SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s legislation that would prohibit diesel trucks from idling excessively in residential areas was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker last week.

Senate Bill 1256 will prevent diesel trucks over 8,000 pounds from idling for more than a total of ten minutes in an hour if the vehicle is within 200 feet of a residential area in Cook County.

Cunningham credited Cook County residents living near a trucking yard for bringing the issue to his attention. The residents identified persistent noise and air quality issues with the trucking yard, located near the corner 119th St. and Central Park Ave. in Merrionette Park, that needed to be addressed.

“People in my district are tired of dealing with endless noise and air pollution in their neighborhoods,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “This legislation is a direct response to their concerns and I’m proud to have brought some relief on this issue to my constituents.”

The measure will take effect January 1, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – A proposal by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) to study the potential threat of microplastics was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Pritzker.

“While the prevalence of microplastics is well known, the potential environmental and human health effects are not yet fully understood,” Morrison said. “With increasing levels of plastic being found in our waterways, it is of even greater importance to reduce consumption of plastics whenever possible.”

Morrison’s new law, contained in Senate Bill 1392, requires the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois-Champaign to study microplastics and the threat they may pose to human health and the environment.

Microplastics – very small pieces of plastic often undetectable to the human eye – have been discovered in bodies of water across the globe and have showed up in the digestive tracts of aquatic animals and birds.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – Illinois consumers will now have stronger notification laws surrounding cybersecurity breaches, thanks to Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton.

Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) championed a new law that will require companies to notify Illinois consumers of cybersecurity breaches and compromised personal data sooner. Senate Bill 1624 was signed into law last week.

“Illinois residents go online every day to complete simple tasks, from paying their water bills to checking their bank balances,” Glowiak Hilton said. “In the event that a company experiences a security breach, residents should be notified in order to take proper precautions. We need that assurance in an age where we carry all our most sensitive data in our pockets at all times.”

Senate Bill 1624, will require companies that hold Illinois residents’ personal information to report data breaches which affect more than 500 Illinois residents to the Attorney General as soon as possible.

The new bipartisan law will allow the Attorney General to publish breach notices, ensuring the information is easily and promptly accessible to residents who may need to take steps to protect themselves.

SPRINGFIELD – A proposal passed by State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) increasing rail safety in Illinois was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Pritzker.

Link’s new law requires freight trains in Illinois to be operated by a crew of at least two people – a move that comes after recent news that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is abandoning its efforts for minimum train crew staffing levels.

“With federal bureaucrats failing to act to protect public safety, it is clear states must act on their own,” Link said. “This is simply a matter of protecting the general public. Two-person crews can react more efficiently to mechanical failures or equipment malfunctions and can potentially save lives in a serious situation.”

Link’s new law – which passed under Senate Bill 24 – requires freight trains to be operated by a crew of at least two individuals. Illinois joins Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada, California and Arizona in enacting some form of train crew requirement.

TINLEY PARK – Insurers will be required to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors for minors under legislation supported by State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) that was signed into law on Friday.

“It’s unfortunate that we cannot always pinpoint what will give our children an allergic reaction with the rise of so many different food allergies,” Hastings said. “What we can do is provide children with the necessary care they need when an unforeseen emergency strikes, and I’m proud to have supported legislation that will do that going forward.”

Epinephrine injectors deliver epinephrine to individuals experiencing a severe allergic reaction, curbing the negative effects of the allergen. Epinephrine works by narrowing blood vessels and opening lung airways, reversing the symptoms of a potentially fatal allergic reaction.

DES PLAINES – After the Property Tax Relief Task Force met for the first time this Monday, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) reported that the task force is ready to reform the state’s regressive property tax system.

As part of the Fair Tax legislative package, the bipartisan task force will determine ways legislators can reform the state’s regressive property tax system to reduce taxes on low- and middle- income earners. The task force will produce their final report by Dec. 31, 2019.

“No matter what your political affiliation is, everyone knows that the property taxes in Illinois are a regressive burden on low- and middle-income families,” said Murphy. “I’m thrilled to be part of a bipartisan team that will solve a real problem for working people in our state. Addressing our backward property tax system will keep people in Illinois and more importantly give our working families a path to economic stability.”

SPRINGFIELD – Children of fallen police officers or firefighters are now eligible to receive specialty license plates under a new law sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Muñoz (D-Chicago).

“I’m proud to give the children of these brave men and women the opportunity to commemorate their loved one,” Muñoz said. “I hope this small gesture helps their families as they search for peace after such a devastating loss.”

Currently, only the surviving spouse and parents of a fallen police officer or firefighter are eligible for the license plates.

Senate Bill 1894 allows children and step-children of police officers or firefighters who have died in the line of duty to be issued deceased police officer or firefighter license plates. The measure was signed into law on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD— A plan sponsored by State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) that aims to help lower the alarming maternal death rate in Illinois was signed into law Friday.

The plan will create a Diversity in Health Care Professions Task Force in an effort to develop strategies that will lead to increasing the number of minority health care professionals in Illinois.

“It is important that the health care field is a diverse one, as diversity improves the quality of the services and care provided,” Sims said. “Our health care providers are providing good, quality services; however, many times the health care needs of women, particularly black women and other women of color, aren’t taken seriously until it’s too late. This new law will help diversify the field of physicians and other health care professionals to ensure these mothers receive sound medical advice and the highest quality of care.”