SPRINGFIELD – State agencies and institutions could only purchase American and Illinois flags manufactured in the United States under a measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that passed committee Wednesday.

“This is the right thing to do. As a government, we have no business flying our state and nation’s flags if they aren’t made in America,” Stadelman said. “Supporting our local businesses and economies should always take priority.”

SPRINGFIELD – Schools that teach sex education would be required to include a lesson about the risks of sexting under a measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford), which passed committee Tuesday.

“The last time this curriculum was updated, technology was not as advanced as it is today,” Stadelman said. “This measure would modernize our state’s education standards to include sexting so our children know the long-term effects and consequences of what may seem like a harmless act.”

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

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate has passed legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would ensure local sales tax revenue approved by Winnebago county voters is used for mental health and substance abuse resources.

“The voters spoke. They said they want this money to go to mental health and substance abuse treatment. I want to make sure it does,” Stadelman said. 

In March of 2020, the residents of Winnebago County passed a referendum that increased the county’s sales tax rate. The additional revenue from the increase is meant to go to community-based mental health and substance abuse resources and support. This legislation requires counties that have approved this sales tax referendum to create seven-member boards made up of health advocates and professionals to help administer the funding produced by the referendum, as the taxpayers intended.

The county expects to see up to $14 million in additional revenue a year for these programs.

“This legislation eliminates barriers to mental health and substance abuse treatment by supporting private sector and non-profit alternatives to handling these public health crises. It does so by creating a greater number of access points to treatment. It allows counties to gap-fill specific services and shape mental health and substance abuse treatment according to the needs of the community, rather than through an arbitrary statewide mandate that will help the communities most in need,” said David Gill, President of NAMI Northern Illinois.

Senate Bill 2278 passed the Illinois Senate by a vote of 56-0 and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – In efforts to raise awareness and honor those who have died in work zones across Illinois, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is highlighting the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Work Zone Awareness Week.

Bridges and buildings throughout the state will be turning orange this week to honor those who have died in work zones and to raise awareness as the Illinois Department of Transportation signals the start of another construction season.

“If you’re driving over the Morgan Street Bridge at night and notice the orange lights, take a moment to recognize all of the Illinoisans we’ve lost to work zone construction accidents,” Stadelman said. “I’m grateful that the city of Rockford is participating in this statewide effort.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) recently honored 121 Rockford-area high school students who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

“I’m thrilled for and proud of these Rockford area students for earning this award,” Stadelman said. “Not only have these students performed exceptionally well, they did so during a global pandemic.”

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would help cities and counties address blighted properties passed the State Senate on Friday.

“Blighted properties don’t just affect the lots next door. They can bring down the property value of an entire block,” Stadelman said. “Giving our local governments the ability to combat this issue is how we begin to revitalize our neighborhoods.”

• The measure would reduce abandoned and neglected homes by helping municipalities intervene earlier through the court system to save these properties.
• It allows municipalities and counties to partner with land banks to maintain and manage vacant buildings so they can be saved.
• The measure would help people stay in their homes by reducing the cap on interest rates on unpaid property taxes.

“Sen. Stadelman recognizes the impact that blighted properties have in Rockford, and I appreciate all of his work in Springfield to help mitigate this issue,” said Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. “Blighted properties decrease home values, drive away investment, and are havens for criminal activity. This bill makes it easier for municipalities to intercept dilapidated properties before they are beyond repair so that they can be rehabilitated and placed back on the tax rolls. My administration has taken aggressive action to strengthen our neighborhoods, and this bill we be a tremendous tool that can help the city in this work.”

“In most cases, local governments are responsible for maintaining or demolishing these deteriorating properties,” Stadelman said. “This measure provides solutions that will help our local governments better address these issues and begin restoring our communities.”

Senate Bill 1721 passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 50-4 and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

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 State Senate Friday.

“People who’ve been through a sexual assault will live with the 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.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that pushes to ensure local journalism survives in Illinois’ small towns and mid-sized cities passed the State Senate on Thursday.

“I’ve dedicated years of my life to journalism, so I understand the importance of having access to local news,” Stadelman said. “Illinoisans deserve to know what’s happening in their communities, regardless of where they live.”

The measure would create the Local Journalism Task Force, which would be made up of 10 individuals representing print and broadcast media, journalism schools, and state and local government. They would be charged with conducting a study on communities underserved by local journalism and making recommendations on how to preserve and restore news coverage in these areas.

Declines in advertising revenue and circulation have meant that nearly half of the newsroom jobs at newspapers that existed in 2004 have since disappeared—and more than 2,000 papers around the country have closed over the past 15 years.