SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman has introduced legislation to require driver’s education courses to include instruction on worker safety in highway construction zones.

“Ensuring the safety of both drivers and construction workers on our roadways is a shared responsibility,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “By equipping our future drivers with the knowledge and understanding necessary to navigate construction zones with caution and respect, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and tragedies.”

Senate Bill 3151 would require public school district driver education courses to include an instruction on worker safety in highway construction and maintenance zones.

SPRINGFIELD – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – also known as DMD – is a rare disorder, but severe if not caught early enough to be treated. State Senator Julie Morrison introduced a bill that would require all newborns to be screened for DMD.

“Although rare, DMD is a devastating disease – often taking children from their parents around the age of 5,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Early diagnoses of DMD will save precious lives and restore hope.”

SPRINGFIELD — To further promote both public Illinois State Universities and community colleges, State Senator Celina Villanueva pushed legislation through the Senate Higher Education Committee to allow the waiver of admission application fees for a student transferring from an Illinois public community college.

“Students in their last semester of their program should have the ability to transfer without the unnecessary obstacles of application fees,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “While most institutions have a fee waiver process for low-income students, this process varies by institution and usually requires verification.”

SPRINGFIELD – Access to clean drinking water is often taken for granted. In reality, a number of chemicals and bacteria are tainting water across the state. Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are leading a number of measures to enhance water quality – calling it “the year of water.”

State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) – who chairs the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee – kicked off a press conference on water quality Wednesday by outlining her plan to identify critical water issues throughout the state.

The State Water Plan Task Force would be required to publish a State Water Plan at least every 10 years and maintain a publicly available website. Under Senate Bill 2743, the task force would develop recommendations, and assist state and local authorities in the implementation of those recommendations.

“This task force is part of an ongoing, statewide effort to guarantee the safety and health of our environment for future generations,” said Ellman. “The partnership among state agencies in this task force ensures collaboration for true conservation of water, which creates a lasting impact on the protections for our state’s natural resources.”

Per-and polyfluoradlkyl substances, frequently called PFAS, are a group of man-made harsh chemicals manufactured for oil and water resistant properties. Many Illinois manufacturers utilize the production of PFAS, resulting in the risk of contaminating water supplies throughout the state.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law may soon be on the books to help ensure insurance coverage for certain infertility treatments, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“My daughter was born via in vitro fertilization, so this is near and dear to my heart,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “It is truly unfortunate that individuals or families that are already facing heartbreak due to infertility complications are being forced to fight their insurance companies in order to start or expand their family. Not only that, but it is problematic when a doctor recommends a course of treatment that's beneficial to the family, that an insurance company has the ability to trump that doctor.”

Hastings filed Senate Bill 2639 in response to a constituent in his district whose physician had recommended that they seek in vitro fertilization treatment. However, when the constituent tried to access IVF care, they were told by their insurance provider that they had to complete other procedures before it would be covered by their insurance company, even with the recommendation of their licensed physician.

SPRINGFIELD – School has become increasingly stressful for students, leading State Senator Rachel Ventura to spearhead legislation that would help students across Illinois reduce anxiety and focus on their physical and emotional needs during school time.

“We have to emphasize the importance of having a balance between productivity and self-care within the context of education,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This instills a mindset in our young people that encourages both academic achievement and the well-being of their mental health.”

Senate Bill 2872 would allow all school districts to offer a weekly 20-minute session dedicated to relaxation activities in addition to regular recess. Led by Ventura, the bill aims to improve students' physical and emotional health by emphasizing intentional downtime and self-care. It encourages schools to adopt various approaches, such as mindfulness practices, mental health education, yoga, meditation, and dedicated time for positive emotional and social development, promoting a more balanced mindset.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen introduced new legislation that would protect artists and music labels from situations where a third-party creates music using AI and replicates their voice without permission.

“Deepfakes can falsely and convincingly portray anyone saying anything, creating confusion and eroding public trust. This raises serious implications in a world already struggling with rampant misinformation and social media manipulation,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville).  “We need strong regulations and protections in place to protect artists from the ever-changing world of AI that intends to steal their work and pass it off as their own.”

Last year, a song, “Heart on My Sleeve,” purportedly by Drake and The Weeknd landed on TikTok and Spotify and quickly spread across the internet. The song was created using AI by a TikTok user, who had trained AI on Drake and The Weeknd’s works and generated the new song, which perfectly mimicked the artists’ voices, lyrics, and musical styles. Within days, his video, which had gained over 9 million views, was removed from TikTok, Spotify, and other platforms in response to claims by the artists’ record label, UMG. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is taking decisive action to protect consumers and promote transparency in the ticketing industry by introducing legislation aimed at ending speculative ticket listing and regulating event ticket pricing.

“Speculative ticket listing and opaque pricing practices have long plagued the ticketing industry, leaving consumers frustrated and financially disadvantaged,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation aims to put an end to these deceptive practices and empower consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.”

In speculative ticket listing, sellers list tickets for events they do not yet possess in the hope of acquiring them later at a lower price. This practice often leads to inflated ticket prices, leaving consumers vulnerable to exploitation and price gouging.