SPRINGFIELD – Individuals who make calls to police for the sole purpose of harassing people based on their identity will now face potential hate crime charges under a new law sponsored by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago).

“Calling the police as an intimidation tactic against someone because you don’t like or are uncomfortable with their identity should never be an option,” Simmons said. “This practice, which is almost always rooted in racism, is a serious threat to public safety and to the welfare of Black lives, and we need to do all that we can to deter it.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is proud to see a measure that would offer mental health support information on student ID cards being signed into law.

“Providing mental health support to students—whether they’re in middle school or college—is so important, especially as they start to return to in-person learning,” Cullerton said. “Something as simple as a contact number for a crisis line could help prevent unnecessary tragedy in an age group that has seen increasing suicide rates over the years.”

CHICAGO – To create a comprehensive, inclusive health and safety curriculum for Illinois public schools, State Senator Ram Villivalam’s (D-Chicago) Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act was signed into law today.

“No student should feel stigmatized or excluded in the classroom,” Villivalam said. “This legislation establishes guidelines for an inclusive, culturally competent curriculum to keep students safe and healthy.”

The Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act establishes the requirements for public and charter schools that elect to teach comprehensive personal health and safety education in grades K-5, and comprehensive sexual health education in grades 6-12. A parent or guardian can opt their student out of instruction. Schools will retain local control through the selection of curriculum and instructional materials.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was signed by the governor on Friday, creating a requirement that public schools that offer sex education curricula include a lesson about the risks of sexting.

“Technology has grown a lot in the last decade, and our education needs to adapt as well,” Stadelman said. “This new law requires those schools that teach sex education to include a lesson on sexting, so students can learn about the real-life consequences of the virtual act.”

The legislation would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to revise their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.

“Students should know about the realities of what may seem like a harmless act,” Stadelman said. “We can’t expect kids to know the importance and dangers of sharing sexually explicit images.”

The legislation was introduced by State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford), Stadelman’s counterpart in the Illinois House of Representatives.

The new law, originally House Bill 24, takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – A newly signed law sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham will make it easier for small breweries, meaderies, and winemakers to sell their products at local grocery and liquor stores, reaching customers more easily.

“Local craft breweries, wineries, and meaderies have become very popular, and their customers would like to be able to buy their products at local grocery stores,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “Our system was not set up for small producers, which is why we need this change.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) continued his series of people’s legislative councils Thursday evening by inviting long-term 7^th District residents into his office to discuss the issues that matter to them.

“The long term residents of the 7^th district bring a very important perspective,” Simmons said. “They love this community and want it to remain a diverse place for all residents. It’s important for me to reflect their experiences and center their needs in my legislative work.”

Simmons invited 13 longtime residents to the council, and engaged in a discussion with them about the issues that concern them most. One of the major themes was the increasing cost of homes. One Rogers Park resident expressed concern that their daughter would not be able to afford the house she grew up in. Another mentioned that their mom was able to maintain a two bedroom apartment with two kids, but how that’s now impossible.

SPRINGFIELD – To help protect the lives of young children with food allergies, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) championed a new law that will create anaphylactic policies for schools and day cares.

“Children spend most of their day at school, and both they and their parents deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing that schools are well-equipped to assist when a student is having an allergic reaction,” Morrison said. “Creating a plan and training more employees on what to do if a student is having a reaction will save lives.” 

SPRINGFIELD – Survivors of domestic violence will now have an easier and more convenient way to prove they’re under an order of protection under a new law spearheaded by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) signed Friday.

“We must do all we can to protect survivors of domestic violence and provide them with the peace of mind that they are safe,” Morrison said. “Part of helping them should be making that protection convenient and easily documented.”