SPRINGFIELD – Senator Villanueva championed legislation to bring more qualified computer science and art teachers to Chicago Public Schools, creating better learning opportunities throughout the district.  

“CPS – like many school districts across the state – are facing a workforce shortage,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Unfortunately, the first classes to be sacrificed are often electives like the arts. We need to uplift our educators in order to uplift our students.”

House Bill 2442 would increase the amount of computer science and art teachers in CPS. CPS says there are not enough teachers endorsed to teach these classes to meet district needs. To tackle this issue, Villanueva’s measure would allow licensed employees to receive additional training – or endorsements – through a pilot program within the district, allowing them to teach other classes, such as computer science and art classes.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a measure, sponsored by State Representative Anna Moeller in the House, aimed at providing organizations with equal access to township assistance, regardless of the immigration status of the population they serve.

“Organizations serving the public provide critical services and programming to families, children and whole communities,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “The perceived immigration status of an organization’s participants should never be a reason to terminate the organization’s funding that they use to provide such vital services.”

House Bill 1283 amends the Township Code to prevent a township official from denying funding to an organization based upon the perceived citizenship or immigration status of the person who would receive those funds from the organization. The bill would codify existing federal and state protections already afforded to an organization into the Township Code.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, welcomed Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson to the State Capitol Wednesday, beginning a conversation on economic development, public safety, and moving Illinois and the City of Chicago forward together.

“I sincerely thank Speaker Welch, President Harmon, and every legislator for their warm welcome today. Together, we have laid the foundation for a collaborative, productive, and energetic partnership to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago that benefits every community across Illinois,” said Mayor-Elect Johnson. “This legislative body has shown it’s possible to take bold action to lift-up people all across our state, and I stand ready to work together to strengthen our public schools, ensure safety in every community, and support Illinois businesses to drive widespread economic growth and prosperity.”

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Laura Fine is launching an initiative to review data from the first year of operations and recommend updates for the future in order to make the 988 hotline as effective as possible for hotline operators and people experiencing a mental health crisis.

“The 988 hotline is the most accessible form of mental health care in Illinois and can be lifesaving in times of crisis,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “It is vital that we work to make the operation of care as effective as possible to best support Illinoisans struggling with their mental health.” 

Last year, Illinois launched the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health hotline, offering 24/7 access to trained counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. The hotline has been beneficial to many Illinoisans, but currently there is no method of collecting data on the hotline that may be used to improve the 988 system.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that Illinois schools have a crisis response plan in case of an emergency, State Senator Julie Morrison is advancing a measure that would require rapid entry protocol for law enforcement and first responders, including the threat of firearms. 

“It seems like every day there is a new violent threat made against schools – we just saw that at Highland Park High School,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “While we have taken strides to curb gun violence in Illinois, we must continue to develop new strategies in partnership with law enforcement and first responders so that our schools are as safe as possible.” 

Morrison’s House Bill 3559 would require schools’ emergency and crisis response plans to include procedures for local law enforcement to rapidly enter the school building in the event of an emergency.

SPRINGFIELD – With the intention of addressing the No Representation Without Population Act, State Senator Robert Peters carried a measure to ensure the master record file of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice contains the racial background and the last known complete street address of an individual prior to their incarceration.

“The creation of the No Representation Without Population Act was a great start at ending prison gerrymandering,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Expanding on that legislation to guarantee we have the correct addresses for those impacted by the justice system will ensure its effectiveness to the fullest extent.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler is spearheading a measure to require insurance providers to cover hearing aids and related services for people of all ages.

“Illinoisans shouldn’t have to face financial burdens for something that is necessary for a high quality of life,” said Koehler (D – Peoria). “Hearing aids are devices that should be covered by insurance, and not by the wallets of those who wear them.”

House Bill 2443 builds upon the 2018 measure Koehler-supported measure that required insurance to cover hearing aids for children under the age of 18. Koehler’s measure expands upon that by requiring insurers to provide coverage for everyone if their doctor prescribes a hearing instrument – which can cost up to $4,000.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel passed a measure through the Senate Insurance Committee that would require insurance coverage for medically necessary reconstructive surgeries as a result of a traumatic experience.

“Victims shouldn’t have to be reminded of a traumatic accident when they look in a mirror,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Whether it’s a scar from domestic violence or a car accident, injuries should be covered by insurance.”

House Bill 1384 would require HMOs, Medicaid and individual and group health insurance policies to cover medically necessary reconstructive surgeries to restore a person’s physical appearance that was damaged by trauma.