Villanueva measure pushes for worker protections

SPRINGFIELD –Action sponsored by State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) that protects the rights of workers moved out of the Senate Friday.

“Current law does not accurately reflect the working habits of our society, which is why this measure is so critical,” Villanueva said. “Having clear, strong labor laws is one of the most important ways we prevent the exploitation of workers whose contributions allow our communities to prosper.”

Senate Bill 3146 updates the One Day Rest in Seven Act, which entitles workers to a 24-hour period of rest in a work week. The updated language will further define a work week and add provisions regarding breaks during a shift lasting more than 7.5 hours. Senator Villanueva’s measure will also increase the cost of the civil offenses, making the maximum $500 for employers with more than 25 employees. Smaller businesses will receive adjusted penalties to reflect the difference in workforce size, making the maximum $250 for employers with fewer than 25 employees.

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Celebrating Illinois’ Olympians

SPRINGFIELD – More than a dozen athletes from Illinois represented the United States at the recent Winter Olympics. To honor their accomplishments, the Illinois Senate passed a resolution Friday.

“I am proud of all the winter Olympians from Illinois,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).

Fourteen of the 220 athletes who were on team USA were from Illinois, and they competed in figure skating, hockey, ski jumping and speed skating.

“The hard work and motivation the Olympians have is admirable. We all watched anxiously and cheered you on as you lived out your dreams to compete as one of the country’s top athletes,” said State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “To our fellow athletes who represented our great nation at the winter games – you made your home state extremely proud.”

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Stadelman works to alleviate weight of trauma survivors carry when filling orders of protection

SPRINGFIELD – Leading legislation to give survivors of abuse more comfort and accessibility filing a protective order, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) hosted a press conference Wednesday to bring more awareness to the ongoing issues survivors face.  

“The weight of trauma a survivor carries becomes detrimental as they struggle to cope with grief and take the steps necessary to begin to heal,” Stadelman said. “By giving survivors the opportunity to file for protective orders at their own pace in the safety of their own home, we are giving them the keys to move forward.”

Stadelman’s measure would give people the option to file a protective order either online or in-person. The measure would also require any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order.

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Senate supports Ellman’s legislation establishing Hydrogen Hub in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – A measure by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) to create the Hydrogen Economy Task Force and establish Illinois as a Hydrogen Hub in the Midwest advanced out of the Senate on Friday.

“Through this legislation, Illinois has the opportunity to take the lead on a nationwide effort to spur clean energy and hydrogen generation,” Ellman said. “As a potential Midwest Hydrogen Hub, we can support our agricultural, refinery and transportation industries and create jobs for workers across the state.”

The Hydrogen Economy Task Force established under Senate Bill 3613 would be responsible for publishing a plan to create a Hydrogen Hub in Illinois, identifying opportunities to integrate hydrogen into the economy, analyzing barriers to hydrogen development, and recommending policies to catalyze deployment of hydrogen in the state economy.

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