SPRINGFIELD – Private drones flown over public parks, sports games and sensitive wildlife has created the need for regulation. State Senator Julie Morrison introduced a measure to give local governments the authority to adopt reasonable rules for the airspace over their public park property.

“I am proud to represent a district with an abundance of parks and wildlife,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This legislation, brought to me by the Cook County Forest Preserve and the Illinois Association of Park Districts, will secure the sanctity and longevity of beautiful outdoor spaces.”

SPRINGFIELD – Finding out your vehicle is totaled can be a difficult situation and the last thing you want to do is research the cost of each part of your car. State Senator Julie Morrison introduced a measure to require vehicle insurance companies to do that work for you.

“I am committed to increasing transparency between insurance companies and consumers,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This initiative will save people time and energy during an already trying occurrence.”

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.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) joined forces at a press conference Thursday to discuss the state of cancer and advocate for measures to tackle the deadly disease.

“Increasing cancer awareness and sponsoring policy that positively impacts cancer statistics is a priority,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Since 1990, cancer mortality rates have dropped by 25%. We must act to continue this positive progression and restore hope.”

Nearly 80,000 Illinoisans will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 23,000 will likely lose their lives to the disease.

Currently, cancer screenings for certain types of cancer are covered by insurance as long as the patient meets the age requirement. Senator Morrison is working with ACS CAN to pass Senate Bill 2697.

SPRINGFIELD – Standing alongside advocates from various health care organizations as well as the State Bar Association at a press conference Wednesday, State Senator Julie Morrison outlined her initiative to create a state electronic registry which will store treatment preferences for critically ill individuals.

“How much or how little treatment a person gets at their end-of-life should be up to each individual instead of the one-size-fits-all approach,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This measure will enable physicians to access forms detailing patients’ wishes in a single, accessible location.”

SPRINGFIELD – Standing alongside advocates from Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy at a press conference Wednesday, State Senator Julie Morrison outlined her initiative to require each newborn to be screened for duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“DMD is a devastating disease – tragically taking young children from their parents,” said Morrison. “Requiring every newborn to be screened for duchenne muscular dystrophy will save precious lives and restore hope.”

Senate Bill 2658 would require each newborn to be screened for the disease. This would increase the rates of early detection, giving those diagnosed the ability to receive affective treatment, far earlier than they would have otherwise.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder caused by a change in the dystrophin gene affecting 1 in 3,500 boys each year worldwide. It’s characterized by the progressive loss of muscle, which results in deterioration of the skeletal heart, and lung muscles. Because the dystrophin gene is found on the X-chromosome, it primarily affects males, while females are typically carriers.

SPRINGFIELD – To increase efficiency in emergency response, State Senator Julie Morrison led a measure through the Senate to outline training on how to access the medical ID function within health apps on cellphones.

“With the majority of people having a cell phone on them at all times, it’s easy for people to have their own digital medical ID,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This measure will help first responders keep up with technology and use this feature to save lives.”

SPRINGFIELD – When a logistics company proposed a busy trucking facility across the street from a residential neighborhood, the Lake County community strongly opposed the planned development.

Compounding the issue was that the property for the development and the residential subdivision were under the jurisdiction of different governing bodies. In response to the community’s uprising, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a bill to prevent this in the future.

“We are developing a task force to give us direction and resolution on what to do when future development plans are presented,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We want to look at giving communities input on industrial developments occurring near their place of residence.”