SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) championed a measure that passed the Senate Wednesday that would further increase student safety by ensuring their local school board’s threat assessment procedures are filed with the local law enforcement agencies.

“We have seen school shootings on the rise across the country,” Belt said. “Ensuring our school’s threat assessment procedures are up to date is essential to protecting our students in an emergency situation.”

Currently, each public school district is required to implement a threat assessment procedure that includes the creation of a threat assessment team. The team must consist of an administrator, teacher, school counselor, psychologist, school social worker and at least one law enforcement official.

JOLIET – Thanks to support from State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport), the University of Saint Francis will receive a grant for a Certified Recovery Support Specialist Success program to prepare students for work as behavioral and mental health professionals.

“Our mental health system has been underfunded for decades, producing strains on the rest of our government systems that have resulted in the current mental health crisis we are facing,” said Connor. “The loss of mental health professionals needs to be addressed, so that we can work on solutions to this crisis instead of ignoring it as it grows.”

SPRINGFIELD – The burdensome costs of textbooks and course materials for college students often deters them from making the purchase, which in turn can cause a learning barrier and hinder a student’s grades. Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus outlined a plan during a press conference Wednesday to break down those barriers.

Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is leading a measure – Senate Bill 819 – to allow students who receive MAP Grants to use the funds for room and board, as well as coursework materials including books, software and website access. Currently, MAP Grants can only be used for tuition and necessary fee costs.

“While there are initiatives that ease the financial burden of higher education, there are many essentials to university success, such as textbooks, electronics, and nearby housing, that are often overlooked,” Senator Fine said. “We need to make these resources more accessible to students from all economic backgrounds so that they can be successful as they pursue their education.”

SPRINGFIELD – The Senate voted Tuesday to support a measure by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) to offer plant-based lunch options to students across Illinois.

“Some students may only be able to depend on one meal a day,” said Koehler. “It’s incredibly important for all students to have access to a well-rounded, nutritious meal during the school day that meets their dietary needs.”

Under House Bill 4089, school districts would be required to provide a plant-based school lunch option that complies with federal nutritional standards to any student who submits a prior request.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is pushing for additional funding to help struggling bars, breweries, restaurants, food trucks, venues and others.

“Local business owners continue to reach out to their legislators from around the state for help,” Feigenholtz said. “Their PPP has been spent. Many were not eligible for state grants or did not receive SBA funding. In order to save our small businesses, we must do more.”

The Build Back Better plan that stalled in Congress would have provided an additional $5 billion in relief for small businesses. In light of the federal program, Feigenholtz filed Senate Bill 4178, which would appropriate $125 million from federal funds to provide a lifeline to keep our small companies afloat.

LOCKPORT – Local businesses in Will County were awarded more than $3.3 million in assistance from the Back to Business program thanks to advocacy and support from State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport).

“As we see the pandemic subside, businesses are still in recovery from the past two years,” Connor said. “The support brought to our communities through the Back to Business program has made the difference between some businesses having to close their doors or continue to thrive.”

SPRINGFIELD – To put the state on a path toward increased sustainability, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) championed a measure to cut back on single-use plastic being sent to landfills.

“It’s simple: We need to protect our animals and our health from hazardous materials placed in landfills,” Morrison said. “Eliminating plastic use at our parks is a small step we can take to make a big difference.”

SPRINGFIELD — Women who medically require a breast reduction surgery could soon get this procedure covered by their insurance, thanks to a new measure led by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

“For far too long, essential medical procedures for women’s health have been overlooked by insurers,” Senator Fine said. “This measure will make sure that women’s health is prioritized and covered by all private insurance under state law.”