Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Adriane Johnson is spearheading legislation to expand continuing education opportunities for health care professionals by allowing coursework on perimenopause and menopause to count toward Illinois’ required implicit bias awareness training.

“Women’s health — particularly during perimenopause and menopause — has too often been overlooked or dismissed,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This legislation ensures providers can deepen their understanding of these life stages while still meeting continuing education requirements. It’s a practical step toward more responsive, patient-centered care.”

Senate Bill 3325 would permit a course covering perimenopause and menopause to satisfy the existing one-hour implicit bias awareness requirement for licensed health care professionals. Under current law, licensed health care professionals must complete at least one hour of continuing education on implicit bias awareness during each license renewal period. Failure to complete the training may result in license renewal issues or suspension.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Steve Stadelman called a press conference Wednesday to outline critical legislation designed to eliminate gaps in protection that would leave survivors of domestic violence and stalking without enforceable safeguards.

“This bill was inspired by a courageous constituent who came forward to share her story. Her experience underscores why we must constantly review our laws to ensure they truly protect those they are meant to serve,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This measure guarantees continued protections for victims and strengthens accountability for those who violate court orders.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake) is championing a new measure to help more students earn their associate degrees by making it easier to transfer credits back to community colleges at no cost.

Senate Bill 3720 would expand reverse credit transfer so eligible students can earn an associate degree automatically once they reach 60 combined credit hours. The bill also would ensure that students are not charged any fees related to the reverse transfer process.

“Students work hard to earn every credit, and they deserve the opportunity to have that progress recognized,” said Edly-Allen. “This legislation helps remove unnecessary barriers so more students can earn a credential that strengthens their career opportunities and supports their long-term success.”

CHICAGO – Underscoring the state’s commitment to preserving and elevating sites that honor Black leadership, economic progress and cultural resilience, State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. helped announce a transformative partnership to restore and redevelop the historic Hotel Florence – along with other key buildings – within the Pullman State Historic Site on Chicago’s South Side.

“I am incredibly proud to be from and represent the Pullman community,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago), who also represents the Pullman Historic District. “This forward-thinking partnership is not only a direct result of our responsible, community-centered budgeting efforts — it’s a momentous opportunity that will breathe new life into the Hotel Florence, transform the Pullman Historic Site and strengthen our broader community.”

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro celebrated a federal court’s recent decision upholding the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, paving the way for Illinois to become the first state in the nation to ban financial institutions from charging electronic processing fees on the tax and tip portions of credit and debit card transactions.

“This initiative will benefit small businesses and consumers across the state,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This law sends a clear message that Illinois will not waver in its commitment to safeguard the pocketbooks of our hardworking residents, and it will deliver the largest relief for Main Street businesses in decades.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Steve Stadelman advanced legislation through the Senate Criminal Law Committee that would protect victims from their abusers by closing gaps that could occur between an emergency and a final order of protection.

“When a judge grants a final order of protection, the intent is clear: the victim deserves protection,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “With more than 62,000 petitions for orders of protections filed in Illinois last year alone, we know how critical these legal tools are. This initiative ensures protection remains fully enforceable and protects survivors from dangerous loopholes.”

SPRINGFIELD – A measure from State Senator Rachel Ventura that would provide opiate use disorder treatments for incarcerated individuals passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee Tuesday.

“Overdoses are the leading cause of death among people returning to their communities after incarceration,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “There is an urgent need for comprehensive opiate use disorder programs statewide, and this legislation would save lies, is compassionate, and has the potential to break the cycle of addiction, improve health outcomes and reduce rates of recidivism.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is building on his missing persons investigation work by advancing legislation that would accelerate the timeline for critical forensic data being added to state and national databases.

“Families dealing with a missing loved one should not have to wait for answers,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This legislation would ensure vital information, such as dental records, gets into the right law enforcement systems sooner — increasing the likelihood of timely matches and helping law enforcement and families get results.”

Under current law, missing persons cases are entered into state and federal databases and may eventually receive additional identifying data. Senate Bill 2949 would update the process so that if a person remains missing for 30 days after a police report, their dental record will be added to the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System — rather than waiting longer under previous practice. After 60 days, the bill would require dental records to be entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, the federal repository used to match missing persons with unidentified remains.