SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to reduce carbon emissions in Illinois, State Senator Dave Koehler lead a discussion Friday during a subject matter hearing in the Energy and Public Utilities Committee on his measure that would create a credit system to incentivize the use of low-emission fuels. 

“It’s time we take action to protect our environment,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This measure would allow Illinois to lead the charge to promote sustainable fuels that create a cleaner future for our state.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ existing child labor laws have not been substantially updated since the industrial era – nor have they been brought into alignment with the prevailing service economy of the 21^st century.

To better safeguard the rights and well-being of the state’s youngest residents, State Senator Robert Peters is leading a measure to protect youth from exploitation – which he outlined at a press conference Friday.

“Young people in the workforce encounter challenges unique to their generation,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This necessitates broader rules and regulations to safeguard their rights, safety, and well-being. Through expanded child labor laws, this legislation further protects a healthy balance between their work responsibilities, their education, extracurricular activities and personal lives.”

SPRINGFIELD – In a step toward greater transparency in political communication, State Senator Steve Stadelman has introduced legislation aimed at mandating disclosure on political materials generated by artificial intelligence.

“In an era where AI-generated content is increasingly prevalent, it is imperative that people have full disclosure regarding the origin of the ads they see,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Transparency is fundamental to the democratic process.”

Senate Bill 2762 would require political ads to clearly disclose if they are AI-generated. According to the Brennan Center, the use of AI in political communications leads to challenges such as misleading people and amplifying ongoing issues of election misinformation.

“By requiring disclosure on AI-generated political communications, we can enhance accountability and foster trust between elected officials and the communities they serve,” said Stadelman.

Senate Bill 2762 awaits committee assignment in the Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – In a moving tribute to the legacy of women’s suffrage, members of the Illinois Senate Women’s Caucus donned white attire on Thursday, commemorating the historic struggle for women’s right to vote.

“Our work to uplift women’s voices and ensure they are part of the decision-making process continues,” said State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights), co-chair of the Illinois Senate Women’s Caucus. “Today, we wear white to honor the suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote and reaffirm our commitment to furthering their legacy by breaking barriers and bringing positive change to our state.”

SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, including State Senators Robert Peters, Celina Villanueva, and Javier Cervantes, joined representatives from Raise the Floor Alliance in support of a new initiative to expand protections against worker retaliation based on an employee’s immigration status.

“As the proud daughter of hardworking Mexican immigrant parents and a Senator representing an immigrant community, I will always fight for working class people and immigrants in my community and throughout the state,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “We must demand dignity and respect for all Illinois workers, including immigrants, who have been exploited by their employers for too long.”

If workers are targeted for speaking up against labor violations such as wage theft, discrimination and sexual harassment, they are being retaliated against, and are entitled to protections under current labor laws. However, current law does not consider threats to call immigration authorities, or other forms of immigration-based threats as “retaliation.” This oversight has left many employees who have experienced retaliation based on their immigration status or perceived status unprotected and vulnerable to wrongful treatment or termination.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) and Doris Turner (D-Springfield) released the following statement in response to the United States Postal Service’s recommendations to downsize facilities in Central Illinois and move mail service to larger cities:

“We can’t risk our mail being diverted to St. Louis and Chicago. Moving local mail to post offices far from Central Illinois will not only slow down service, but also create life threatening hardships for those who rely on reliable mail service for their medication needs. Under these recommendations, Springfield, Champaign and surrounding communities will be directly impacted.

“Additionally, jobs will be lost or displaced, hurting our local economy, uprooting families and the increased wait times for mail will negatively impact our small businesses.

SPRINGFIELD — To diversify the state’s pool of law enforcement officers, State Senator Willie Preston is leading legislation to prohibit the use of credit history in police hiring decisions.

“An applicant's poor credit history should not preclude that person from becoming a police officer,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “If we want to address the decrease in officers applying and diversify our law enforcement, we have to remove these outdated, classist policies.”

Senate Bill 2608 would prohibit police departments across Illinois from denying employment and promotions based on someone’s credit. Looking at the Chicago Police Department alone, data shows that only 20% of the force is Black.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes wants all Illinoisans to learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and how it affects the lives of more than 20,000 individuals in the state, including their family, friends and loved ones. Worldwide, MS is thought to affect more than 2.3 million people.

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. As one of those 20,000 people in Illinois with MS, Holmes spoke of her experience on the Senate floor last week while presenting a Senate Resolution marking March 10-16 as MS Awareness Week in Illinois.

“There are a range of symptoms that vary in type and severity and, in time, may diminish or disappear, or persist and worsen,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “MS is a continuous disease process that is influenced and driven by underlying mechanisms of central nervous system damage.”

MS generally strikes people between the ages of 20 and 50. The cause of this disease is unknown but is thought to be an immune-mediated disorder. While there are several treatments, no cure currently exists. Since 1946, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been a driving force in MS research, relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatments and cures, and it has invested more than $1 billion in research.

“Increased awareness of MS over time has resulted in more people being diagnosed,” Holmes said. “The good news is, no one has to face MS alone. Through the National MS Society, there are many resources available as a patient, parent or supporter of someone diagnosed with MS.”

The Senate adopted SR 699. To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis, visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Illinois Department of Public Health.