More than 200 crime survivors traveled to the state Capitol for the second annual Survivors Speak Illinois 2022 event. Among the crowd were surviving loved ones, including family and friends, of those who tragically lost their lives to violence. Each year, hundreds of crime survivors from across the country gather together to heal, share their stories and advocate for change.

This year, advocates rallied together to call on officials to shift the narrative on what true public safety means. Organizers and supporters of the event praised the SAFE-T Act and Reimagine Public Safety Act and called for the passage of more initiatives that work to support victims’ needs.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure patients needing home health services receive adequate care, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) advanced legislation to require all state health insurance plans to offer coverage.   

"Home care offers individualized services that are tailored to the client's health care needs and finances," Harris said. "By ensuring all state insurance plans cover home services, Illinois can play a tremendous role in protecting the most vulnerable among us, including older residents, the chronically ill and individuals with disabilities."

House Bill 5585 will require all health insurance plans governed by state law issued on or after Jan. 1, 2024, to provide coverage for access to home health services for the duration of medically necessary care. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) spearheaded a measure through the Senate that would prohibit burning toxic synthetic chemicals in Illinois.

“PFAS poses a risk to people and the environment,” Belt said. “The waste incinerator in Sauget brings a potential risk of exposure to harmful substances to residents in the Metro East.”

House Bill 4818 would ban incinerating materials covered under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. The measure provides that incineration does not include the use of thermal oxidation for the purposes of pollution control and includes exemptions for the combustion of gases at landfills, medical waste incinerators and byproducts generated by municipal wastewater treatment facilities.

SPRINGFIELD – When a woman requires a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes causes estrogen to drop and menopause to begin. Insurance companies may soon be required to cover hormone therapy treatments under a plan led by State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora).

“A lack of estrogen causes women to develop osteoporosis, weak bones, hot flashes and other symptoms,” Holmes said. “Hormone therapy replaces some or all of the estrogen the woman’s ovaries would be making. Adding estrogen back into a woman’s body lowers their risk of certain medical conditions.”

SPRINGFIELD – A measure reducing the registration fee for older Illinoisans passed the Senate Thursday under legislation sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood).

“Rising prices are squeezing people’s budgets across the state, and putting an especially difficult financial strain on older residents,” Loughran Cappel said. “This legislation offers a reduction in cost for a vehicle fee for older adults living on a limited income.”

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.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect communities across Illinois from the deadly impact of lead, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) is leading a measure to strengthen lead mitigation procedures.

“Virtually every community across the state is affected by lead in our water supply,” said Simmons. “This bill provides a systemic response to a problem that is systemic in nature, is decades in the making, and often does the most injury to Black and Brown communities.”

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to create the Real Estate Valuation Task Force to combat discrimination in the housing industry passed the Senate Thursday.

“Discrimination in the housing industry goes back decades, and it has yet to be rectified today,” Hunter said. “Black and Brown people won’t have a fair chance at renting and owning a home until discrimination is addressed on a systemic level.”

The Real Estate Valuation Task Force is a response to an unresolved history of federal housing agencies, including the Federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation and the Federal Housing Administration, discriminating against Black and Brown people when underwriting real estate loans.

Springfield - The honor and integrity of the Illinois State Police will be honored after a resolution supported by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) advanced. 

“This week marks the 100th anniversary of the Illinois State Police and we are thankful for the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of our state troopers,” Martwick said. “Our state troopers frequently place their lives in harm’s way in order to enforce our laws and protect our communities, and this resolution pays a small tribute to their public service.”