SPRINGFIELD – Taking another step toward making Illinois smoke free, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure to ban vaping inside public buildings.
“There’s absolutely no reason a person – from a pregnant woman to a young child – should be exposed to harmful e-cigarette products while in public,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It’s about time we set a clear standard that protects non-smokers and further de-normalizes tobacco use.”
In recent years, the use of e-cigarettes – like vapes – has increased tremendously, leading Morrison to pass House Bill 1540 to ban the use of e-cigarettes indoors. Her measure – which now heads to the governor – expands upon the Smoke Free Illinois Act, putting Illinois in line with 17 other states that have banned the use of e-cigarettes indoors.
Read more: Morrison measure to ban e-cigarettes indoors heads to the governor
SPRINGFIELD – To increase the baseline financial penalty for civil rights violations, State Senator Robert Peters championed a measure to create the Civil Rights Remedies Restoration Act.
“Business enterprises receiving federal funds should not be immune to the consequences of discriminating against people,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Protecting businesses from punishment when they knowingly commit discriminatory acts goes against Illinois values.”
House Bill 2248 was created in response to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C. that ruled emotional distress damages are not recoverable in a private action under the anti-discrimination provisions of either the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Read more: Peters creates Civil Rights Remedies Restoration Act
SPRINGFIELD— To honor fallen firefighters, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus attended the 30th Annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony in Springfield.
“Firefighters put themselves in harm’s way and into traumatic situations daily to protect us, whether it’s going to a traffic accident or fighting a fire,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Today we honor their courage and sacrifice, and support the families of the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and fallen in the line of duty.”
The Illinois Firefighter Memorial is dedicated to the firefighters of Illinois who have given their lives in the line of duty and to those firefighters who heroically serve with courage, pride and honor. The Line of Duty Death Award is given to the family of a firefighter who died in, or as a result of, the performance of their duty.
Read more: Senate Democrats honor fallen firefighters at Springfield ceremony
SPRINGFIELD — To gain an understanding of the scope and frequency of SNAP benefit fraud in Illinois, State Senator Mattie Hunter passed a bill through committee granting the Illinois Department of Human Services the authority to collect data on these stolen benefits within the state.
"The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of SNAP benefits in ensuring that families have access to the food they need,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “However, fraud threatens the integrity of this critical program.”
House Bill 2214 allows IDHS to track how often benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are stolen from their rightful recipients. SNAP participants receive monthly benefits for groceries deposited onto EBT cards, and in recent months, card skimming has increased significantly in many states. IDHS began collecting data on card skimming and other fraud methods in December 2022, making it unclear how much theft had previously occurred. Under this measure, IDHS will be required to report its findings to the General Assembly annually beginning on Jan. 1, 2024.
Read more: Hunter advances bill to track SNAP benefit fraud in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Each year, thousands of formerly incarcerated individuals struggle to get back on their feet, facing issues to obtain housing, work, medical care and more. A leading factor: a lack of an ID.
State Senator Willie Preston is leading the charge to create a smoother transition back into society by providing them with a form of identification that is necessary for many everyday activities.
"Without a State ID, individuals who are released from jail face significant barriers when trying to secure housing, employment, or even something as basic as opening a bank account,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “By providing them with IDs prior to release, we are giving them a better chance to contribute to society and rebuild their lives."
Read more: Senators fight to provide state IDs for inmates before release
KANKAKEE – May 7-13 is Arson Awareness Week with this year’s theme focusing on understanding and mitigating youth firesetting issues. Specifically this week, State Senator Patrick Joyce is emphasizing the importance of fire education for children.
“Fire education can save lives and prevent accidental fires from occurring,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Our youth need to be aware of what to do in emergency situations like this, and House Bill 2372 would provide a valuable opportunity to guide and support children towards making responsible and life-saving decisions.”
Joyce sponsored House Bill 2372 this year, which would create positions of certified youth firesetter interventionists in the Division of Arson Investigation within the Office of the State Fire Marshal. House Bill 2372 passed the Senate last week and is now awaiting concurrence in the House.
SPRINGFIELD — State Senators Doris Turner and Christopher Belt joined fire officials and other state legislators Monday to commend the heroic efforts of volunteer firefighters in response to the recent I-55 Dust Storm.
To encourage more brave men and women to step up and help communities, Senator Belt is sponsoring Senate Bill 2253 this year. The measure calls for an inclusion of an income tax credit into the state budget, which help alleviate the critical shortage of volunteer firefighters in Illinois.
Modeled after legislation passed in New York, the proposal would provide a $500 state income tax credit for volunteer firefighters, who earn less than $10,000 in stipends for their service to the fire department.
Illinois Senate Democrats lead measures to prevent overdose
SPRINGFIELD – Opioid overdoses in Illinois alone increased 33% between 2019 and 2020 – a jarring statistic that has led members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus to champion measures to tackle the epidemic.
“The ongoing opioid crisis deserves our full attention, and expanding access to overdose prevention supplies is a critical step in our efforts to prevent overdoses and save lives,” said State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign).
Illinois Senate Democrats celebrate local parks
SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus welcomed park districts from across the state to Springfield to celebrate Parks Day.
“Our parks are such incredible places that provide families places to enjoy the beauty of nature,” said State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It’s humbling to see the positive impact parks have on our communities—and see the sheer number of people who benefit from all our parks have to offer.”
Belt measure to reduce unnecessary traffic stops passes Senate
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure out of the Senate that would prohibit law enforcement from pulling a vehicle over for objects placed between the driver and their front windshield.
“When drivers are pulled over due to something being on their rearview mirror, they are often unfairly targeted by law enforcement,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “It’s long overdue that we eliminate this reason for being pulled over.”
Lightford advocates for full-day kindergarten
SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is leading a measure to require all schools in the state to provide an option of full-day kindergarten.
“Kindergarten is pivotal for children’s learning journey,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Full-day kindergarten classes across the state will ensure equal access to early learning opportunities for all our families."
Senate, House Democrats release draft Chicago Elected School Board District Map, encourage public to provide feedback
The Illinois Senate and House Democratic caucuses recently released a draft Chicago Elected School Board District map for the public to review ahead of hearings to gather feedback and consider potential changes.
The draft map is available for review at www.ilsenateredistricting.com and www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting. The proposal incorporates suggestions gathered through online map making portals and citywide public hearings, including requests to keep communities of interest as whole as possible and to ensure the maps reflect the diversity of Chicago. The map consists of 20 potential districts, and lawmakers are soliciting input on the best way to make sure the 2024 election provides equitable representation for all of Chicago’s communities.
Sound of the State: A new episode on child care
State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas and State Senator Ram Villivalam were joined by Mindy Parks, owner and operator of Parks' Place Child Care Center, LLC. in Sangamon County, to discuss challenges facing child care providers and employees, and what the General Assembly is doing to provide relief.
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