ISDC
  • Home
  • Senators
    • Alphabetical
    • Committees
    • Leadership
    • Find My Senator
  • Caucus News
    • ILBC Committee Roundup
    • Subscribe
    • Majority Report
  • Issues
    • Agriculture
    • Budget
    • Business
    • Criminal Law
    • Diabetes
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Ethics
    • Health
    • Higher Education
    • Law Enforcement
    • Seniors
    • Transportation
    • Veterans
  • Multimedia
    • Monthly Minute
    • Photo of the Day
    • Sound of the State
  • Resources
    • Bills / Resolutions
    • Fact Sheets
    • For Educators
    • I Like Illinois
    • Illinois Compiled Statutes
    • Illinois General Assembly
    • Internships
    • Media Guidelines
    • NCSL
    • Senate Schedule
  • About the Senate
  • Contact Us
    • How to contact a Senator
    • Employment
    • Submit Feedback
  • ILBC Pillars
    • Pillar 1
    • Pillar 2
    • Pillar 3
    • Pillar 4
  • COVID-19

Bush plan would make child care less of a barrier to public service

Details
Category: Senator Melinda Bush News
Monday, March 09, 2020 09:12 AM
  • Bush

bush030920SPRINGFIELD – Frustrated by the lack of women in government and politics, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) passed a measure out of the Senate allowing political campaign funds to be used for child-care expenses.

“Highly qualified and experienced women and other young parents are being locked out of politics because of the cost of child care,” Bush said. “This legislation will allow talented people to run for office, work in politics, and volunteer their time without worrying about finding affordable child care.”

 

Read more: Bush plan would make child care less of a barrier to public service

Illinois Council on Women and Girls releases first report

Details
Category: Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins News
Thursday, March 05, 2020 08:48 AM
  • Health Care
  • J.Collins
  • Illinois Councilon Women and Girls
  • Economic Opportunity

Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

Collins calls for action on gender-based violence, economic opportunity, health care

SPRINGFIELD – Convened to study and recommend legislative solutions to systemic problems women face in all parts of life, the Illinois Council on Women and Girls issued its first report yesterday.

The report, available in full here, highlights the barriers women face under the law and makes 14 specific recommendations related to gender-based violence, academic and economic opportunity, leadership and inclusion, and health care.

Read more: Illinois Council on Women and Girls releases first report

Hastings holds first clean energy improvement hearing

Details
Category: Senator Michael E. Hastings News
Thursday, March 05, 2020 08:34 AM
  • Hastings
  • Energy and Public Utilities
  • Sustainable

Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SPRINGFIELD – With clean energy discussions at the top of the agenda in Springfield this legislative session, State Sen. Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) set the table this morning with the first public hearing to fully debate these complex issues.

“This morning we kicked off what is sure to be a long, thought provoking process as we decide where we need to improve our energy policy,” Hastings said. “Seeking solutions to these incredibly complex issues is going to take time and effort on the part of all stakeholders, and I’m thankful that they took the time to provide thoughtful testimony as we work to improve our energy efficiency across the state.”

In 2015, when Illinois passed the Future Energy Jobs Act, requirements were set forth to help make Illinois more clean energy dependent. Unfortunately these standards are not being met today.

Read more: Hastings holds first clean energy improvement hearing

Sen. Hastings, Gov. Pritzker announce next steps for Tinley Park Mental Health Center

Details
Category: Senator Michael E. Hastings News
Thursday, March 05, 2020 08:09 AM
  • Hastings
  • Economic Development
  • Tinley Park Mental Health Center

Tinley Park

SPRINGFIELD – After years of negotiations, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) and Gov. JB Pritzker today jointly announced the state has agreed to move forward with a new future for the dormant Tinley Park Mental Health Center.

Since the center’s closure in 2012, negotiations have been ongoing between the Village of Tinley Park and the State of Illinois.

But Sen. Hastings and local officials kept negotiating, knowing it is in the best interest of the State of Illinois and the Village of Tinley Park to develop the property for future economic use.

