Preston fights to protect children from social media harms

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Willie Preston is leading efforts to strengthen protections for children online by requiring safer digital standards for apps, devices and online platforms operating in Illinois.

“Parents already have enough to worry about without wondering whether social media companies are targeting their children with addictive content and unsafe features,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Families in our communities deserve real protections, real transparency and real accountability from these tech companies.” 

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Villanueva advances responsible revenue package prioritizing working families

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents are on track to receive much-needed financial relief, thanks to the efforts of State Senator Celina Villanueva, who passed a responsible revenue package Monday that bolsters new revenue sources without placing taxes on everyday people.

“All year long, my colleagues and I were told we had to ‘cut’ our way out of budget challenges, but we recognize that bulldozing the essential resources and services Illinois’ working families rely on is not the way to meet the ever changing demands of our economy,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “We know the wealth to fully fund programs in our communities exists; it’s just being hoarded. This revenue package steps up to the moment to ensure Illinois has progressive revenue policies centered around fairness and stability for all residents.”

Senate Bill 3019 – the revenue package – would implement a stream of equitable revenue enhancements that uplift working families across Illinois, including making corporations pay their fair share and reinstating the back-to-school tax holiday.

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Ventura pushes back on corporate home buying, passes bill to protect Illinois housing supply

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura’s measure to curb the growing influence of private equity and large institutional investors in Illinois’ housing market passed the Senate Monday.

“As working families struggle to find affordable homes and rising demand continues to drive up prices, we have a responsibility to preserve our existing housing supply for people, not large corporate investors,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Unchecked investor activity is pricing Illinoisans out of their own neighborhoods, and we need clear guardrails to restore balance.”

House Bill 2783 would establish a graduated annual fee on institutional investors that acquire more than 10 residential properties, beginning at 10% of a property’s value and increasing for every additional 10 properties owned. The fee would be capped at 50% and be directed into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support public housing development, rental assistance, and pathways to homeownership.

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Lightford passes landmark hemp and cannabis reform

SPRINGFIELD – Following years of tireless advocacy, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford passed a sweeping measure that brings comprehensive regulation to Illinois' hemp marketplace and makes long-sought improvements to the state's cannabis laws for patients, small businesses and social equity licensees.

"For years I have fought to bring order, equity and commonsense to these markets — and today, working hand in hand with our colleagues in the House, we delivered,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This bill is about protecting people, keeping promises and making sure Illinois remains a national leader.”

Senate Bill 3222 would establish mandatory licensing and uniform standards for CBD manufacturers while creating a responsible transition path for hemp businesses entering the licensed cannabis market, with at least 45 infuser licenses reserved for social equity applicants.

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