SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) spearheaded a new law to ensure people who utilize household devices like Amazon Alexas and Ring doorbells are protected from having private information seized without a warrant.

“Household devices are convenient, but they also can store a lot of data that we don’t always realize,” Castro said. “The legislation being signed today will lay out clear guidelines for when private information can be acquired by law enforcement.”

The law creates the Protecting Household Privacy Act, which prohibits law enforcement from seizing private information stored in or shared by household electronic devices without a valid warrant or grand jury subpoena.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to news reports that contractors for the Department of Children and Family Services sometimes resorted to shacking children during transport, a new law sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) aims to end this practice by prohibiting DCFS and its agents from using restraints.

“These news reports sent shockwaves through the child welfare community when it was discovered that transport companies contracted by DCFS employed such cruel practices,” Feigenholtz said. “DCFS youth-in-care have experienced enough trauma in their lives. After continued reports shed light on this repeated method of transport, something had to be done to stop it.”

PEMBROKE – To help give the residents of Pembroke Township the ability to heat their homes more affordably, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) championed a new law that will bring natural gas service to the area. The law was supported and advanced by a group of stakeholders including the Village of Hopkins Park, Pembroke Township, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Senator Joyce, Representative Jackie Haas, Rainbow PUSH and Kankakee County.

“Pembroke residents have lived in a community that lacks the basic access to a natural gas service for far too long,” Joyce said. “I’m thrilled to see this transformative legislation signed into law so residents can have a reliable and affordable source of heat in their homes.”

The measure passed with bipartisan support.

“With the governor’s signature today, bringing safe, effective utilities to the people of Pembroke is now one step closer to becoming reality,” said State Representative Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee), the House sponsor of the measure. “This was a great bipartisan effort that had a lot of moving pieces but couldn’t have had a better result. I look forward to continuing to advocate for Pembroke until the job is done.”

SPRINGFIELD – Older Illinois homeowners can expect an increase in property tax relief under a law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) raising the maximum income limitation and deferral amount for the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral program.

“Especially for residents on fixed incomes, property taxes can be a heavy financial burden,” Murphy said. “This law expands a key program offering substantial relief to older homeowners, allowing more retirees to stay in their homes and in the state.”

SPRINGFIELD – Families will now receive greater transparency as to what fertility services are and are not offered under their insurance plans thanks to a new law championed by Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest).

It comes after conversations with a number of women who lived through issues with infertility and the barriers posed by lack of disclosure in employer-sponsored health insurance plans.

CHICAGO — To fight the isolation that has only become worse for so many seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new law signed today requires virtual visitation options at long-term care facilities, the result of legislation by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago).

“The past year of this pandemic has seen nursing home residents suffer beyond what we could have imagined. Many have lost their friends or caregivers, and have had to live in fear for their own health and safety. Nursing homes in communities of color have been especially hard hit," Collins said. “I thank Gov. Pritzker for signing this law and acknowledging that our duty to older adults is not just caring for their bodies, but their hearts.”

CHICAGO – A plan introduced by State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) to allow for the designation of cultural districts in Illinois was signed into law today in an effort to help affirm the identity of communities in Illinois and preserve their distinct legacies.

“These designations are a way for our communities to proudly reflect the identity, contributions and history of the people who have helped build them,” Pacione-Zayas said. “I thank the governor for signing this into law and giving Illinois communities the chance to pursue community-driven economic opportunity initiatives that ensure our neighborhoods preserve their unique cultures and continue to build legacies.”

CHAMPAIGN – New accountability standards for private loan companies will soon be in place across the state, helping students make more informed choices about the loans they take out to pay for college, thanks to a measure led by Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

“This new law requires private loan companies to help students better understand the type and amount of grants and loans they qualify for,” Bennett said. “This law also gives students the necessary resources to see how college costs could impact their loan payments down the road and ensure they understand what their student borrowing really means.”