SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci’s measure to extend utility bill relief so more Illinois households can receive assistance advanced through the Senate.

“If we want to help keep people in their homes, especially those on a fixed income, this is the right thing to do,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “The extension of this program is an investment in the health and well-being of our community.”

Faraci’s measure would eliminate the scheduled sunset date on a state fund that finances two needs-based assistance programs – the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The fund was set to shut down Jan. 1, 2025.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin advanced a measure through the Illinois Senate to create specialty Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates. 

“This is a way for us to thank Air Force veterans for their service to our country,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “I was proud to see this measure pass with bipartisan support.”

Currently, the Air Force is the only branch of the military that does not have a license plate for combat veterans. The Illinois Secretary of State is authorized to issue Combat Action Ribbon license plates to members of the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps, and Combat Action Badge license plates to special groups within the Army.

Halpin’s measure would allow the Secretary of State to issue Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates to Air Force veterans who were awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

House Bill 4108 passed the Illinois Senate on Wednesday and heads to the governor’s desk.

SPRINGFIELD – Veterans and service members across the state will have enhanced benefits knowledge, thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Mike Porfirio that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to produce and distribute a comprehensive benefits, services and protections poster.

“This measure underscores our commitment to ensuring transparency and accessibility in regard to veteran and service member benefits,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “By providing clear information about the protections available to them, we are honoring their sacrifices and demonstrating our pledge to supporting them in every way.”

Through Porfirio’s initiative, veterans and service members will have streamlined access to information about critical resources, — such as tax benefits and the Illinois veteran driver’s license — empowering these individuals to navigate the complexities of their available support systems effectively. The measure will centralize essential information in one accessible format, helping to facilitate informed decision-making.

House Bill 4757 passed both chambers of the General Assembly and advances to the governor for final approval.

SPRINGFIELD - A measure sponsored by State Senator Ram Villivalam would expand eligibility for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

“No person should have to worry about how they are going to afford their utility bills,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Expanding LIHEAP provides us a unique opportunity to give some of our most vulnerable residents a sense of security.”

House Bill 4141 would allow people to apply for LIHEAP if they live in subsidized housing, if their rental expenses are no more than 30% of the household income, or if their energy bill is a portion of their rent.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to make medication more accessible to Illinoisans, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton advanced an initiative to prohibit pharmacists from refusing to fill a written prescription.

“Denying medication because of how it is sent to the pharmacy creates unnecessary complications that could cost a patient their life,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “Individuals should be able to easily access their prescriptions, not be penalized because of a technicality.”

In response to the opioid epidemic, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law in 2021 requiring prescriptions of controlled substances to be sent electronically. However, some pharmacists are now refusing to fill non-electronic prescriptions despite exceptions to the current law. House Bill 4874 would prohibit a pharmacist from refusing to fill a paper or non-electronic prescription.

SPRINGFIELD – Across Illinois, tens of thousands of people found to be in possession of a weapon unlawfully are charged with crimes like unlawful use of a weapon or labeled armed habitual criminals – despite the fact that more than half of these individuals have never been convicted of a crime of violence. That’s why State Senator Javier Cervantes is moving legislation to retitle these charges to more accurately reflect the nature of the crimes. 

“This directly affects minority communities around the state, and by changing the name of these offenses, we can more accurately assess the crimes committed,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Most people reading a criminal history would assume that unlawful use of a weapon indicates far more dangerous activity than in reality, but making this change can provide clarity and ensure those assumptions don’t prevent people from accessing services later in life.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois military families may soon have an easier time finding childcare, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“Our brave military personnel work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and it is imperative that they know their children are well taken care of at home,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Removing red tape and streamlining the licensure process for our nation’s heroes will help speed up the licensure process for daycare homes serving these brave families.”

Hastings passed House Bill 5596, which would create an exemption from licensure for daycare homes and group daycare homes serving children of military personnel if the daycare is located on a military base or federal property and is certified as a child development program by a brand of the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S Coast Guard.

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford championed a measure to require high school students to learn financial literacy.

“When young people leave high school, they are given the freedom to spend and manage their money how they see fit with little or no guidance beyond what they’ve witnessed at home,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “By requiring financial literacy instruction, we are equipping our young people with the ability to do things like manage a household budget, save for a home or be aware of financial fraud schemes. These are important life skills that every person can utilize.”

Under Lightford’s measure, high school students would be required to learn about financial literacy. The instruction would focus on basic economics, the principles of supply and demand, how to budget income responsibly, loan repayment, and the cost of high-interest short-term “payday” loans.