ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Building on the smart infrastructure investments supported by State Senator Ann Gillespie, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced an investment of more than $140 million in the 27^th Senate District.

“Illinoisans spend roughly $1,000 more on vehicle repairs each year due to the poor conditions of our roads,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “These investments will rehabilitate roads, bridges and highways in our community, addressing our aging infrastructure and saving commuters in the long run.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Project under the Rebuild Illinois program, the 27^th District will see 21 infrastructure projects totaling $140,146,000 over the next six years.

These projects are part of IDOT’s multi-year plan, a $34.6 billion investment in construction projects for the next six fiscal years.  

The $34.6 billion will go to highway reconstruction and preservation, bridge improvements, strategic expansion, system support such as engineering and land acquisition, and safety and system modernizations. Over six years, the funding will be dispersed to improve more than 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges.

To find a full list of projects slated for the 27^th Senate District, visit IDOT’s website.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS –State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – depriving millions of women of their right to choose:

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – To remove barriers to justice for survivors of sexual assault, a new law strengthening the legal definition of consent, sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie, was signed on Thursday.

“Survivors deserve a justice system that supports them during one of the most difficult times of their lives,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This measure removes a loophole that should never have existed and allows survivors to seek justice.”

House Bill 5441 clarifies the existing definition of “unable to give knowing consent” by adding that the survivor remains unable to consent if they voluntarily consumed an intoxicating substance. Under current interpretation, the offender must have provided the intoxicating substance to the survivor to be held responsible for a sexual assault.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – To prevent unused prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands or polluting the environment, State Senator Ann Gillespie supported legislation that was signed into law on Friday that establishes a statewide drug take-back program.

“Proper disposal of prescription medication will curb the opioid epidemic and protect our environment,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “The safety of our children depends on the accessibility of secure take-back sites in every community.”

The Drug Take-Back Act requires pharmaceutical companies to establish take-back programs with collection sites in each of Illinois’ 102 counties and additional collection sites for every 50,000 county residents.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – To address gun violence as a public health crisis and increase coordination amongst state agencies, State Senator Ann Gillespie supported a gun violence prevention measure that was signed into law on Friday.

“Addressing gun violence as a public health crisis will allow state agencies, social service providers and partners in law enforcement to better coordinate to stop the violence,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights).

House Bill 4729 follows up on the governor’s Nov. 2021 Executive Order which classified gun violence as a public health crisis by creating statewide firearm storage and safety campaign through the Department of Public Health. The campaign will include the distribution of gun locks and safes through community-based organizations and partners with law enforcement to offer buyback programs. Currently, the cities of Evanston and Chicago host buyback programs with law enforcement and the City of Naperville operates a permanent take back program, which does not offer money in exchange for turning in firearms.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – A measure to assist social workers with paying off their degrees, introduced by State Senator Ann Gillespie, was signed into law on Friday.

“Incentivizing students of social work to start their careers in Illinois will help our local governments recruit the qualified professionals they need, while mitigating the student debt crisis,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights).

Senate Bill 3761 expands the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program to include social workers employed by an Illinois municipality. Currently, the program offers up to $6,500 in student loan assistance to borrowers who have been employed at a school for at least one year.

SPRINGFIELD – Those enrolled in Medicaid will see more continuous coverage and expanded services thanks to a new law spearheaded by State Senator Ann Gillespie that was signed into law on Friday.

“Working families need stability more than ever, especially when it comes to health care coverage,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Removing the bureaucratic burdens these families face will ensure they remain covered once enrolled.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Legislation to end surprise medical bills, sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie, was signed into law on Thursday.

“It’s shameful that someone receiving medical care would experience financial hardship as a result of surprise medical billing,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This new law will provide even more protection for consumers from exorbitant out-of-pocket healthcare costs, especially at a time when many families are struggling to pay other household bills.”

House Bill 4703 protects people covered under group and individual health plans from getting surprise medical bills after receiving most services from out-of-network providers. The law brings Illinois on par with the federal No Surprises Act, which establishes new protections against surprise medical bills.