SPRINGFIELD – Throughout 2023, the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus passed hundreds of measures to serve and assist Illinoisans in all corners of the state.

Efforts focused on public safety, workers’ rights and becoming the most equitable and inclusive state in the nation.

Some of the most significant laws passed by the Illinois Senate Democrats include:

• Becoming a safe haven (House Bill 4664): Protects health care professionals in Illinois from restrictive laws from other states
• Tackling food deserts (Senate Bill 850): Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to grocery stores located in or to be located in a food desert
• Supporting workers (Senate Bill 208): Requires all employers to provide their employees with a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave per year that can be used for any reason
• Lowering the cost of EpiPens (House Bill 3639): Limits the cost of an EpiPens to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack
• Providing insurance coverage for hearing aids (House Bill 2443): Requires insurance providers to cover hearing aids and related services for people of all ages
• Addressing the teacher shortage (Senate Bill 2236): Removes the number of days for short-term substitute teachers to teach in the classroom – allowing them to spend more time in the classroom if needed
• Combatting the opioid crisis (House Bill 1121): Increases access to fentanyl test strips to improve public health outcomes by potentially preventing fatal overdose
• Educating on fentanyl (House Bill 3924): Requires all high school students enrolled in a state-required health course to learn about the dangers of fentanyl and fentanyl contamination
• Addressing the teacher shortage (House 3801): Supports teachers in hard-to-staff schools by providing retention bonuses for two consecutive years

SPRINGFIELD – At the start of the 2024-2025 school year, every state-required health course will provide mandatory fentanyl education to high school students, thanks to a new law supported by State Senator Laura Ellman that took effect Jan. 1.

“In order to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic on all fronts, we need to educate our most vulnerable populations, which includes young people,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “The age of fentanyl exposure is younger than we think, and I am pleased this law implements such indispensable education for students.”

SPRINGFIELD – A new law from State Senator Rachel Ventura will promote standardization on food labels and reduce food waste across the state.

“We are working to reduce food waste and help our neighbors stretch their dollar by providing clearer information on food labels,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “As we see buying power decrease due to inflation and grocery bills increasing, we need to think of alternatives to save people from guessing whether their food is safe to consume.”

House Bill 3849 defines "quality date," "safety date" and "sell by date" and requires the Illinois Departments of Agriculture and Public Health to publish information to encourage food manufacturers, processors and retailers to voluntarily use uniform terms on food product labels to communicate quality and safety dates.

SPRINGFIELD – Effective Jan. 1, individuals that lose a child to suicide or homicide have the right to extended bereavement leave thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Karina Villa establishing the Zachary’s Parent Protection Act.

After Laura Kane lost her son, Zachary, to suicide, she was expected to return to work just three days later. Her story inspired the law to protect grieving families from being put in the same situation.

“Losing a child is one of the most difficult experiences an individual can face especially when the child’s life was lost too soon to suicide or homicide,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “It is necessary to provide individuals suffering such an immense loss with a suitable amount of time to cope.”

SPRINGFIELD – Motorcyclists no longer have to complete a duplicate driver’s test and will be more visible under two new laws sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner.

“We are easing the process for motorcyclists to get their license without taking repetitive, unnecessary tests,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Removing this redundancy will simplify the process for motorcyclists, allowing them to enjoy Illinois’ roads.”

House Bill 2582 removes the requirement for a motorcyclist under the age of 18 to complete a motorcycle driver's examination with the Secretary of State. Previously, 16- to 17-year-old motorcyclists were required to complete a Cycle Driver Testing Course provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation and an additional examination by the Secretary of State.

Happy Holidays

We hope this year’s celebrations find you all safe, happy and healthy.

May 2024 bring us the strength to keep working toward a better future for ourselves and our communities.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year!

Copyright 2023 - Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus - All Rights Reserved

SPRINGFIELD – Police departments and sheriffs throughout Illinois will soon have a new resource available to quick track stolen vehicles, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“This new law helps our state’s law enforcement better utilizing the latest technology to track criminal actions,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “We will move one step closing toward using technology readily available to track carjackers and kidnappers as they travel from Point A to Point B.”

This ground-breaking initiative goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. 

Nationwide, carjackings are on the rise, but without formal coordination between authorities and vehicle manufacturers, law enforcement officers had little to no ability to access real-time tracking information.

SPRINGFIELD – As 2023 draws to a close, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is looking ahead to 2024 with a sense of accomplishment and hope. Several impactful bills championed by the caucus will take effect Jan. 1, tackling critical issues like education, healthcare and criminal justice reform.

“Looking ahead to the new laws taking effect, we are prioritizing underserved schools, ending youth solitary confinement, creating successful pathways to reentry and so much more,” said State Senator Robert Peters, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Senate chair (D-Chicago). “I am proud of the legislative work we have done collectively to prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable communities.”