CHICAGO – Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body— most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. This disease affects thousands of people in the U.S., and legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to raise awareness of this disease was signed into law Friday.

“Though this disease is rare, it is crucial that we are more knowledgeable about it and how it affects our bodies,” Hunter said. “Sarcoidosis can sometimes lead to death and therefore must be taken seriously.”

House Bill 590 dedicates each April to promote the awareness of Sarcoidosis disease and treatment.

According to the Department of Public Health, Sarcoidosis often occurs in adults between 20 - 40 years of age, with women being diagnosed more frequently than men.

The disease is at least 10 times more common in African-Americans than in caucasians. People of Scandinavian, German, Irish, or Puerto Rican origin are also more prone to the disease.

The exact cause of sarcoidosis is not known. Some researchers and health care professionals believe it maybe a type of autoimmune disease associated with an abnormal immune response, but what triggers this response remains uncertain.

“It is important to be in tune with your body and always put your health first,” Hunter said. “Symptoms can range from mood swings to high blood pressure. Health professionals recommend that those who are diagnosed with Sarcoidosis have frequent checkups to monitor the illness and adjust treatment if necessary.”

This measure goes into effect in January 2022.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – After passing the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support, a new law sponsored by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) will improve student access to mental health education and resources by allowing partnerships between state agencies.

“As our schools recover from numerous pandemic-related challenges, our state must prioritize our students’ well-being,” Glowiak Hilton said. “To ensure children are receiving the best mental health services at school, this proposal allows two key state agencies to work together to improve prevention and treatment resources.”

An initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education, Glowiak Hilton’s law allows board officials to collaborate with the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) to give students access to a wider range of mental health resources at school.

CHAMPAIGN – A new law sponsored by Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) will improve the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program and ultimately help children and families build a meaningful college savings fund.

“For most families, paying for college is not as simple as writing a check each semester,” Bennett said. “This new law is an investment in our youth and will ensure families have the opportunity to build a college savings account for their children.”

In 2019, the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, established as part of the Illinois treasurer’s existing Bright Start and Bright Directions programs, was signed into law. Under this law, the treasurer will automatically deposit $50 into a college savings account for every child born or adopted in Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois families will be able to access mental health and substance use disorder treatment without traveling long distances or waiting unreasonable amounts of time under a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), which was signed into law Friday.

“Oftentimes individuals can’t afford to wait days or weeks for mental health or substance use disorder treatment,” Senator Fine said. “It’s imperative that Illinoisans have easy access to timely and reliable mental health care.”

CHICAGO – Illinois schools will be required to develop and communicate their truancy policies to families on a yearly basis under legislation by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) that was signed into law today.

“When it comes to chronic absences, we tend to just see the empty desk. The truth is that we need to see the student and the challenges they may face with transportation, family illness, mental health difficulties or disabilities,” said Collins. “This ensures that families are being informed of absence policies that are consistent and are applied consistently. I thank Gov. Pritzker for signing this into law.”

Chronic truancy — when a student misses more than 5% of the school year — has increased in Illinois since 2015, when about 9% of students were considered chronically truant. As many as 13.4% are chronically truant currently. Senate Bill 605 requires schools to develop a truancy and chronic absence policy each year and report it to families, including information on chronic truancy.

The legislation takes effect July 1, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure people with gluten intolerances aren’t unknowingly consuming gluten in the medications they take, State Senator Julie Morrison’s (D-Lake Forest) proposal to require oral drugs to carry proper warning labels was signed into law.

“Restaurants and grocery stores have increased their gluten-free offerings and have become far better equipped to properly label and handle items for people with dietary restrictions,” Morrison said. “People with Celiac and other gluten intolerances should feel just as protected when visiting a pharmacy.”

SHOREWOOD – Legislation championed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood)  that will end the practice of burdening family members of deceased utility customers with early termination fees was signed into law Friday.

“Utility companies taking advantage of hard working people is unfortunately all too common,” Loughran Cappel said. “Cracking down on predatory practices of all types will continue to be a priority of mine in the General Assembly.”

House Bill 122 will end early termination fees for utility customers who die before the end of a contract.

SPRINGFIELD – College students may soon see more affordable course materials under a law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to create a task force dedicated to making textbooks and other course materials more affordable.

“I’m committed to making higher education more affordable for Illinois students—finding ways to lower textbook costs is an important part of that fight,” Murphy said. “I am excited for the task force to begin work and find ways to lift the financial burden on college students and their families.”

The legislation creates the Course Materials Equitable Access and Affordability Study Task Force, which will research ways to save students money on course materials, examine digital learning materials in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and publish its findings online.