LAKE BLUFF - A long-planned upgrade to the interchange at Illinois Route 176 and U.S. Route 41 in Lake Bluff is closer to completion after State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) announced today that $61 million for the project has been secured in the recently signed Rebuild Illinois capital construction plan.

"For years, commuters on this highly traveled stretch of roadway have faced delays and safety hazards," Morrison said. "Working with local officials, it was clear this project would greatly enhance travel safety in the area and I am proud to have fought for its inclusion in the Rebuild Illinois program."

Included in the more than $40 billion infrastructure plan investing in roads, bridges and mass transit is $61 million for a complete overhaul of the Lake Bluff interchange. The project will improve safety for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians and support future growth at the gateway to Lake Bluff through access and drainage improvements.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) joined Governor JB Pritzker at the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus today to talk about the urgently needed improvements to facilities the governor recently signed into law.

Dubbed “Rebuild Illinois,” the capital construction plan invests $2.9 billion to support Illinois’ nine universities and 50 community colleges, in addition to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

“A lack of investment and a two-year budget impasse were devastating to our public university and community college system in Illinois,” Bennett said, who sits on the Senate Higher Education Committee. “I’m glad to see that Gov. Pritzker is committed to making the University of Illinois and our state leaders in higher education.”

VILLA PARK— Schools across the 23rd State Senate District are set to receive record-level funding from the bipartisan budget passed by the Illinois State Senate.

State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) fought to ensure schools across Illinois received state funding as promised by the mandated education funding outlined in the new evidence-based funding formula.

“The most important investment we make as a state is in our children,” Cullerton said. “We upheld our commitment to our schools with a new funding formula that will ensure children have the opportunity to receive a superior education regardless of where they live.”

The budget allocates more than $544 million in dedicated funding to early childhood education to give Illinois kids a strong foundation before they enter kindergarten.

“Studies continue to emphasize the fact that the time and money we allocate in educating students at an early age pays dividends in the future,” Cullerton said.

Thirty-four new laws have taken effect so far in 2019 on a variety of issues, including the state's Fiscal 2020 budget and the Rebuild Illinois capital construction plan. Here are some new laws you may need to know about. Some of them were passed in the 100th General Assembly with 2019 effective dates, others were passed this year in the 101st General Assembly.

We will update this list as more laws are signed by the governor and take effect. You’ll be able to find it by clicking on the “New Laws” graphic in the right column of our website’s front page.

Here is a complete list of new laws

OAKBROOK TERRACE - A new state task force will focus on giving students the tools to make financially sound decisions thanks to State Senator Suzy Glowiak-Hilton.

Glowiak-Hilton supported House Bill 1581 which creates the College Student Credit Card Marketing and Debt Task Force, an eight-member task force that will seek to reduce the amount of credit card debt students face after graduating from higher education institutions in Illinois. It was signed into law on Friday.

“Higher education opens the doors of opportunity for young people,” Glowiak-Hilton said. “It is vital that as a state we institute policies that allow students to graduate with loads of opportunity, not mountains of debt. They should not be preyed on by credit card companies.”

Opening credit cards can be a life-altering choice for students. While there are legitimate reasons a student may need a credit card, there are many downsides, Glowiak-Hilton said.

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant joined her colleagues on both side of the aisle to support significant business initiatives that will encourage economic development in Illinois.

Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) supported vital bipartisan measures that create tax credits, new jobs and apprenticeship programs which will stimulate the state’s economy.

“Illinois businesses drive our economy,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “These job-creating programs were formed in collaboration with businesses across Illinois to encourage growth and stability that will invite companies to make our community their home.”

Bertino-Tarrant lent her support to the adoption of the Blue Collar Jobs Act, which will incentivize large-scale construction projects and jobs investment by issuing tax credits to companies that build, renovate or expand facilities in Illinois.

OAK BROOK TERRACE – Residents now must be 21 years old to buy tobacco products in Illinois.

State Senator Suzy Glowiak (D-Western Springs) advocated for the passage of “Tobacco 21” (House Bill 345), which raises the legal smoking age from 18 to 21, prohibiting the purchase of alternative nicotine products, electronic cigarettes and tobacco products by individuals under the age of 21. The law is now in effect.

“The dangers of smoking are well-known, but young adults still had access to tobacco products,” Glowiak said. “This new law will help stop addiction at an early age to help save lives.”

In Illinois, 34 jurisdictions have raised the age, including Chicago, Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, Evanston and Peoria. One of the key benefits to doing so have been documented decreases in the number of high schoolers who smoke. In Chicago, authorities recorded a drop from 13.6 percent in 2011 to 6 percent in 2017. Raising the age was cited as a key component of the decrease. Studies have found 90 percent of all adult smokers started when they were kids.

DEERFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is renewing her push for redistricting reform in Illinois after suffering a setback last week from the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Yesterday’s ruling by the Supreme Court shows the important role states play in ensuring our redistricting process is fair, transparent and free from political influence,” Morrison said. “I remain determined to ensure that Illinois will reform the way legislative districts are drawn.”

In its ruling, the Supreme Court found that claims of partisan influence in the drawing of legislative districts is a political issue that the courts cannot resolve. The ruling left open the ability for states to establish their own system of drawing district boundaries.