SPRINGFIELD – The governor has signed a measure sponsored by State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) that would restore benefits to veterans who received an “Other than Honorable” discharge for their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“From helping cover the cost of education to assisting with housing, veterans benefits play a large role for those who bravely served our country,” said Cullerton, who is a veteran himself. “For some veterans to not receive their well-deserved benefits because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is unacceptable.”

SPRINGFIELD – The governor has signed into law a measure sponsored by State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) that creates a Folds of Honor license plate for families of service members who died in the line of duty.

“Creating a personalized license plate in Illinois is an easy way for people to pay tribute to the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and support a terrific organization,” Bennett said. “Under this new law, Folds of Honor will be able to multiply the number of academic scholarships for spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members.”

SPRINGFIELD – Service members and their spouses will receive professional licenses faster in Illinois thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that was signed into law Sunday.

The measure will make transitions easier for those whose jobs depend on having a professional license and whose living arrangements are often changed by a deployment or cross-country transfer. An airman's spouse who works as an optometrist, for instance, would have an easier time receiving their license to practice in Illinois after transferring to Scott Airforce Base under the plan.

Small businesses get a seat at the table at Senate Democrats' joint committee hearing

CHICAGO – As the state prepares to launch the new Back to Business (B2B) small business relief program, Senate Democrats called a joint hearing of the Illinois Senate Appropriations and Commerce Committees to give small business owners a platform to provide feedback and direction to program administrators.

“I am proud to lead Democratic efforts in the Senate to ensure needed dollars reach the communities hardest hit by the pandemic,” said State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss, but the losses our small businesses experienced have put a tremendous strain on growing local economies. I will remain committed to helping all small businesses build back better.”

“Local businesses of all sizes and industries have faced various economic disruptions over the past year,” said State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. “This hearing was a collaborative effort to encourage open conversation and provide the small business community an opportunity to address DCEO and their elected officials directly.”

The B2B program, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is expected to distribute $250 million in economic relief to small businesses across the state to help offset losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leveraging relationships with regional partners established through the recently expanded community navigator outreach program, DCEO will conduct outreach locally for the B2B grant program and prioritize hardest-hit industries and communities.

“Small business owners have suffered unimaginable stress over the past year. State and federal grant programs offered them some relief, but funding didn’t reach everyone who needed it,” said State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines), a member of both committees who was instrumental in planning the hearing. “We approached this hearing seeking answers and solutions for the businesses that felt left out in the cold.”

At the hearing, lawmakers questioned representatives from DCEO, heard testimony from local and state business leaders, conveyed feedback from their local small business owners, and offered suggestions on how the B2B program could learn from the successes and shortfalls of previous relief programs like the Business Interruption Grant program to better serve the needs of the Illinois small business community.

“Over the course of the pandemic recovery, we’ve seen that some businesses and industries have made progress faster than others,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs, and who helped play a key role in negotiating Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2022 budget. “We want to make sure that the Back to Business program is positioned to reach the industries that need the most help before it launches.”

Applications for the B2B program open Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. More information, eligibility requirements and applications are available on DCEO’s website at Illinois.gov/DCEO.

Lightford provides over 800 community residents with backpacks filled with school supplies

BROOKFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) hosted her Uplift Our Future 12th Annual free Back to School Event serving over 800 community residents with a fun-filled free day at the Brookfield Zoo with no admission fee, no parking fee, no cost for lunch, and no charge for backpacks filled with school supplies for students from Pre-K to college.

“As we continue to fight this pandemic, our families still need fun experiences, especially if they help our students get prepared for the upcoming school year,” Lightford said. “The Uplift Our Future 12th Annual free Back to School Event turned out amazing, and I am thankful for all the sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and families who came out and supported our kids this year.”

Since 2009, Lightford has hosted a free Back to School Event for youth and families in the 4th Senate District at the Brookfield Zoo.

This year Lightford also had the honor of partnering with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

“Our state needs to get back to normal, and the only solution right now is to ensure that all eligible Illinois residents have access to vaccinations,” Lightford said.

Collins' plan to fight human trafficking signed into law

CHICAGO – The final pieces of a legislative package aimed at fighting human trafficking will become law after Gov. JB Pritzker signed three key measures sponsored by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago). Collins’ plan comprises House Bill 588 and Senate Bills 1599 and 1600.
Collins is particularly concerned about the issue because a disproportionate number of the missing people in the United States are Black. According to the National Crime Information Center, there were 609,275 missing people in the U.S. in 2019. Nearly 34% of that number – 205,802 – were Black.

“We cannot deny that human trafficking is here in Illinois, and it thrives on invisibility,” Collins said. “Today, we have taken steps toward raising awareness about this crime against humanity and studying the means to fight it. As a state that serves as a major international transportation hub, this is our duty to the people of the world.”

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SPRINGFIELD – A measure that would give Cook County taxpayers the ability to easily access public records was signed into law Friday.

State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) is the lead sponsor of the initiative.

“Hardworking taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent,” Hastings said. “I am proud to have partnered with my former Senate colleague and friend to strengthen government transparency in Cook County.”

Senate Bill 583 would include the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County under the Local Records Act, providing greater transparency to the public regarding how the clerk’s office uses its public funds. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is a non-judicial office of the judiciary and not a local government or public body currently subject to FOIA.

Additionally, the legislation requires all clerks of circuit courts to accept credit card payments over the internet for fines, penalties, court costs and other costs, providing convenience for a county’s citizens when paying fines and fees.

“As we move forward from the previous administration, it’s important to regain public trust in the clerk’s office by being more transparent, and this is one of the first steps we’re taking to do that,” said Iris Y. Martinez, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. “I’m thankful to my former colleague, Senator Hastings, for assisting our office to better serve the public.”

This measure is effective immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – A plan sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) that would improve financial preparedness among Illinois students was signed into law Friday.

“A major part of our responsibility as educators is to prepare kids for life beyond the classroom,” Loughran Cappel said. “Applicable, real life skills ought to receive greater attention in the classroom, and it is my pledge to continue finding ways to address these critical gaps in our curriculum.”

CHICAGO - Young adults in Department of Juvenile Justice custody will soon be able to receive civics education as they near their release under a new law sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago).

“Generations of people have fought and died to secure our rights, and one of the cornerstones of our society is that someone who is in prison doesn’t lose those rights once they’re released,” Peters said. “Knowing what your rights are and how they can be used can be confusing, especially for kids in DJJ who have likely never exercised them before.”

CHICAGO – To protect the privacy and safety of Illinois’ undocumented residents, a measure introduced by State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) that prohibits photographs taken for state IDs and driver’s license from being shared with federal immigration authorities was signed into law today.

“This is about building trust between our state government and undocumented communities,” Villanueva said. “It is impossible to build that trust if we are sending facial recognition data directly to authorities. Our state government doesn’t exist to serve ICE.”