Castro’s new law expands dual credit opportunities for students

CHICAGO — Illinois students will soon have more opportunities to earn college credit during high school thanks to a new law spearheaded by State Senator Cristina Castro.

“The two biggest barriers facing students today are time and money,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Dual credit helps lift this burden, giving high school students a head start so they can save money on tuition and accelerate the time it takes to earn a degree.”

Dual credit instruction makes higher education more attainable, especially for first-generation and lower-income students, by offering high school students the opportunity to earn both college and high school credit through a single course. Students who earn dual credit in high school complete their college and university degrees at higher rates and are often able to save money as a result of having fewer college credits to pay tuition for.

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More FAFSA supports for students secured thanks to Cervantes legislation

SPRINGFIELD—Thanks to two new laws led in the state legislature by State Senator Javier Cervantes, high school students may soon have access to more supports from their high schools when applying for college and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA.

“The form is intended to give more students a chance of pursuing higher education,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “We should be doing everything we can to make sure it is as accessible as possible for people to complete, and this measure is a simple step to make completing it easier.”

Read more: More FAFSA supports for students secured thanks to Cervantes legislation

Aquino law expands support for safety net hospitals

SPRINGFIELD – To protect the stability of safety net hospitals, State Senator Omar Aquino championed a new law that will generate additional revenue for hospitals across the state.

"As a patient of Humboldt Park Health, a designated safety net hospital, and the representative of two additional safety nets, I have experienced firsthand the contributions of these hospitals to the integrity of our communities by ensuring the health of our neighbors,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “With the updates to the Hospital Assessment Program, we are ensuring that hospitals continue to provide critical services to our most vulnerable."

The Illinois Hospital Assessment Program was established in 2003 to help ensure low-income patients have access to health care services. The program was extended and expanded in 2022 to improve cash-flow predictability for hospitals, tying greater funding to higher Medicaid utilization. The program is funded through a special tax on Illinois hospitals, which is then matched by federal funds and redistributed to hospitals based on the volume of the Medicaid patients they serve and their level of care.

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Morrison law strengthens due process for FOID card holders

SPRINGFIELD — A new law championed by State Senator Julie Morrison will create an expedited review process for individuals challenging the revocation of their FOID card due to being deemed a “clear and present danger.”

“This law grants everyone the opportunity for a timely review if they believe their determination is inaccurate,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “With this change, we are improving transparency in the process and helping to ensure decisions are made fairly.”

Read more: Morrison law strengthens due process for FOID card holders