you get in a car accident, you rely on first responders for assistance and protection,” Belt said. “Many communities are using paid-on-call firefighters who respond from home and receive just a small stipend or maybe minimum wage.”

Belt, alongside Representative Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), representatives from the Illinois Firefighters Association and members of the General Assembly outlined a measure that would incentivize more long-term volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel.

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Ellman advances measure supporting Gold Star Families in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) would make more members of Gold Star families eligible to receive dedicated license plates.

“When a brave individual decides to step up and serve our country, their family serves, too,” Ellman said. “Missed holidays, birthdays and other special occasions are the price our service members and their families pay, and when a life is lost in the line of duty, loved ones are left with empty chairs and broken hearts.”

House Bill 5078 expands the current eligibility list for Gold Star Family license plates to include stepchildren, adopted children and half-siblings of veterans who lost their lives serving in a branch of the United States Armed Forces, and waives the registration fee for children in Gold Star Families. The legislation also aligns existing language regarding eligibility for a Gold Star lapel button with language used by the Department of Defense.

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Harris to prevent alimony payments to abusive spouses

SPRINGFIELD – To prevent an abusive partner from receiving spousal support, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) introduced legislation to create the Domestic Violence Maintenance Task Force.

“Victims of abuse should not have to pay alimony to an abusive spouse, regardless of their financial situation,” Harris said. 

House Bill 861 creates the Domestic Violence Maintenance Task Force. The task force will review domestic cases involving domestic violence and maintenance awards, also known as alimony, and issue recommendations to improve court procedures regarding a maintenance award when a spouse has been convicted of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery against the other spouse.

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Koehler advances measure to bring plant-based options to students in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – A measure by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) to offer nutritional, plant-based lunch options to students across the state advanced out of the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.

“Students may require plant-based meal options for religious, health-based or other, personal reasons,” Koehler said. “Our schools should be prepared to offer nutritional options for students with dietary restrictions.”

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