SPRINGFIELD – In a historic moment, Illinois has become the first state in the nation to prohibit the banning of books in libraries, thanks to a measure championed by State Senator Laura Murphy, which was signed into law Monday.

“Often times, censorship like book bans comes from fear, which is insidious. It spreads like a disease and leaves our vulnerable communities injured,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We cannot allow ourselves to give into fear – we must stand against this fear disguised as moral outrage and stand up for what we know is right.”

SPRINGFIELD –To ensure children with asthma, allergies and other medical conditions can enjoy after-school programs and activities safely, State Senator Laura Murphy has introduced legislation to allow program employees to administer life-saving medication to kids.

“At school, children can depend on their school nurse or other trained personnel to help with an EpiPen or inhaler. However, during after-school programs, there is not always that level of continuity with the regular school day,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “This legislation will give parents the confidence and peace of mind to enroll their children in sports, art classes and other enriching programs.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy championed legislation to establish ethical guidelines to address ongoing concerns regarding automated traffic enforcement.

“The public deserves to have the utmost trust in their government and their law enforcement,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We need to ensure that there is accountability and honesty on all levels.”

The measure prohibits campaign contributions from contractors who provide the automated traffic enforcement equipment, any political action committee created by such a contractor and any affiliates. Campaign contributions from such sources have been a cause for controversy in past years.

Further, beginning six months before an automated traffic law enforcement system is installed at an intersection, a county or municipality may not change the yellow light interval at that intersection.

Additionally, IDOT can revoke any permit for red light cameras if any official or employee who serves that county or municipality is charged with bribery, official misconduct, or a similar crime related to the placement, installation, or operation of the automated traffic law enforcement system in the county or municipality.

“Illinoisans deserve to be able to trust their elected officials aren’t being influenced by campaign contributions,” Murphy said. “Government officials should serve the people—not their own financial interests.”

House Bill 3903 passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that Illinoisans in need of insulin have affordable access to the life-saving medicine, State Senator Laura Murphy has introduced a measure to cap its price at $35.

“It’s time to ensure that individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes can afford the medicine that they need to survive,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Insulin is a vital medication, and it’s time that we put people’s health ahead of financial gain.”

Under this legislation the price of a 30-day supply of insulin would be capped at $35 for all private individual and group insurance policies.

More than 10% of the U.S. population has diabetes according to the diabetes research institute. 1 in 12 Illinoisans have insulin-dependent diabetes, approximately 1.3 million people.  According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the cost of insulin has risen 600% in the last 20 years. Americans pay 10 times than that of citizens of 32 other nations. $98.70 on average compared to $8.81.

“Recently, drug manufacturers have announced they will cap the cost of insulin at $35, and I applaud this commitment,” said Murphy. “I want to ensure that this protection is enshrined in law, should pharmaceutical companies raise the prices once again.”

House Bill 2189 passed the Illinois Senate on Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD – To address racial discrimination in schools, State Senator Laura Murphy is leading a measure that would increase protections for students.

“Our schools have a duty to care for their students, and more importantly make students feel safe,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “No child should have to face discrimination based on their race, the color of their skin, or their national origin.”

Under the measure, each school district would be required to create, implement, and maintain at least one written policy that prohibits discrimination and harassment against students based on race, color, or national origin. Additionally, the policy would include language prohibiting retaliation against students for submitting a complaint.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect people’s freedom to read, State Senator Laura Murphy passed legislation to prevent the banning of books.

“Our nation’s libraries have been under attack for too long—they are bastions of knowledge and proliferate the spread of ideas,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We have a duty as lawmakers to protect the rights of our people—including the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression.”

Under this measure, a library or library system must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or develop a written statement prohibiting the practice of banning books or materials in order to be eligible for state grants.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy joined the rally to Fight for Illinois Families on Friday to speak about the importance of the SAFER Communities Act.

“This bill gives individuals reentering society the opportunity to secure a stable job so they can take care of their families,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It’s possible to decrease the rate of recidivism by providing incentives to businesses to hire formerly incarcerated individuals.”

Murphy’s measure – the SAFER Communities Act – would task the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity with creating a program that would help formerly incarcerated individuals gain reliable employment. Additionally the program would provide tax credits to employers who hire program participants, with a greater amount offered to small businesses.

SPRINGFIELD – In order to protect the freedom of allowing people to read, State Senator Laura Murphy championed legislation to prevent the banning of books.

“The First Amendment protects more than just our right to speak, it includes the right to access resources from libraries that are free from censorship driven by partisan or doctrinal disapproval,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “These coordinated campaigns to censor books stand as a direct affront to the principles our country was founded upon.”

Under this measure, a library or library system must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or develop a written statement prohibiting the practice of banning books or materials in order to be eligible for state grants.