SPRINGFIELD – Someone who commits a serious crime, such as assault or harassment, motivated by someone’s immigration status – real or perceived – could soon be charged with a hate crime.

“There is no place for hate in our society,” said State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago), the measure’s sponsor. “This new law will help protect immigrants and children of immigrants from all across the world, but especially our Latino brothers and sisters.”

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is happy to share that the State Historic Preservation Office will award Rockford a $19,000 grant for a survey of historic industrial buildings.

“Honoring the places where Rockford’s industrial economy began helps us commemorate our past,” Stadelman said. “This grant gives the city the tools to survey and identify the historical importance of many of the old buildings that still exist within Rockford today.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently announced more than $131,400 in funding for local governments for nine historic preservation projects through the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund.

Rockford was selected for a comprehensive survey of historic industrial buildings built between 1850 and 1930. The city will receive $19,000 in Federal Historic Preservation Funds and provide $7,000 in matching funds toward the program.

Rockford has seen a significant amount of new development, largely due to the River Edge Historic Tax Credit Program, which gives a state income-tax credit to the owners of historic structures matching 25% of rehabilitation project costs. Examples of projects made possible by the program are Prairie Street Brewhouse, the Rockford Trust Building, Midtown Lofts and the Handley Building, all located downtown.

“Taking a look back at the industrial start of Rockford and the many factories that called this city home allows us to recognize how they shaped the area,” Stadelman said. “These funds will help us identify the importance of many of these historic buildings and make preservation decisions for the future.”

The SHPO is planning another round of grants in the fall.  Information on how to apply for Certified Local Government grants is available on the IDNR website.

AURORA – To protect the wellbeing of immigrant communities, Illinois will reinstate the Immigrant Impact Task Force thanks to a new law introduced by State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago).

“This task force will help determine where improvements can be made in how the state invests in immigrant communities,” Villanueva said. “We must address systemic disinvestment in our communities across the state and continue building a recovery that works for all Illinoisans, regardless of status.”

AURORA – The Illinois Way Forward Act, which prohibits law enforcement from cooperating with immigration authorities, was signed into law Monday. State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) championed the legislation in the Illinois Senate.

The initiative also limits law enforcement inquiries regarding someone’s immigration status and ends detention immigration centers contracts in Illinois.

“Today, we are providing certainty for immigrant communities across Illinois,” Aquino said. “This law ends the practice of hosting immigration centers in our state, because their very existence opposes who we are: one of the most welcoming states for immigrants in the nation. Also, immigrant families will no longer live in fear of being questioned about their immigration status by local law enforcement officers.”

AURORA – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) is proud to see the signing of a measure that will prohibit state and local law enforcement officials from arresting individuals for immigration violations and encourage residents to report crimes without fear of jeopardizing their immigration status.

“There is no reason for law enforcement officials to ask someone about their immigration status when they report a crime,” said Castro, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “This law will do more to support and empower immigrants in our community who often fear interactions, even positive ones, with law enforcement officials.”

The new law, also known as the Illinois Way Forward Act, prohibits law enforcement agencies from investigating the immigration status of those in the agency’s custody.

Additionally, it prohibits state and local law enforcement from entering into or renewing agreements which would allow them to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations. Currently, the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility is engaged in this kind of agreement. Under the new law, the facility will be required to break this agreement by 2022.

The law was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Monday and is effective immediately.

­CHICAGO – In an effort to protect families from increased gun violence, a comprehensive gun safety and licensure modernization package sponsored by State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) was signed into law today.

“This critical legislation will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people through implementing universal background checks, empowering partners in law enforcement to act before the next tragedy can occur, and dedicating life-saving mental health funding to communities most impacted by gun violence,” said Senator Villivalam.

The new law encourages voluntary fingerprint submission to streamline the cross referencing of state and federal firearms-prohibiting records. FOID holders who voluntarily submit fingerprints would be offered incentives such as streamlined renewal and transfer processes.

The Illinois State Police would also be given the authority to revoke FOID and CCL cards from residents who appear on state and federal firearms-prohibiting records, as well as to synchronize data on firearm, drug and human trafficking and to establish a public database of stolen firearms to prevent their transfer to unsuspecting gun owners.

The measure creates the Mental Health Reporting Fund to offer community- and school-based mental health programs in areas most affected by gun violence.

House Bill 562 is effective Jan. 1, 2022 and will be fully implemented by Jan. 1, 2024.

AURORA – A longtime advocate of giving responsible gun owners a more modernized approach to obtaining firearm identification, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) championed a law to streamline the FOID card process while keeping guns away from people who pose a threat to themselves or the community. 

"Responsible gun owners across the state have been fighting a backlog of FOID card applications for years," Koehler said. "When the Illinois State Police has to spend time and resources on addressing the backlog, they aren't able to appropriately prioritize keeping our communities safe from gun violence."

Under the new law, the FOID card renewal process will be expedited for safe and responsible gun owners in an effort to reduce hassle and prevent future backlogs. Lawful gun owners will additionally find it easier to keep their FOID cards and concealed carry licenses on them at all times through a new electronic option that will be made available for both documents.

"The law signed today streamlines the FOID card process for lawful and responsible gun owners in Illinois while closing loopholes that allow firearms to fall into dangerous hands," Koehler said. "Today is the first step toward having a safe and effective FOID system here in Illinois.”

House Bill 562 was signed into law Monday and will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

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Trio of Democratic Senators champion monumental affordable housing law

SPRINGFIELD – As the COVID-19 pandemic further accentuated the need for affordable housing in Illinois, State Senators Mattie Hunter, Ann Gillespie and Sara Feigenholtz knew they had to do something to help residents who too long have suffered from burdensome housing mandates.

The trio of Democratic lawmakers worked together to champion a newly signed law to create incentives in the housing market for affordable housing units, enforce the mandatory affordable housing plan for cities with at least 1,000 residents and change how the Cook County assessor’s office calculates the tax liability for affordable housing complexes.

Read more.

Infertility treatment expanded to include marginalized women under Senator Fine law

SPRINGFIELD – Insurance coverage for infertility treatment for all women, regardless of marital status, will be accessible under a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), which was signed into law last week.

“Every woman in Illinois deserves insurance coverage for infertility treatment,” Fine said. “If a woman is experiencing fertility issues, she should be covered by insurance regardless of her age, medical history, partner status or sexual orientation.”

Read more.

Martwick delivers on promise of elected school board at CPS

CHICAGO – The board of Chicago Public Schools will be fully elected thanks to a new law spearheaded by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago).

"With today's historic new law, our great city is now on track to be at the forefront of community-led education," Martwick said. "Parents have always deserved a say in how their kids' schools are run, and now, they'll have it. An elected school board opens up a world of possibilities, and because of it, the future of Chicago's youth is bright."

Read more.

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