SPRINGFIELD – In a continued effort to break down barriers to higher education, State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced legislation that ensures all Illinois residents—regardless of background—have the opportunity to apply for and receive student aid.

“This legislation builds on our commitment to equity by ensuring that all Illinois students—no matter where they were born—have a fair shot at accessing the resources they need to succeed,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “If a student calls Illinois home and is pursuing higher education, they deserve our support.”

SPRINGFIELD – To keep human traffickers off Illinois roadways, bring to justice to victims of human trafficking and shield everyday Illinoisans from unnecessary exposure, State Senator Laura Murphy has pushed forward a bill to expand the expressway camera program to target traffickers while prohibiting images taken by license plate readers from being released via FOIA requests.

“We are giving our law enforcement an invaluable tool to bring human traffickers to justice,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “This legislation proves we are serious about cutting down on length of investigations, rescuing victims and making the police’s job easier.”

SPRINGFIELD – Over one third of all Illinoisans are renters, and half pay more than 30% of their income toward rent. State Senator Mike Simmons is fighting for legislation that would ban junk fees, require transparency on housing fees in a lease, and regulate move-in fees charged to tenants.

“For rental tenants, fees can add up to hundreds of dollars a month, making even affordable units out of reach, which ultimately displaces people from our communities,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We must protect tenants from egregious fees and predatory lease clauses.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Graciela Guzmán joined colleagues and advocates from Healthy Illinois to reaffirm their support for health care for immigrants, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities – which has historically been inaccessible and is now facing new threats from the federal administration.

“We are grounded in the belief that health care is a human right,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We will not listen to bullies who try to tell us otherwise, or to prioritize profit over people’s lives. Here in our great state, we uphold our morality and values in our legislation, and have enshrined protections for many people who have historically been excluded from basic access to health care.”

SPRINGFIELD — As a union organizer and strong protector of worker’s rights, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is proud to advance legislation that would further protect working Illinoisans, and their right to collective bargaining.

“Laborers in Chicago laid the foundation of the worker’s rights movement nationwide, and are the reason our state has enshrined so many protections to this day,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “This measure builds upon their work, and makes sure that employers are held accountable should they try to deny an employee or a group of workers their rights.”

SPRINGFIELD — Seeking to ensure greater fairness and dignity in access to life insurance, State Senator Adriane Johnson is championing legislation that would prohibit insurers from denying final expense life insurance coverage solely because an applicant has a past felony conviction.

“Having a criminal record should not be a life sentence that follows you to the grave,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Everyone deserves the ability to plan for their final expenses and to spare their loved ones from unexpected financial burdens—especially those who have already served their time and are working to move forward.”

SPRINGFIELD – Standing in defense of Jewish communities across the nation and responding to the recent murder of two Israeli embassy staff members, State Senator Laura Fine shared the fears felt by Jews and called on fellow lawmakers and the public to stand together against antisemitism during a press conference on Tuesday.

“I am horrified, saddened and heartbroken to address yet another act of terror against our Jewish community. I am also angry that the fears our Jewish community has shared for years have been met with silence, giving way to more violence and normalizing extremism,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “We must respond with urgency, communicate empathy between communities, and take the simple charge of supporting one another.”

SPRINGFIELD – Domestic violence is a serious public health issue across the United States. In Illinois, 42% of women and 26% of men will face violence from an intimate partner. To ensure survivors are not further burdened at work, State Senator Mary Edly-Allen collaborated with State Representative Daniel Didech on House Bill 1278 which passed the Senate on Thursday.

“Victims of domestic violence should not have to worry about workplace retaliation,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “Survivors should not be penalized for protecting themselves. This bill can - and will - save lives, and I am proud to carry this legislation through the Senate.”

House Bill 1278 provides that employees can use work devices to document or communicate about violence affecting them or their family, and must be given access to related files if needed for legal action. Employers must post a notice about this right.