Villa measure promoting native plant species advances
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SPRINGFIELD – In order to cultivate more native plant species and support local ecosystems, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would allow a higher volume of native species to be planted across the state.
“Illinois is the prairie state. Our native plant species are unique and vital to local ecosystems,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Planting more native species will support pollinators, while beautifying our state and supporting agriculture.”
House Bill 5296 would allow residents living in neighborhoods with a homeowners’ association to plant native species in their yards as long as the area is maintained. Additionally, homeowners’ associations would be prohibited from imposing height restrictions or impairing proper maintenance of the native landscape to ensure the heath of the habitat.
Read more: Villa measure promoting native plant species advances
Ventura-backed legislation to protect tenants from rental transaction fees passes committee
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SPRINGFIELD – To protect renters from additional rental payment transaction fees, State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced legislation that would require landlords to be more flexible with payment options.
“As rent costs have skyrocketed across the country, residents are struggling to make ends meet and these transaction fees imposed on them by their landlord can add up quickly,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Some leases require 2-3% of rent to cover processing fees which adds a lot to an already high rent. By requiring landlords to also accept cash or check we help save Illinoisans from this unnecessary cost.”
House Bill 4206 would require landlords to allow tenants to make rental payments by delivering a paper check or cash to the landlord or their business office if the landlord uses a third-party payment portal to collect rent and has a transactional fee or other charge imposed through the portal on the rental payments.
Morrison measure to improve diversity of clinical cancer trials
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison is leading a measure to bring more diversity in participants of clinical trials.
“Better representation in clinical trials will improve progress and innovation in cancer care and mitigate some inequities that currently exist in health care,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest).
House Bill 5405 would require the Illinois Department of Public Health to work with the University of Illinois and other relevant organizations to conduct a study examining what demographics are currently underrepresented in clinical trials, identify barriers to participation and pinpoint ways to improve upon outreach to these communities. IDPH would report the findings of this study to the General Assembly by July 1, 2026.
Read more: Morrison measure to improve diversity of clinical cancer trials
Leader Lightford champions measure to set high school students up for financial success
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SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is championing a proposal to require high school students to learn financial literacy.
“When young people leave high school, they are given the freedom to spend and manage their money how they see fit with little or no guidance beyond what they’ve witnessed at home,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “By requiring financial literacy instruction, we are equipping our young people with the ability to do things like manage a household budget, save for a home or be aware of financial fraud schemes. These are important life skills that every person can utilize.”
Under Lightford’s measure, high school students would learn about financial literacy as part of their consumer education requirement. The instruction would focus on basic economics, the principles of supply and demand, how to budget income responsibly, loan repayment, and the cost of high-interest short-term “payday” loans.
Read more: Leader Lightford champions measure to set high school students up for financial success
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