EpiPen costs will drop to $60 thanks to Senator Mike Halpin

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin passed legislation through the Senate that limits the cost of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors, commonly known by the brand name EpiPens, to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack.

"No household should have to decide between buying life-saving medication and providing food for their family," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "This legislation marks a significant stride towards enhancing the affordability and accessibility of EpiPens for all Illinoisans who require them."

Epinephrine Auto-Injectors are the only medication that works on the entire body to combat anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. However, since 2017, a global shortage of these devices has made this medication increasingly difficult to obtain. Parts of the United States have experienced shortages since 2018, with the FDA permitting an extension of the recommended shelf life of EpiPens to combat the shortage.

Read more: EpiPen costs will drop to $60 thanks to Senator Mike Halpin

Belt champions measure to address teacher shortage

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure out of the Senate Wednesday that would help address the ongoing teacher shortage in Illinois.

“The entire state is having issues with recruiting and retaining quality teachers in schools,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “It’s apparent that we need to be investing more in our educators, as they have a significant impact on our children.”

House Bill 3801 would provide retention bonuses of $4,000 per year, for two consecutive years to teachers who are National Board Certified and are employed in hard-to-staff schools. A hard-to-staff school is a public school that no less than 30% of the student enrollment is considered low-income. Becoming a National Board Certified teacher is a career continuum for those who start in pre-service teacher preparation, leading aspiring teachers to pursue and achieve National Board Certification.

This measure aims to provide an incentive for teachers to work in underserved areas, as these are the areas that are most affected by the current teacher shortage.

“Without enough well-equipped teachers in our classrooms, we cannot provide children with the education they deserve,” said Belt. “It’s not just a numbers problem, but a moral imperative to ensure they have access to education that will guide their futures.”

House Bill 3801 passed the Senate.

Villivalam legislation modernizes procedures for workers’ rights

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam passed legislation that will provide employees with better access to their rights and more streamlined procedures from their employer.

“We are updating the codes to recognize the changing ways we do business,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “This legislation is designed to streamline procedures for responding to rights violations that employees may encounter and make the process updated for modern times.”

House Bill 3733 makes changes to labor laws in order to provide updated and modernized procedures. This will require employers to provide copies of personnel records to employees by mail or email upon request, and will require any employer with remote or traveling employees to make information regarding labor rights available electronically.

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Cervantes legislation banning video calls while driving passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Cervantes sponsored legislation that would prohibit all drivers from using an electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle in Illinois, including any video conferencing or social media applications.

“We are prioritizing safety with this legislation, because no video call is worth someone getting hurt,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “We are taking action against drivers who put themselves and everyone around them in danger with straightforward legislation that will protect Illinois drivers.”

House Bill 2431 would make it illegal to use any electronic communications devices while operating a motor vehicle, including the use of cell phones and tablets for streaming videos and participating in video conferences on platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and WebEx. Additionally, the bill prohibits any social media applications like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter from being used while operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway.

Read more: Cervantes legislation banning video calls while driving passes Senate