Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – Studies find that work release programs can play a crucial role in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals. However, there is a lack of rehabilitation credit opportunities for individuals in pretrial detention, leading State Senator Laura Ellman to advance Senate Bill 3333.

“While Illinois is a leading state in creating opportunities for incarcerated individuals, we still have many avenues we can improve,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Bettering oneself through education is the greatest gift we can give to society and my hope is to see more opportunities being created to reduce recidivism and improve public safety in the long run.”

Senate Bill 3333 would allow individuals held in county jails prior to trial to receive sentence credit for completing certain programming such as work assignments, parenting programs, volunteer activities, and supervised community work. Currently, similar programming can earn credit for individuals incarcerated in Department of Corrections’ facilities, but not for those in pretrial detention due to gaps in statutory language.

CHICAGO – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill, in partnership with Chicago Women in Trades to provide sanitary conditions, reasonable accommodations and menstrual products on job sites has passed the Senate.

“Women and anyone who menstruates have a right to care for their bodies in a dignified and sanitary way,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Whether in the office or on the job site, we need commonsense accommodations for those who menstruate and those who are lactating. This legislation uplifts women which in turn will support the trades and their hard work.”

DEERFIELD — State Senator Julie Morrison lead legislation through the Senator providing coverage for medically necessary seizure detection devices – bolstering treatment and diagnostic access for those suffering from seizure disorders.

“Detection is a first line defense for many diseases and disorders – but it is only helpful if the technology or education that can alert a patient or their loved ones is accessible to them,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “By expanding access to live-saving medical technology, like seizure detection devices for those suffering from seizure disorders, we are taking an active step in preventing hospitalizations and improving quality of life for residents.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, roughly 2.9 million adults and 456,000 children across the United States suffer from epilepsy or another seizure disorder. Detection devices were created and are accessible by patients affected with seizure disorders to better diagnose, aid and treat seizure events.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure patients can consistently access the medicines they depend on, State Senator Laura Fine is leading legislation to safeguard insurance coverage for topical eye medications.

“Patients shouldn’t have to choose between following their doctor’s instructions and fighting their insurance company for a refill,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This measure ensures that people who rely on eye drops for conditions like glaucoma can maintain their treatment uninterrupted. Vision is too important to be delayed by insurance red tape.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Willie Preston is spearheading a measure that would require health insurance companies to provide coverage for rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering.

“Stuttering is something that a lot of people deal with, especially children,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “I want to make sure those people do not have to go through their speech troubles on their own and can get the help they need.”

The measure would expand coverage for speech therapy to include rehabilitative services. Coverage currently applies to habilitative services for any child under 19 years of age with an early-acquired disorder that is diagnosed as a speech-language disorder, including stuttering.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson stood alongside advocates from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence at a press conference Tuesday to outline legislation aimed at uplifting survivors, addressing emerging forms of digital abuse and expanding access to legal protections.

“The internet has opened new avenues for digital harassment, but not all of our laws and protections reflect that,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This legislation is about updating our laws to reflect the digital era and addressing the real, tangible needs of survivors.”

Senate Bill 3020 would update the state’s criminal laws to better reflect the ways abuse can occur in the digital age and to ensure survivors have greater access to court protections. Johnson’s legislation would expand the definition of harassment to include conduct such as electronic tracking, doxing and the nonconsensual creation or dissemination of digitally altered sexual images and other harmful online content.

Highlighting the importance of investing in resources for communities within the state, State Senators Celina Villanueva and Javier Cervantes announced the ribbon cutting of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council’s new service center. This facility will be another resource available for families throughout the Southwest side of Chicago.

“For years our community members have demanded a space that is not only safe, but also inclusive of all people and groups, and the opening of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council Service Center will meet residents’ demands tenfold with a facility supported by, built by and run by other community members,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Today’s ribbon cutting marks a pivotal moment – for our youth, for working families and for this neighborhood as a whole – and I have been honored to act in partnership with the BPNC, stakeholders, community members and other elected officials to ensure our residents have an equitable, welcoming space to offer them holistic support.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters outlined a plan he’s spearheading that would ban companies from collecting personal data from Illinois consumers for the purpose of price discrimination during a subject matter hearing Wednesday.

“The Surveillance-Based Price Discrimination Act is commonsense legislation that would protect all of our state’s consumers from price gouging and data privacy threats,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Our residents have already endured years of inflation, and now we are facing an affordability crisis while some of the biggest corporations rake in record profits. We cannot sit back and watch the unjust targeting of the finances, privacy and equality of Illinoisans.”