SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s legislation to help turn vacant city lots into urban farms and community gardens is one step closer to becoming law, having passed the Illinois Senate Friday.

“Cities often find themselves responsible for vacant lots in older neighborhoods that can be difficult to sell,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “Community gardens and urban farms both benefit local residents and raise nearby property values.”

The legislation enables local governments to sell or lease government-owned vacant lots to non-profit groups for urban farms, community gardens, or to sell fruits and vegetables from the non-profit’s other properties. Cities would be able to grant leases of up to 25 years (with 25-year renewals possible) or to sell vacant tracts of land for less than they would normally cost, providing the land continues to be used to grow food and/or sell food grown by the non-profit. The legislation also makes it easier for eligible non-profits to get property tax breaks.

SPRINGFIELD – A new effort to reduce sexual misconduct on the campuses of Illinois colleges and universities, sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham, passed the Illinois Senate Friday.

An initiative of the Every VOICE Coalition, it would require each institution of higher education to conduct an annual sexual misconduct climate survey. The results of the survey would then be posted on the university’s website and sent to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

“Despite important progress in recent years, sexual assault and harassment are still too common at our colleges and universities,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “This survey would help higher education institutions form plans to address the problem and give prospective students and the public more insight on how institutions are addressing the issue.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s legislation to help turn vacant lots from problem areas into urban farms and community gardens passed the Senate Local Government Committee Tuesday.

“Many of our older communities find themselves with vacant, neglected lots in city centers and older neighborhoods,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “In many cases, the local government becomes responsible for these lots, and this plan would give them a clear path to turning them from sometimes-dangerous eyesores into farms or gardens that increase property values and engage the community.”

Chicago – State Senator Bill Cunningham is announcing southwest suburban schools within the 18th Senate District are set to receive more than $78 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve been so impressed by how well our students, teachers, and other school staff have navigated the difficulties of the pandemic,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “As we continue our recovery, this funding will give our schools more resources to help their students get on track and return to full-time, in-person learning.”

The funding comes as part of the two most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

SPRINGFIELD – During the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law offering additional workers’ compensation protections to first responders and essential workers. Today, the governor signed State Senator Bill Cunningham’s measure to extend those protections by six months.

The law allows essential workers and first responders to file for workers’ compensation benefits if they contract COVID-19 during the course of their employment – providing them with additional economic support while they recover from the illness. Employers have an opportunity to rebut workers’ claims by demonstrating they followed all applicable public health guidelines.

CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham wants to make sure local entrepreneurs are aware of recent changes to the federal Paycheck Protection Program, meant to make the program more accessible to smaller businesses.

“The PPP program has been a great opportunity that has helped many of our local small businesses stay afloat, but it was hard to access for some of our smallest business owners,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “If you looked into the program before but decided you didn’t qualify or wouldn’t be able to fill out the paperwork, it’s worth looking again after the recent changes.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham has introduced a measure to make home services more available and affordable, helping older adults and people with disabilities continue to live in their own homes.

“Older adults should have every opportunity to live in their own homes as long as possible,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “And, people with disabilities deserve to live independently whenever possible.”

CHICAGO – As Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan goes into effect, State Senator Bill Cunningham is encouraging eligible local residents to sign up for COVID-19 vaccination.

“To help get our lives and our economy back to normal, everyone who can needs to get vaccinated,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “That’s the key step we need to take to be able to spend time with our loved ones, shop, eat in crowded restaurants, and attend movies and live sports again.”

Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan expands vaccination eligibility to everyone over age 65 and front-line essential workers. As supplies of the vaccine are still limited, not everyone will be able to get vaccinated immediately, but Cook County has established a waitlist. Anyone who falls into Phase 1A – health care workers and residents in long-term care facilities – also remain eligible.

“I urge everyone to be patient,” Cunningham said. “It’s going to take months for everyone to get vaccinated, but more appointments will become available as the federal government sends Illinois more vaccines.”

Eligible Cook County residents can visit https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov/ to sign up for the vaccination program. There are vaccination sites located near the district Cunningham represents in Robbins, Blue Island, Tinley Park and Oak Forest. Additional sites at pharmacies and other locations are being added daily.