SPRINGFIELD – Lobbyists are now required to disclose more information regarding their clients and relationships to local government units under new legislation co-sponsored by Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“It’s clear that we need to introduce larger reforms to change the way elected officials do business,” said Murphy, who served as chief co-sponsor of the legislation in the Senate. “Increasing lobbying transparency is just a start—there’s much more still to do.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) advanced a measure from the Illinois Senate to address pedestrian fatalities on state highways.

“This is a very personal issue to me,” Murphy said. “In Des Plaines we’ve witnessed four separate pedestrian fatalities at the same intersection, and countless other close calls. The local police department even did a sting operation and cited dozens of drivers for not yielding to pedestrians there.”

Senate Bill 767 would require the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to conduct a traffic study for each pedestrian fatality on a state highway. Studies would consider design improvements, traffic control devices and any other improvements that IDOT may recommend.

The measure passed the Senate 49-1 and will go to the House for consideration.

The Pritzker administration released an economic development plan for Illinois this week. Staples of the plan include the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois construction program, record investments in education, increased research and development (R&D) grants for manufacturing and technology industries, and tax incentives to further workforce development.

The plan released by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity details how the administration plans to spur economic growth in an equitable fashion. Investments will be made to grow regional industries throughout the state and will prioritize removing employment barriers that systematically impact women and people of color.

“These strategic investments in workforce development will provide our state with the skilled employees and entrepreneurs to bring us economic stability,” Murphy said. “Middle class families across Illinois will be in an environment where they can thrive.”

DES PLAINES – After the Property Tax Relief Task Force met for the first time this Monday, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) reported that the task force is ready to reform the state’s regressive property tax system.

As part of the Fair Tax legislative package, the bipartisan task force will determine ways legislators can reform the state’s regressive property tax system to reduce taxes on low- and middle- income earners. The task force will produce their final report by Dec. 31, 2019.

“No matter what your political affiliation is, everyone knows that the property taxes in Illinois are a regressive burden on low- and middle-income families,” said Murphy. “I’m thrilled to be part of a bipartisan team that will solve a real problem for working people in our state. Addressing our backward property tax system will keep people in Illinois and more importantly give our working families a path to economic stability.”

DES PLAINES – A measure that was signed into law today will add an extra protection for victims of domestic violence, thanks to Des Plaines Democrat State Senator Laura Murphy.

Senate Bill 399 will allow an address to be omitted from documents filed in court if disclosing the address would risk abuse or harm. The victim will also be protected from having to include a domestic violence safe house address or an address that was changed as a result of a protective order.

“It’s already hard enough for victims to take that first step and get out of their situation,” Murphy said. “They shouldn’t have to live in fear of their address being released after being brave enough to get away. I am happy to see this signed into law.”

Murphy introduced her measure in response to an incident where a judge included the address of a domestic violence safe house in a court order between the abuser and the victim regarding custody over their child.

Senate Bill 399 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

DES PLAINES – Students will be allowed to self-administer prescribed medication while at school under legislation sponsored by Des Plaines Democrat State Senator Laura Murphy that became law this week.

Murphy’s measure will require schools to allow students with an action plan to self-administer prescribed medication with permission from their parent or guardian.

“Giving children permission to self-administer their medicine while at school allows them to focus on their school work and offers parents reassurance,” Murphy said. “I am happy my bill was signed into law because no parent wants to worry that their child might not be safe at school simply because they don’t have access to their medication.”

Gwynne Ryan, a teacher at Maine West High School brought this idea for legislation forward after fighting the school her child attends on allowing her child to self-administer.

DES PLAINES – A bill sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) that would make partisan appointments to the Task Force on Human Services Contracting equal was signed into law earlier this month.

House Bill 2487 requires appointments to the task force to have the same number of Democrats and Republicans. Previously, the majority party was allowed to appoint one more member than the minority party.

“Human services should not be a partisan issue,” said Murphy. “We need to bring all sides together to ensure that the challenges faced by human service agencies are adequately addressed.”

The task force was implemented to study State contracting with private, nonprofit human service providers and the challenges they face. The new law extends the task force’s study by one year, and at that time the task force will make recommendations to the General Assembly on how to improve contracting relationships so that human services needs are addressed efficiently.

CHICAGO – A bill sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) that creates a database of mental health resources for students was signed into law earlier this month.

House Bill 907 directs the Illinois Department of Human Services to create and maintain a database on their website with mental health resources. The resources will be geared toward addressing bullying and school shootings, and will be available for students, school staff and parents. All web traffic on the database will remain anonymous and will not be tracked.

“Students face a variety of challenges that can create mental health crises,” said Murphy. “I want to make sure that teachers, parents and the students themselves have access to information that can help them navigate those challenges.”

The new law is effective immediately and the Department of Human Services is already developing the database.