Read more: Sen. Hastings, Gov. Pritzker announce next steps for Tinley Park Mental Health Center

Holmes proposes savings for City of Aurora with smarter disposal of water treatment product

Details
Category: Senator Linda Holmes News
Thursday, March 05, 2020 06:10 AM
  • Holmes
  • IEPA
  • Environment
  • SB3291
  • Limestone

Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes

SPRINGFIELD – Limestone quarries provide a number of products encountered every day: on our roads, in our homes and businesses, and in agriculture. One such lime product is used to treat drinking water and remove particulates. Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is the sponsor of legislation to allow the return of the limestone residual back to a limestone mine after that use, projected to save the city an estimated $7 million over 10 years.

“Aurora’s Water Treatment Plan has used this process since it was built in 1992, but disposing of the residual product was problematic,” Holmes said. “The City of Aurora initiated this legislation, as it cost the city quite a bit of money to dispose of it in landfills or to apply it on farm land. Pumping that material back into an underground mine cavity 250 feet below ground will save significant taxpayer dollars.”

Read more: Holmes proposes savings for City of Aurora with smarter disposal of water treatment product

Stadelman’s legislation to spur construction spending passes Senate

Details
Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News
Thursday, March 05, 2020 03:22 AM
  • Infrastructure
  • Construction
  • Stadelman
  • SB3028

Sen. Steve Stadelman

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman’s (D-Rockford) legislation to help the state invest in construction projects throughout Illinois passed the Senate today.

The legislation allows the State Treasurer to invest up to 5% of the state’s investment portfolio into Illinois infrastructure development companies. This change in the law would allow up to $700 million in financing.

“This measure creates new economic development opportunities for the state,” Stadelman said. “The construction industry is a key part of our state’s economy, so it only makes sense to allow the treasurer to invest in infrastructure projects.”

Read more: Stadelman’s legislation to spur construction spending passes Senate

Belt endorses diverse interview panels to ensure equal employment opportunity

Details
Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Thursday, March 05, 2020 02:17 AM
  • Belt
  • State Government
  • SB3214
  • Equal Opportunity Employment

Sen. Christopher Belt

SPRINGFIELD – To increase employment opportunities for women, minorities and people with disabilities, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) is sponsoring a measure to change the job interview process at state agencies.

“Agencies must keep diversity in mind when they interview job candidates,” Belt said. “People tend to hire candidates that look like them. That means one-dimensional interview panels are far less likely to create a diverse workplace.”

Senate Bill 3214 would create the Equal Opportunity Employment Interview Initiative and require state agencies to implement hiring goals for certain target groups, including women, minorities and people with disabilities.

Read more: Belt endorses diverse interview panels to ensure equal employment opportunity

Castro: The era of legislators taking advantage of the system is over

Details
Category: Senator Cristina Castro News
Wednesday, March 04, 2020 12:05 PM
  • Castro
  • Reform
  • SB2456
  • Compensation Loophole

Sen. Cristina Castro

SPRINGFIELD – A measure to close a compensation loophole often exploited by lawmakers was moved through committee Wednesday by its sponsor, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

“The era of legislators taking advantage of the system to the detriment of taxpayers is over,” Castro said. “This is long overdue and I’m proud to be the one fighting to end this practice.”

Senate Bill 2456 closes a glaring loophole in legislator pay laws, which currently allow for a retiring lawmaker to delay leaving office until the first of the month but still earn pay for the entire month. The practice has long been questioned, but fell under particularly harsh scrutiny last year when two disgraced former lawmakers used the loophole to receive extra pay following their resignation after being indicted for federal crimes.

Read more: Castro: The era of legislators taking advantage of the system is over

More Articles …

  1. Bertino-Tarrant works to expand tax credits for college contributions
  2. EpiPens for all one step closer to becoming reality
  3. Murphy proposes tax breaks for families of Illinois college students
  4. Castro: We need to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act now
  • 672
  • 673
  • 674
  • 675
  • 676
  • 677
  • 678
  • 679
  • 680
  • 681

Page 677 of 737

Follow ILSenDems

Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Sign up for the Majority Report

Laws Going Into Effect 2025

Employment Opportunities

Find Your Senator

Senate Schedule

Bills & Resolutions

SPRINGFIELD OFFICE

phone(217) 782-2728

phone309 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Senate Floor, Illinois State Capitol, Springfield, IL

Senate President Don Harmon © 2025 Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus
FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTube
CHICAGO OFFICE

phone(312) 814-2075

phone160 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 720
Chicago, IL 60601