SPRINGFIELD – Sports fans will soon have additional options for special license plates thanks to legislation by State Senator Ram Villivalam that was signed into law on Thursday.

“Showing support for your favorite team will now include our women’s soccer and basketball teams,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “These license plates will provide additional revenue for the state while showcasing the teams that drive our success.”

House Bill 4434 authorizes the Illinois Secretary of State to issue special license plates for the Chicago Sky, Chicago Red Stars and the Chicago Fire. Other professional sports teams with special plates include the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals.

June 19, or Juneteenth, commemorates the ending of American slavery. This year began the first year National Freedom Day was celebrated as an official state holiday, with state offices closed in observance.

This past weekend, members of the Illinois Senate Black Caucus celebrated the holiday around the districts they represent.

Majority Caucus Chair Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) was honored with the Social Equity and Justice Lifetime Achievement Award at Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer’s Juneteenth Racial Equity event on Friday. There, she spoke of the importance of Juneteenth, the establishment of National Freedom Day, and her work on legislation to recognize the day in Illinois.

Celebrating Juneteenth

SPRINGFIELD - June 19, or Juneteenth, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

Over the course of nearly 300 years, millions of people were kidnapped from their home countries and forced to live and work under tremendously callous conditions.

Read more.

Rachelle Aud Crowe resigns from the Illinois Senate

MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) was recently confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Leading up to her swearing in, she released the following statement after resigning from the Illinois Senate last week:

“Since joining the Senate in 2019, I’ve felt overwhelming support from my family, my colleagues in the General Assembly and the Metro East community — my heart is full of gratitude as I submit my resignation."

Read more.

New Jones law will require insurers to cover prostate cancer screenings

CHICAGO – A new law championed by State Senator Emil Jones III will mandate and require private insurers to allow men to get annual prostate cancer screenings free-of-charge.

“It’s important to be aware of your health risks — this law will make prostate cancer screenings more accessible for men across the state,” said Jones (D-Chicago). “Prostate cancer is life threatening — a simple test can help detect it early and save lives.”

Read more.

Joyce: We are getting things done for our first responders

SPRINGFIELD – A State Senator Patrick Joyce measure to give taxpayers more opportunities to provide support and resources to first responders was recently signed into law.

“First responders put their lives on the line for our community and we should have an easier option to give back,” said Joyce (D-Essex).

Read more.

Sound of the State: Celebrating Juneteenth

In this week's episode of the Sound of the State, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) discusses the importance of the Juneteenth holiday and what Illinois has done to commemorate the day.

Listen here.

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CHICAGO – State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the June 12 closure of the Auburn-Gresham Aldi:

“The unannounced closure of the Auburn-Gresham Aldi is a devastating blow to our community, who already faces food insecurity. With Englewood's Whole Foods scheduled to close in the coming months, our area stands at risk of becoming a food desert.

"We must work to provide market incentives to keep grocery stores open in underserved areas so that all our neighbors can provide healthy meals for their families. Access to food is a basic right and I am committed to working with retailers and my colleagues in the General Assembly to ensure that our grocers and produce markets remain open.”

June 19, or Juneteenth, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

Over the course of nearly 300 years, millions of people were kidnapped from their home countries and forced to live and work under tremendously callous conditions.

During that time, many fought for the abolition of slavery. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which aimed to free the enslaved people in Confederate states.

On January 31, 1865, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to finally free enslaved people with a vote of 119-56, receiving the required two-thirds majority. The next day, President Lincoln approved a joint resolution of Congress submitting it to the state legislatures for ratification.

SPRINGFIELD – Human services professionals may soon have access to student loan repayment assistance, thanks to a law led by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

“Human services workers provide life-changing services to some of our most vulnerable communities,” Fine said. “It is past time that we provide them with much-needed assistance.”  

Employees in the human services industry include welfare caseworkers, youth service providers, social workers, and many other positions specializing in working with marginalized communities. However, the industry is experiencing a shortage in employees, partially due to financial barriers. Many of these professions require a bachelor’s or master’s degree. However, salaries do not often match the educational achievements, and many human service workers struggle to pay off their student loans.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – To remove barriers to justice for survivors of sexual assault, a new law strengthening the legal definition of consent, sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie, was signed on Thursday.

“Survivors deserve a justice system that supports them during one of the most difficult times of their lives,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This measure removes a loophole that should never have existed and allows survivors to seek justice.”

House Bill 5441 clarifies the existing definition of “unable to give knowing consent” by adding that the survivor remains unable to consent if they voluntarily consumed an intoxicating substance. Under current interpretation, the offender must have provided the intoxicating substance to the survivor to be held responsible for a sexual assault.

CHICAGO – Survivors of rape often don’t seek medical care out of fear a parent or abuser could find out. State Senator Julie Morrison championed a newly signed law to provide survivors with greater safety and peace of mind.

“The trauma associated with sexual assault is already profound – the last thing survivors need is the added stress of a lack of privacy and confidentiality,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This law will allow people to feel more secure in seeking a rape exam.”

Morrison’s law allows sexual assault survivors to access to related health care services free-of-charge for 180 days after their initial medical forensic exam – allowing them to forgo billing their private insurance. Many survivors fear receiving medical help following a sexual assault because they’re worried their insurance policy holder – a parent or spouse, for example – will find out.