SPRINGFIELD – Funeral homes will be held accountable under a new law spearheaded by State Senator Doris Turner that came in response to a Carlinville funeral home insufficiently handling human remains, giving over 60 families the wrong remains.

“After months of discussions regarding the death care industry, it was clear the status quo wasn’t working,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Families who lost loved ones experienced what no one ever thought was possible – receiving the wrong remains. It’s past time that we hold bad actors accountable.”

Senate Bill 2643 adds identification rules and regulations for the handling and storing of human bodies. Additionally, it requires funeral establishments and crematory authorities to maintain a chain of custody records that are uniquely identified to the deceased, ensuring the death care industry is able to identify the human remains in its possession through final disposition.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner was proud to visit Washington, D.C. last week to stand in support of the president signing a proclamation to designate a national monument to commemorate the 1909 race riot in Springfield. 

“The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is a solemn reminder of the tragic events that took place in our city,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This designation is an important step toward healing and reconciliation, giving us space to educate and reflect.”

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation Friday designating a national monument to honor the 1908 race riot in Springfield that caused numerous deaths, injuries and destroyed dozens of Black-owned businesses and homes.

SPRINGFIELD – University and community college employees will receive their pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a winter weather emergency, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner.

“All employees within our higher education institutions play a vital role in the normal, day-to-day operations on campus,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “No one should go unpaid without notice. That’s why I led this initiative to ensure workers receive the pay and benefits they deserve.”

Senate Bill 331 requires the Board of Trustees of each public university and community college to pay employees their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a city, county or state declaration of a winter weather emergency. The law does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee would be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law spearheaded by State Senator Doris Turner will increase public safety by suspending EMS professionals who have been charged with a crime while performing their duties.

“We have to hold bad actors accountable,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “People need to know that those who respond to an emergency will prioritize their safety.”

Turner’s law will allow the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, or their designee, to determine if the suspension of an EMS professional should extend statewide. This will apply in situations when an EMS professional has been charged with a crime while performing their official duties and continuing to practice poses the possibility of harm to the public.

“By putting these guardrails in place, we are ensuring public safety is at the forefront of our priorities,” said Turner.

Senate Bill 3134 was signed into law Friday and is effective immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) released the following statement in response to the body camera footage being released in the shooting of Sonya Massey:

“Nothing could prepare our community to see such a blatant disregard for human life. Sonya deserved so much more.

“We need to come together to seek justice and do all we can to prevent another Black man or woman from being unjustly killed.

“I stand with the Massey family in their calls for justice and peace.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner passed an important measure through the Senate that designates the soybean as the official state bean of Illinois.

“The 48^th Senate District is home to the soybean capital of the world – Decatur, Illinois,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “When designating state symbols, we have to recognize the impact the soybean has on our economy and the number of jobs it creates.”

House Bill 4439 would designate the soybean as the official state bean of Illinois. According to the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois is the No. 1 soybean-producing state in the country, with 15% of all U.S. soybeans being produced in Illinois.

"As the largest soybean-producing state, we commend Senator Doris Turner and the General Assembly in passing House Bill 4439 to recognize the importance of soybeans to Illinois agriculture on the 60th Anniversary of the Illinois Soybean Association," said Illinois Soybean Association Chairman Ron Kindred.

House Bill 4439 passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) released the below statement in response to the U.S. Postmaster General’s decision to move the Springfield Post Office’s distribution to St. Louis:

“The decision to convert the Springfield Post Office into a local processing center is extremely disappointing and will have lasting effects on residents across Central Illinois. There is no reason for our mail to be diverted out of state, but sadly this is our new reality.

“I joined hundreds of residents, postal workers and local elected officials at a town hall on March 26 to share our grave concerns about the proposal. USPS did not listen to our community. This will not only slow down mail delivery time, but also create life threatening hardships for those who rely on the mail service for their medication needs, especially our seniors.

“Springfield is home to Illinois’ state government. Why are we delaying delivery of important documents by sending them to Missouri? This is a poor decision that will affect each and every one of us.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is championing a measure to increase the number of hunting tags landowners can receive without having to go through the lottery process.

“I’ve heard from constituents who can’t hunt on their land because of the current rules and regulations and have been forced to enter into the lottery for a chance to get hunting tags,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Illinois landowners who have met the criteria should be able to hunt on their land.”

Senate Bill 914 would allow for two additional landowner deer, turkey and combination permits if the property is solely owned by family members who do not live at the same property. Currently the Illinois Department of Natural Resources allows only one permanent address of record to receive a free landowner permit. Additional owners of the land who do not live at the address have to enter into the lottery drawings to receive a permit to hunt on their land.