SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a measure to ensure students have the housing and resources they need to succeed.

“Students deserve adequate shelter and transportation. It is crucial for their physical and emotional well-being,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “Moreover, when basic needs are met, parents are more likely to engage with their child's school activities, attend meetings, and support their educational journey.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson is leading a measure to ensure students have the housing and resources they need to succeed.

“When students don’t have adequate shelter and transportation, it affects their learning ability,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “Expanding the Education of Homeless Child and Youth State Grant Program will allow schools to better serve the individual and differing needs of their unhoused student populations.”

House Bill 5407 would expand the uses for funds received by school districts from the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program. If enacted, school districts would be permitted to use grant funding for rental assistance, transportation, emergency shelter assistance, case management services, and other housing strategies. The Illinois State Board of Education reported 58,498 students experienced homelessness during the 2022-2023 school year.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson advanced a measure to enhance air quality in schools – leading to better health outcomes for students.

“Minority groups and under resourced communities are disproportionately impacted by asthma, pollution and viral illness,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “Schools should be a safe place – yet many are under-ventilated. It is necessary that we study the poor air quality in schools and identify solutions.”

House Bill 4903 would task the Illinois State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health, to compile resources to assess air quality and maintain ventilation systems in schools. ISBE would implement outreach strategies to make these resources available to elementary and secondary schools.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson advanced a measure Tuesday to enhance student knowledge on climate control.

“Our youth are already engaged on the topic of climate change and are eager to learn more about the real solutions and how it impacts all aspects of society,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “Learning opportunities should be available to students to further their understanding of potential solutions to the issues climate changes poses.”

House Bill 4895 would task public schools in Illinois with providing learning opportunities on the environmental and ecological impacts of climate change and solutions for addressing the crisis. Schools would be granted the flexibility to decide whether to create a separate class or implement these lessons into existing relevant classes.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure students across the state are kept safe and treated with respect at school, State Senator Adriane Johnson is leading a measure to address corporal punishment against students in private and non-public schools.

“Corporal punishment should never be used in schools. It is not only harmful physically, but it also teaches children that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “Illinois students deserve equal protection under the law, no matter where they attend school.”

House Bill 4175 would prohibit the use of corporal and physical punishment in all schools in Illinois, except the use of certain restraints in specific circumstances to prevent a student from imminently harming themselves or others. Currently, physical punishment is only explicitly prohibited in public schools. Johnson’s measure would extend the prohibition to all private and non-public schools.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson passed a measure to require regular monitoring of water quality from nearshores, harbors and public water supply intakes in Lake Michigan.

“Lake Michigan is the largest public drinking water supply in the state, serving nearly 6.6 million people, in addition to being Illinois’ largest recreational resource,” said Johnson (D - Buffalo Grove). “The protection of water resources is essential for sustaining public health, quality of life and economic prosperity.”

Senate Bill 3716 would update an existing provision to ensure that the IEPA is regularly monitoring water quality from nearshores, harbors and public water supply intakes in Lake Michigan. The measure would also require the IEPA to provide an executive summary every two years on conditions of the water quality in Lake Michigan to the governor and General Assembly. This update further aligns Illinois with the federal Clean Water Act. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a measure to require certain non-profit organizations to disclose the aggregate demographic data of their boards of directors and officers, and to make this information available on their website.

“We are taking vital steps to support diversity and inclusion in the non-profit sector,” said Johnson (D – Buffalo Grove). “While individual board members can decline to disclose any or all demographic information, it is important that we continue to highlight and elevate leadership diversity, equity and inclusion throughout Illinois.”

Senate Bill 2930 would require charitable organizations that annually report $1 million or more in grants to other charitable organizations to disclose on their public-facing websites the aggregate demographic data of their boards of directors. This demographic data includes race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Additionally, in collecting this information, the organization must provide an opportunity for individual board members to decline to disclose any or all of their personal demographic information.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure advanced by State Senator Adriane Johnson seeks to enhance existing Illinois Environmental Protection Agency tasks by requiring regular monitoring of water quality from nearshores, harbors and public water supply intakes in Lake Michigan.

“It is imperative that we streamline the process to ensure the quality of water is being maintained,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Preserving the integrity of our beaches and water supply is essential.”

Senate Bill 3716 would update an existing provision to ensure that the IEPA is regularly monitoring water quality from nearshores, harbors and public water supply intakes in Lake Michigan and to provide an executive summary every two years on conditions of the water quality in Lake Michigan to the governor and General Assembly. This update further aligns Illinois with the federal Clean Water Act.