SPRINGFIELD – Older Illinois homeowners can expect an increase in property tax relief under a law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) raising the maximum income limitation and deferral amount for the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral program.

“Especially for residents on fixed incomes, property taxes can be a heavy financial burden,” Murphy said. “This law expands a key program offering substantial relief to older homeowners, allowing more retirees to stay in their homes and in the state.”

SPRINGFIELD – To help plan Illinois’ post-pandemic recovery and ensure the state sees it through, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) sponsored a law to give the legislature a voice in the reopening process by reinstating the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission.

“Thanks to all the residents who have gotten their vaccine, the pandemic is ebbing, but our work isn’t finished,” Murphy said. “As we recover and rebuild, the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission will offer lawmakers an avenue to communicate our constituents’ feedback and ideas.”

SPRINGFIELD – Mobile home owners across Illinois can now depend on financial transparency and a basic standard of living, thanks to new laws sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“To know the terms of one’s loan agreement and to have access to clean water—those are essential rights every homeowner should be able to rely on,” Murphy said. “These laws simply bring protections for mobile home owners in line with those afforded to every other Illinoisan.”

SPRINGFIELD – University administrators will no longer be able to exploit loopholes in the law by receiving massive payouts, or “golden parachutes,” after leaving their positions under a new law introduced by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

Lawmakers passed the Government Severance Pay Act in 2018 to limit the amount paid in university severance packages. Murphy’s measure strengthens the act by expanding the definition of severance pay and defining limits on compensation.

CHICAGO – To ask questions and offer feedback on behalf of small businesses in the district she represents and across Illinois, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) joined Thursday’s joint hearing of the Illinois Senate Appropriations and Commerce Committees on the Back to Business (B2B) small business recovery program.

“Small business owners have suffered unimaginable stress over the past year. State and federal grant programs offered them some relief, but funding didn’t reach everyone who needed it,” Murphy said. “We approached this hearing seeking answers and solutions for the businesses that felt left out in the cold.”

The B2B program, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is expected to distribute $250 million in economic relief to small businesses across the state to help offset losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leveraging relationships with regional partners established through the recently expanded community navigator outreach program, DCEO will conduct outreach locally for the B2B grant program and prioritize hardest-hit industries and communities.

At the hearing, lawmakers questioned representatives from DCEO, conveyed feedback from their local small business owners and offered suggestions on how the B2B program could learn from the successes and shortfalls of previous relief programs like the Business Interruption Grant program to better serve the needs of the Illinois small business community.

“The Back to Business program has enormous positive potential for small business communities across the state, but it must be managed with business owners and communities’ interests in mind,” Murphy said. “The feedback we received during this hearing should help direct outreach, funds and other resources to the businesses and communities that need them most.”

Applications for the B2B program open Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. More information, eligibility requirements and applications are available on DCEO’s website at Illinois.gov/DCEO.

SPRINGFIELD – Students who are serving or have served in the military now have easier access to tailored support services on campus under a law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“Students have faced unbelievable stress over the past year, and current and former military students are often under additional pressure,” Murphy said. “With the fall semester on the horizon, it’s important that we spread the word about available mental health resources.”

SPRINGFIELD – To identify problem areas on state roads and allow residents to drive, bike and walk safely in their communities, a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to look more closely into traffic accidents on state highways that result in the death of a pedestrian.

“Even one pedestrian fatality is too many,” Murphy said. “By working proactively to pinpoint areas of concern and make immediate improvements, we can make our roads safer and prevent injury and death.”

SPRINGFIELD – To better understand the prevalence of bullying and violence in Illinois schools, a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) will strengthen incident reporting requirements.

“Nationwide rates of violence between students are alarming—to ensure we’re keeping our students safe, we need a deeper understanding of the issue in Illinois,” Murphy said. “The first step toward solving any problem is gathering information.”