SPRINGFIELD – In a landmark effort to tackle food waste and reduce methane emissions, State Senator Adriane Johnson outlined two measures at a press conference Wednesday that are part of Illinois first statewide framework for food scrap management and sustainable composting.

“By diverting edible food to feed people and food waste from landfills and into composting, we help build Illinois’ circular economy,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Creating an infrastructure for enhanced food recovery and food waste diversion, and opening markets for compost makes sense for everyone.”

Senate Bill 1398 would create a food scrap diversion hierarchy, ensuring food is first directed toward human consumption, followed by animal feed, industrial use, composting and anaerobic digestion —all to minimize landfill waste. The bill would set a gradual implementation process and outlines compliance requirements for entities managing food scraps.

SPRINGFIELD – A proposal from State Senator Laura Murphy would make certain equine therapies more accessible by requiring health insurance coverage for the services.

“Offering coverage for equine therapy is a testament to the state’s commitment to personalized, patient-centered care,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “By allowing occupational therapists the flexibility to offer this service to their patients, they can meet the unique needs of their patients and enhance their quality of life and well-being.”

Equine therapy is a term that encompasses therapies that involve interacting with horses, including specific therapies used by physical, occupational and speech therapists to engage different sensory responses for patients. It has proven to be particularly effective with veterans with PTSD and children with autism.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through committee to mandate training for emergency medical dispatchers on how to provide CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest.

“We are losing too many of our friends and family to heart disease,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Ensuring that our emergency dispatchers are well-equipped to handle these situations will save lives.”

Senate Bill 1295 would mandate all 9-1-1 telecommunicators to be trained in telecommunicator-CPR and would require emergency medical dispatchers to be trained in T-CPR. T-CPR is when a dispatcher provides over-the-phone CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest. This process is a key part of the chain of survival for cardiac arrest.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s bill to support Rock Island mental facilities and vulnerable Iowa patients passed committee today.

“Health care access is a concern that crosses state lines,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “Allowing Iowa patients to access Rock Island mental health infrastructure is a win-win, particularly with the quality care our facilities can provide.”

Senate Bill 188 would allow for Iowa involuntary in-patient admissions to be accepted at Rock Island County facilities in Illinois. Illinois law presently does not allow for involuntary admissions to cross state lines and patients may have to travel upwards of five hours away to receive care.

SPRINGFIELD — To assist schools in scheduling major school or athletic events, State Senator Ram Villivalam is sponsoring a measure that would require the Illinois State Board of Education to provide calendar dates indicating when a portion of students may be absent due to cultural or religious reasons.

“Our communities are diverse, which means there are numerous days throughout the academic year where different students may be absent for cultural or religious reasons,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Yet students are having to make challenging decisions such as having to miss a sporting event because it was scheduled on a religious or cultural holiday.”

Currently, the Illinois State Board of Education provides a guide for school districts regarding attendance days, holidays, special circumstances and frequently asked questions about school calendars.

SPRINGFIELD – Children who walk to and from school would be safer under a new proposal from State Senator Laura Murphy.

“School zones should be the safest places for children, but distracted drivers and speeders pose a hazard that needs to be addressed,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Installing flashing beacons at crosswalks is a simple, effective way to prevent accidents and protect students and their parents on their daily commutes.”

Senate Bill 1941 allows local governments to install rapidly flashing beacons at pedestrian crosswalks near elementary and secondary schools. These beacons activate when pedestrians use the crosswalk, alerting drivers to their presence.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a measure that would allow short-term teachers to take family and medical leave.

“Illinois has been tackling the ongoing teacher shortage for years – and this is another step in the right direction,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “We should be encouraging people to become educators, not holding them back.”

Senate Bill 1584 would permit the Illinois State Board of Education to make rules allowing for extensions to short-term approval licenses if the licensee has taken leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act during the time they were licensed under short-term approval.

SPRINGFIELD – This week, Governor Pritzker joined students and leadership from Lewis and Clark Community College to propose expanding access to four-year degrees at community colleges, a similar proposal that State Senator Mike Halpin has introduced in the Senate.

“Although our public universities provide quality education and paths to successful careers, there remain gaps in access and affordability. Community colleges represent a core pillar of Illinois’ higher education system and this bill will allow them to close these gaps and meet the needs of our undergraduate students,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “Giving community college students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree will provide a more affordable, targeted and community-based path to a fulfilling career. ​This legislation represents a commitment to our state’s higher education institutions and students.”