Senator Steve Stadelman News

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Tuesday, June 01, 2021 03:10 PM

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to support mental health education in schools, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is sponsoring legislation that helps school leaders identify, understand, and respond to mental health problems school children may face.

“Educating students about their mental health early in life will benefit them in the long term,” Stadelman said. “Many students will navigate difficult situations in a healthier way if schools are able to teach them and provide instruction on how to cope and respond with their mental health.”

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Monday, May 31, 2021 06:36 PM

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) requiring state agencies and institutions to only purchase American and Illinois flags manufactured in the United States passed the State Senate on Memorial Day.

“There’s no reason for us to be flying our state and nation’s flags if they’re not made in this country,” Stadelman said. “This legislation rights a wrong while supporting our local businesses and economies at the same time.”

The legislation would change the Flag Display Act to no longer allow state institutions and agencies to purchase American and Illinois flags from manufacturers outside of the U.S.

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Thursday, May 27, 2021 03:46 PM

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SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would make civil no contact orders permanent for sexual assault survivors whose assailants are criminally convicted of sexual assault passed the Illinois General Assembly on Monday.

“People who’ve been through a sexual assault will live with that trauma for the rest of their lives,” Stadelman said. “I believe it’s our responsibly to help ease their burdens and not make them relive that trauma by forcing them to return to court year after year.”

Currently, under Illinois state law, sexual assault survivors are forced to see their assailants in court every two years to renew their no contact orders.

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Thursday, May 27, 2021 03:43 PM

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that passed the General Assembly on Thursday would require public schools that offer sex education curricula to include a lesson about the risks of sexting.

“Technology has evolved a significant amount in the last decade,” Stadelman said. “This legislation would update Illinois’ sex education curriculum to include a lesson on sexting, so students can learn about the real-life consequences of the virtual act.”

The legislation would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to revise their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Thursday, May 27, 2021 03:40 PM

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would create a commission to help make a statewide network of new and existing high-speed passenger rail lines a reality passes the Senate.

“Creating a high-speed rail network would provide a fast, safe and reliable way to travel across the state,” Stadelman said.

The measure would create the High-Speed Railway Commission to assist the state and organizations like the High-Speed Rail Alliance, which produced a plan to create a high-speed rail line from Chicago to St. Louis within the next 10 years, coordinate.

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Wednesday, May 19, 2021 04:09 PM

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ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) announced that the Rockford area is set to receive $1.95 million for improvements to roads and highways in the upcoming year as a part of the state’s multi-year construction plan.

“I am happy to see another round of funding for infrastructure improvements,” Stadelman said. “This construction will help ensure the safety of people traveling on our roads while providing meaningful income for those working hard to repair them.”

The improvements to the roads in the Rockford area include reconstruction and rehabilitation to Harrison Ave., S. Main St., N. 2^ndSt., Kishwaukee St., Springfield Ave., and various other locations in the Rockford area.

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Wednesday, May 19, 2021 11:25 AM

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) passed legislation through a Senate Committee that would expand the state’s ability to punish someone for impersonating another online, a practice commonly called catfishing.

“If you knowingly impersonate another person in order to harm them, there have to be real consequences,” Stadelman said. “There are cases where people’s lives are turned upside down or even ruined because someone is impersonating them. In the age of the internet, impersonating others has gotten easier and more common than ever.”

The legislation expands the state's ability to make it a crime for a person to use someone else's name to create a fake webpage on a social networking site or send a message to intentionally cause emotional or economic damage.

“We cannot allow identity fraud to go unchecked in this state,” Stadelman said.

Senate Bill 766 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee with a vote of 10-0 and is now headed to the full Senate for further consideration.

Details: Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News; Thursday, May 13, 2021 04:18 PM

stadelman 051321 SPRINGFIELD – This week, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced the fourth round of Rebuild Illinois funding for local governments is available, and State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is pleased that over $4 million is being provided to the Rockford area.

“This funding will help put people to work on local construction projects,” Stadelman said. “Getting this money in place for projects within our community is more important now than ever, as we continue to recover from the pandemic.”

A total of $1.5 billion spread out in six installments is being invested over three years to advance municipal, township and county projects across the state. Projects include road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacements and other long-term maintenance needs, with financial oversight from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A complete list of local agencies and awards can be viewed here.

“This funding is an Investment in the safety of everyone who uses our roads and highways on a daily basis,” Stadelman said. “It also shows our commitment to improving transportation infrastructure and focusing funds toward communities that need it.”

Stadelman is a long-time advocate for investing in Rockford-area infrastructure, including connecting the city to Chicago with a commuter rail line.