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Dillon’s Law moves forward thanks to Edly-Allen, preparing our communities to act on allergic reactions

Details
Category: Senator Mary Edly-Allen News
Wednesday, May 07, 2025 04:41 PM
  • HB2462
  • Dillon's Law
  • Epinephrine

SenatorEdlyAllenSPRINGFIELD – According to the Food Allergy Research & Education organization (FARE), 33 million Americans have a food allergy, with the most common allergies including milk, tree nuts, shellfish and peanuts. To increase the accessibility of epinephrine to help those having an allergic reaction, State Senator

Mary Edly-Allen worked with House Assistant Majority Leader Maurice West to bring House Bill 2462 to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Read more: Dillon’s Law moves forward thanks to Edly-Allen, preparing our communities to act on allergic...

Ellman measure would help middle school students earn high school credit

Details
Category: Senator Laura Ellman News
Wednesday, May 07, 2025 03:23 PM
  • Education
  • Ellman
  • HB 3039
  • High School Credits

Senator Laura Ellman

SPRINGFIELD – Ensuring middle school students receive equal opportunity to earn high school credits, State Senator Laura Ellman is sponsoring a measure to provide seventh- and eighth-grade students with the option to earn high school credit for high school level courses.

“Students statewide work diligently to achieve success in their academic careers,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “A middle school student, whose course is not taught by a teacher with a certain certification level, may not receive the necessary high school credits to enroll in the next level of their education.”

Under current Illinois law, middle school students are able to receive credit for high school level courses, as long as the course is offered by the high school in the student’s district and the instructor holds a professional educator license and is endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course.

Read more: Ellman measure would help middle school students earn high school credit

Preston leads expansion of implicit bias training for health care workers

Details
Category: Senator Willie Preston News
Wednesday, May 07, 2025 02:34 PM
  • Healthcare Workers
  • Mothers
  • HB2517
  • Implicit Bias Training

Senator Preston speaks to the Licensed Activities committee. SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure through the Senate Licensed Activities Committee to expand implicit bias training for health care workers in Illinois.

“Having implicit bias training in our health care system is essential as Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related cause of deaths than white women,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “We must protect the maternal health of every women in our state.”

Read more: Preston leads expansion of implicit bias training for health care workers

Loughran Cappel measure strengthens emergency response actions in schools

Details
Category: Senator Meg Loughran Cappel News
Wednesday, May 07, 2025 12:34 PM
  • Substitute Teachers
  • Emergency Response Training
  • HB1787

cappel 050725SPRINGFIELD – To ensure all educators, including substitute teachers, know what to do in case of an emergency at school, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel passed a bill out of committee that requires them to be trained in evacuation and lockdown procedures.

“Parents send their children to school expecting their teacher to know what to do if there’s an emergency,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Ensuring every teacher, substitute or full-time, is trained for emergency response situations is the logical thing to do.”

Read more: Loughran Cappel measure strengthens emergency response actions in schools

Lightford: Financial security is essential to breaking cycles of abuse

Details
Category: Senator Kimberly A. Lightford News
Wednesday, May 07, 2025 11:48 AM
  • Financial Abuse
  • Predatory Collection Practices
  • Coerced Debt
  • HB3352

lightford 050725Lightford leads measure to prohibit collection agencies from collecting debt incurred through coercion

SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing that financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to maintain control over victims, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is leading a measure to prohibit collection agencies from collecting debt incurred through coercion.

"Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking should not be haunted by debts that were forced upon them during their trauma," said Lightford (D-Maywood). "We must prevent predatory collection practices that can re-traumatize survivors and hinder their path to recovery and independence."

Read more: Lightford: Financial security is essential to breaking cycles of abuse

Villivalam joins Secretary of State to advocate for raising the age for in-person driver’s license renewals

Details
Category: Senator Ram Villivalam News
Tuesday, May 06, 2025 05:54 PM
  • Driver's Licenses
  • HB1226
  • Drivers Test

Sen. Villivalam SPRINGFIELD — Following the advancement of House Bill 1226 through the Senate Transportation Committee, State Senator Ram Villivalam joined Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, State Representative Jay Hoffman and AARP Senior Manager of Advocacy and Outreach Ryan Gruenenfelder to raise awareness about the measure that would reduce barriers for seniors renewing their driver’s licenses.

“I am so proud that we have moved to the step of the process with this legislation as Illinois is the only state that bases behind-the-wheel driving tests on age,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago).

Read more: Villivalam joins Secretary of State to advocate for raising the age for in-person driver’s license...

Koehler leads legislation to help parents advocate for their child’s mental health needs

Details
Category: Senator Dave Koehler News
Tuesday, May 06, 2025 05:49 PM
  • Students
  • HB2994
  • Mental Health Records

HB2994resizedSPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler is leading a measure to ensure parents and guardians of students who receive special needs services can access their children's mental health records.

"Parents are essential in supporting their children's education and well-being," said Koehler (D-Peoria). "This bill ensures they have the information needed to make informed decisions about their child's care."

Read more: Koehler leads legislation to help parents advocate for their child’s mental health needs

Villivalam measure to phase out forever chemicals in protective clothing and equipment

Details
Category: Senator Ram Villivalam News
Tuesday, May 06, 2025 05:41 PM
  • Villivalam
  • PFAS
  • HB 2409
  • Firefighter clothing and equipment

050625CM0346resizeSPRINGFIELD — State Senator Ram Villivalam is sponsoring a measure, in collaboration with the Associated Firefighters of Illinois, that would further protect firefighters by phasing out the use of clothing and equipment containing toxic chemicals known as PFAS.

“Firefighters risk their lives each day responding to fires, car accidents and more,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Continuing to allow for harmful chemicals to be used in their protective clothing and equipment puts their long-term health at risk.”

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in both protective clothing and equipment for its ability to repel water, oil and dirt and provide thermal stability and durability. Recent studies show that the use of PFAS in clothing and equipment has adverse health effects, including increased risks of cancer.

Read more: Villivalam measure to phase out forever chemicals in protective clothing and equipment

More Articles …

  1. Villanueva leads measure to strengthen crime victims’ rights and prevent deceptive investigations
  2. Guzmán champions initiative increasing access to youth sports programs
  3. Lightford fights to remove expulsion, suspension for preschool through second graders
  4. Cervantes measure to increase supports for students completing the FAFSA
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