SPRINGFIELD – Financial responsibilities weigh heavy on families in the foster care system and to stop the disproportionate impact, State Senator Lakesia Collins’ new law will include family circumstances as part of the determination process when evaluating parents’ ability to pay for the cost of foster care.

“Many parents are held responsible for more than they can afford to pay within the foster care system, and this can delay any reunification efforts for the child,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “Our focus should be on reunifying families, and with this law we will ensure families are not overloaded with financial responsibilities and give their best effort to take care of the child.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s measure to create a Community-Based Corrections Task Force to research the benefits of specialty courts and community-based correctional centers was signed into law on Friday.

“Listening to the experts and community residents is how we create common-sense laws that are fair to everyone,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “This task force will show us how folks struggling with mental illness or addiction interact with our criminal justice system so we can achieve better outcomes for these individuals while keeping our communities safe.”

Halpin’s law creates a task force to discuss benefits of community-based correctional facilities and specialty courts in Illinois. Community-based correctional centers are alternatives to prison that provide a different way for individuals who are convicted of crimes to be rehabilitated back into society without having to be incarcerated. One alternative to traditional corrections is the use of specialty courts, also known as problem-solving courts. These courts are designed to lead people out of a cycle with the justice system and into treatment programs.

SPRINGFIELD – Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease will become more accessible thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Laura Murphy.

“An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can leave a person and their loved ones feeling like their lives have been turned upside down, but knowing that they have access to the treatments that they need can be a relief,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Early treatment can significantly enhance the patient’s well-being and provide valuable time for families to adapt and plan for the future.”

The measure will require the State Employees Group Insurance Program to cover all medically necessary FDA-approved treatments and medications prescribed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Under the new law, diagnostic testing for a physician to determine the appropriate course of treatment will also be covered.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law spearheaded by State Senator Karina Villa will finalize the closure of Kerr-McGee, a rare earths facility in West Chicago, aiming to bring peace of mind to residents after radioactive material originating from the site contaminated hundreds of residences during the facility’s years of operation.

“This has been a battle that residents of West Chicago have been fighting for decades,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “The community needs to know that their health and safety is secured.”

From 1932 to 1973, Kerr-McGee produced large amounts of radioactive materials, which later contaminated 676 residential properties in West Chicago. Since 1994, the facility has been in the process of decommissioning and is currently in the final phase of remediation. This phase involves the treatment of groundwater at the location of the factory site, which is set to conclude by fall 2026.

SPRINGFIELD — To help youth formerly in DCFS care achieve their higher education goals, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz spearheaded a new law providing scholarship recipients with greater flexibility in how they use the funding.

“By incentivizing diverse career paths, we’re making it easier for students to receive assistance as long as they are in good standing and working toward a degree, certificate or graduation,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This flexibility supports greater access to higher education opportunities for former youth in care across our state.”

SPRINGFIELD – Veterans and service members across the state will soon have enhanced benefits knowledge, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Mike Porfirio.

“This law ensures our veterans have easy access to critical information, helping them fully utilize the support they’ve earned through their service,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “In making this information more accessible, we are empowering veterans to take full advantage of the resources they deserve while reflecting our deep gratitude to those who have served our nation.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva’s measure to allow minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses to apply for up to $2 million in loans was signed into law Friday.

“We must continue to uplift disadvantaged communities and provide them with greater opportunities to succeed,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “These businesses are the backbones of their communities – and to see minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses thrive means hope is on the horizon.”

Senate Bill 3807 encourages more people to apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Minority, Veteran, Female and Disability Loan Program by increasing the maximum loan amount from $400,000 to $2 million.

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to State Senator Mike Simmons, Illinois is prepared to have a renewed focus on identifying and tackling health care disparities through a newly established Health Outcomes Review Board, which was signed into law on Friday.

Simmons' new law puts us on the path to the creation of an equitable Health Outcomes Review Board, overseen by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which will be dedicated to collecting and reporting de-identified health data with a focus on demographic factors like race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and languages spoken.

“The Health Outcomes Review Board will be able to identify and address disparities in health care and improve policies for communities that have not been well-served by our health care systems,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Whether it’s the unacceptable maternal mortality rates of African American mothers, or inadequate access to specialty care for LGBTQ+ communities, the board will help identify those gaps and provide recommendations for addressing them.”