Caucus News

Villa advances legislation tackling childhood homelessness

SPRINGFIELD — To provide stability in the lives of children experiencing homelessness, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would expand access to emergency housing assistance for students and their families.

“As a former school social worker, I’ve seen first-hand how housing instability suppresses a student’s ability to learn,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Children cannot be expected to focus on learning when they are worried about where they will sleep at night. Every child deserves a safe, stable place to live, and it’s our responsibility to close the gaps that leave too many families without support.”

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Ellman measure expanding access to high school coursework for middle schoolers advances

SPRINGFIELD — To ensure that more students can get ahead academically while maintaining strong instructional standards, State Senator Laura Ellman advanced House Bill 4239, which would expand access to high school-level coursework for seventh and eighth grade students.

“Students learn at different paces, and our policies should reflect that,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure ensures that motivated middle school students have clear, equitable access to high school coursework, without unnecessary barriers, while maintaining the high standards families expect.”

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Glowiak Hilton prioritizes railroad safety for students

SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to keep students safe, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is leading a measure to include railroad safety information in student handbooks.

“Student safety has to be at the forefront of our priorities,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “Our residents have expressed concern about schools near railroads and ensuring students understand the protocols in place to keep them safe.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson advocated for patient privacy at a press conference Thursday, outlining legislation that would remove hormonal medications such as testosterone and estrogen from the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program.

“Privacy in health care is not optional—it’s a fundamental right that safeguards dignity, autonomy and personal safety,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “When we protect medical information, we protect the well-being of every patient.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman is advocating for new legislation aimed at banning the use of the toxic herbicide paraquat in Illinois, citing growing evidence linking the chemical to Parkinson’s disease and its mounting impact on families across the state.

“Paraquat is one of the most toxic herbicides still in use, and the science linking it to serious health risks like Parkinson’s disease is too strong to ignore,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Illinois has a responsibility to protect workers, families and communities by taking a closer look at its dangers and moving toward safer alternatives.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would prohibit retailers from refusing cash payments up to $500.

“Cash is still a reality for millions of families, seniors and small-business owners,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “No one should feel excluded from participating in routine transactions simply because they choose to pay with cash.”

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to remove barriers, State Senator Lakesia Collins is moving legislation that would ensure older adults could continue seeing their preferred mental health care providers.

“When seniors get to stay with their doctors, they get to keep existing relationships that make health care easier for all,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “By allowing psychologists to continue with their patients after their 65^th birthday, we are ensuring the patient-doctor relationship can continue treatment and ensure the safety of Illinois residents.”

Currently, prescribing psychologists are limited to treating patients over the age of 17 and under the age of 65. In practice, this can lead to older adults being forced to seek new doctors when they turn 65.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect patients and providers in the future, State Senator Adriane Johnson has advanced legislation that would remove hormonal medications such as testosterone and estrogen from the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program.

“A patient’s medical information is deeply personal, and protecting it is essential to preserving trust between individuals and their healthcare providers,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Without that trust, people are less likely to seek the care they need.”

Intended to prevent patients from going from one doctor to another to get multiple prescriptions for powerful and addictive pain medications, the Illinois Prescription Monitoring System collects controlled substance prescription records from pharmacies. The data is provided to authorized individuals for the purpose of clinical care, regulation of professional practice, research and evaluation and law enforcement. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s latest effort to decouple Illinois adult education funding from federal rules passed the Senate Higher Education Committee Wednesday.

“Many Illinois residents benefit from adult education courses and Illinoisans should have control over how our state funds these programs,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Higher education continues to be under assault while the Trump administration is in power – and this is not a path we will willingly follow.”

The measure comes as the Trump administration continues to threaten education funding and demand an unprecedented role in university admission, curriculum and operations. Without action from the state, federal threats to education programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act could limit Illinois residents’ access to higher education and key adult education programs.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva led legislation through the Senate that would strengthen environmental justice protections by ensuring state regulators consider the potential impacts on communities that have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens when reviewing pollution control permits.

“We know that underserved, low-income and minority communities have been forced to carry a heavier burden when it comes to pollution exposure – from air toxins to industrial waste to traffic pollution,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “By requiring the evaluation of potential environmental impacts, this measure will guarantee industries are considering the health and well-being of all Illinoisans when reviewing pollution control permits, especially communities that have already endured marginalization for generations.”