EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt supported proposals to address the increase in car thefts and hijackings that were signed into law Thursday.

According to a January report from CNN, cities around the country have seen an increase in the rate of carjackings.

“The increase in the number of carjackings is disturbing,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Innocent people are being targeted by this senseless crime across Illinois.”

House Bill 601 modernizes the definition of the possession of burglary tools offense to include devices designed to unlock or start a vehicle without a key and devices designed to capture or duplicate a signal from a key fob. Car thieves have exploited new technology that can pick up the RFID signal from a key fob at a distance, allowing a victim’s vehicle to be unlocked or stolen even while the fob remains in their home. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Illinois saw a 13% increase in car thefts from 2019-2020.

House Bill 3699 will provide law enforcement with additional resources to coordinate efforts to put a stop to carjackings. Under the legislation, the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Council – made up of representatives from the insurance industry, state’s attorneys and law enforcement – will be tasked with working together to reduce carjackings. The Council currently provides grant funding to three task forces – comprised of law enforcement and state’s attorneys – which investigate and prosecute motor vehicle threat and similar crimes.

House Bill 3772 will provide protections for victims of carjackings who receive red light or speed camera violations after their vehicle has been hijacked. Under the new law, if a person receives a citation due to one of these camera violations, the court or hearing officer would be able to consider whether the vehicle was hijacked before the violation occurred or the victim not under the control of or possession of the vehicle at the time of violation. 

“We have worked to address the increase in crime,” Belt said. “Working with law enforcement officials to get them the resources they need is vital – and these laws do just that.”

The new laws take effect Jan. 1, 2023.

Chicago - A measure designed to provide law enforcement with additional resources to combat carjackings was signed into law thanks to the efforts of State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago).

“The rise in carjackings is disturbing and yet, arrests are almost never made in these crimes denying these victims justice,” Martwick said. “We need to do all we can to ensure that law enforcement agencies are working together to try new ideas to address this issue.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Legislation to end surprise medical bills, sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie, was signed into law on Thursday.

“It’s shameful that someone receiving medical care would experience financial hardship as a result of surprise medical billing,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This new law will provide even more protection for consumers from exorbitant out-of-pocket healthcare costs, especially at a time when many families are struggling to pay other household bills.”

House Bill 4703 protects people covered under group and individual health plans from getting surprise medical bills after receiving most services from out-of-network providers. The law brings Illinois on par with the federal No Surprises Act, which establishes new protections against surprise medical bills.

ROCKFORD – Working together with local organizations to spur workforce trainings and recovery, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced more than $1 million in equitable workforce recovery grants will come to Rockford to help people struggling to gain employment.

“We are supporting jobs programs in our district that will help employ people across our community with good paying jobs to support themselves and their families,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This investment comes at a time when businesses are contending with rising inflation and a post-COVID economy. It’s pertinent we take action to help address the workforce issues present in our state.”

CREST HILL – To ensure children in Will County have access to school supplies this fall, State Senator Eric Mattson and Representative Dagmara Avelar are hosting a school supply drive through the end of June.

The drive will help support students at Fairmont School District.

“Students should not lose out on educational opportunities due to a lack of school supplies,” said Mattson (D-Joliet). “This school supply drive serves as a small investment that will make a meaningful impact in assisting students across our communities in achieving their full potential.” 

Donations will be accepted from now until June 30, and can be dropped off at Mattson’s office at 20660 Caton Farm Road, Unit D in Crest Hill or Avelar’s office at 623 East Boughton Rd., Suite 130 in Bolingbrook.

"When students have the school supplies they need, they can fully engage in the classroom and get the most out of their education," said Avelar (D-Bolingbrook). "A donation as simple as a few notebooks or other school supplies can make a serious difference in the academic careers of our students, so I encourage everyone to donate what they can."

They are accepting the following new items:

• Backpacks and pencil cases
• Notebooks, graph paper and wide ruled paper 
• Glue sticks and washable glue
• Crayons, colored pencils, highlighters, markers and rulers

People with questions or concerns can call Mattson’s office at (815) 207-4445 or Avelar’s office at (815) 372-0085.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure reducing the registration fee for older Illinoisans was signed into law this month under legislation supported by State Senator Patrick Joyce.

“This new law is especially helpful to those on fixed incomes,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “We are all facing the burden from rising prices and inflation, it’s good to provide relief where we can.”

The measure would reduce the vehicle registration fee for vehicle owners and their spouses from $24 to $10 if they qualify or have been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability Property Tax Relief Act.

Under the act, an individual qualifies if they are 65 years of age or older or if a single person’s income is less than $33,562 a year and less than $44,533 for a couple.

The legislation is effective Jan. 1, 2023.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To address rising rates of vehicle thefts throughout Illinois, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton supported three measures to offer protections to motorists and assistance to investigators that were signed into law Thursday.

“Commuters and families are worried to be on the roadways due to the rise in reported carjackings,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “To offer protections to motorists, three new laws in Illinois will help crack down on car thefts and offer financial protections to victims.”

SPRINGFIELD – Two initiatives spearheaded by Senate Democrats were signed into law Wednesday that will expand and improve access to children’s mental health services, particularly for children in foster care.

The first law, formerly Senate Bill 3889, forms a Children’s Mental Health Council to research and recommend legislative action for children with mental and behavioral disabilities, particularly around residential placement needs.

“With low residential placements for children with behavioral and mental disabilities, children are often left staying in the emergency room or at home where their safety could be at risk,” said State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This new law will give the council an opportunity to address the difficulties that so many individuals and their families are facing around the state.”