SPRINGFIELD – At a press conference on Wednesday, State Senator Celina Villanueva reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening Illinois care infrastructure by advancing legislation to improve compensation for Direct Support Professionals who provide critical daily care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Direct Support Professionals are the backbone of care for thousands of Illinois residents living with disabilities,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Their wages should reflect the essential, often demanding work they do every day. This measure gives us the opportunity to move toward equity and dignity for this workforce.”

Under Senate Bill 1617, the Illinois Department of Human Services would be required to increase reimbursement rates for community agencies and residential programs that employ DSPs and other frontline staff. The measure aims to support a $2 per hour wage increase for DSPs by July 1, 2025, pending federal approval.

SPRINGFIELD — In a continued push to build a fairer and more rehabilitative justice system, State Senator Adriane Johnson is championing legislation to make it easier for young people convicted of serious crimes to have their sentences reviewed under evolving constitutional standards.

“Young people deserve a system that recognizes their capacity for change,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This bill acknowledges that emerging adults are fundamentally different from fully mature adults, and our sentencing practices must reflect that.”

Senate Bill 248 would eliminate procedural barriers that currently prevent individuals convicted of a felony before turning 21 from seeking sentence review based on the principles of restorative justice embedded in the Illinois Constitution.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham advanced a measure to ban unregulated wagering at arcades like Dave & Buster’s. 

“We have been extremely careful with how we regulate gambling in Illinois, whether that is on sports, table games or video poker,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Arcades marketed as family fun shouldn’t be in the business of exposing minors to gambling.”

Last year, the family amusement company Dave & Buster’s announced it would begin allowing adult rewards customers to bet against each other in arcades. Cunningham’s legislation would prohibit family amusement establishments like Dave & Buster’s from promoting or facilitating wagering on games.

“I’d like to see the state deal with this issue before it becomes a problem,” said Cunningham. “Arcade places are not built to oversee unregulated gambling activities.”

House Bill 2724 passed the Senate Executive Committee.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Porfirio is leading a bill to help lower the risks of suicide among first responders who face disproportionate mental health struggles due to challenges they encounter on the job.

“Our first responders are heroes who face unique risks and traumatic experiences while they fight to protect their community,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “Maintaining a task force with members who are knowledgeable about experiences our first responders go through will help us understand how we can curb suicide risks among first responders.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Graciela Guzmán  led a measure through the Senate Education Committee to expand dual language programs in grade schools.

“When young people receive dual language instruction from an early age, they have a much easier time maintaining their literacy of multiple languages throughout their lives, leading them to more economic opportunities or deeper connections to their culture,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “It is important for us to encourage schools to invest in dual language programs, and join many other countries internationally that acknowledge the importance of early learners becoming bilingual.”

Recognizing the importance of dual language education for young people, the Illinois Advisory Council for Bilingual Education, formed in 2023, began to research how to incentivize, improve and expand dual language instruction in schools. After extensive stakeholder engagement, expert consultation, and data collection, the council released a report to the General Assembly in October of 2024 with their recommendations. Their proposals were divided into three buckets – those with high costs to implement, low costs, and those with no prospective cost.

SPRINGFIELD— State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would strengthen prevailing wage rules to help workers receive higher pay.

“This important safeguard will help workers get a fair deal for their labor,” said Belt (D-Swansea).  “We’re closing a loophole that left many workers getting the short end of the stick because that’s not what we’re about here in Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD – To help address health care deserts and ensure mothers get the care they need, State Senator Lakesia Collins is moving legislation to give certified nurse midwives more independence and greater flexibility in care they provide.

“This legislation will give certified nurse midwives more opportunities to collaborate, lead and deliver care families can trust,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “By modernizing outdated rules, we are making health care more accessible across Illinois.”

Currently, certified nurse midwives often have to collaborate formally with a physician to practice at full scope, but this can pose a challenge as more than one-third of Illinois counties lack maternity care. Under Collins’ legislation, House Bill 2688, CNMs would be allowed to provide out-of-hospital birth services at licensed birth centers without the need for a formal collaboration agreement, as long as they have permission from the birth center’s clinical director.

SPRINGFIELD – To further mitigate the harmful environmental impact and potential health risks from disposable food packaging, State Senator Laura Fine is leading a measure to prohibit the sale or distribution of food containers containing polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.

“When you take food to go, you may dispose of the containers in several minutes. However, if the disposable container is made of polystyrene, it can remain in our environment for many years. Styrene food packaging contains harmful chemicals that can leach into food, especially if the food is hot or acidic," said Fine (D-Glenview). "Polystyrene food containers do not break down naturally in the environment, and pieces of these containers are often found in our waterways and aquatic life.”

In 2023, Fine passed the Degradable Plastic Act to ban state agencies and universities from purchasing or using polystyrene by Jan. 1, 2025. Building on these efforts, Senate Bill 1531 would prohibit the sale or distribution of polystyrene foam food containers across Illinois starting Jan. 1, 2030.