SPRINGFIELD – With the rise of social media influencing, all someone needs to reach fame now is a cell phone. While traditional child actors are protected by the Child Labor Law, there has been nothing on the books for young social media influencers until now, thanks to State Senator Dave Koehler.

“The rise of social media has given children new opportunities to earn a profit,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “Many parents have taken this opportunity to pocket the money, while making their children continue to work in these digital environments.”

Under Senate Bill 1782, minors under the age of 16 featured in vlogs or other online content are covered under the Child Labor Law. The measure calls for the child – also known as a “kidfluencer”— to be accurately compensated.

The idea for the legislation came from Shreya Nallamothu, a 15-year-old high school student in Koehler’s district. Shreya brought her proposal to Koehler with concerns that money made by child influencers is not protected and that too many young people will fall victim to a parent or guardian taking the assets for their own use.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law spearheaded by State Senator Mike Halpin marks a significant milestone in the expansion of the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“This will make it easier for students who live in Illinois to go to college in Illinois,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “We all want to keep more students in-state for college, and this new law will actually do something to help.”

Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, the Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) program has provided merit-based, means-tested financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities. AIM HIGH-participating universities are required to provide matching funding for institutional awards for students who meet certain eligibility requirements, as well as those established by each individual university.

Senator Halpin’s legislation implements several changes, including making the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program permanent, increasing transparency in the program to allow more students to take advantage, increasing access for part-time students and making changes to the matching requirements for the public universities.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a newly signed law to allow gender-neutral, multi-occupancy restrooms to be installed in private and public businesses.

“Businesses now have the autonomy to decide how to best show up for their communities,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “The inclusivity of this law not only benefits members of the LBGTQ community, but also those with disabilities, the elderly, and people with young children.”

A 2020 law, required that all single occupancy public bathrooms in Illinois become gender neutral.

House Bill 1286 expands on that law, allowing businesses to create gender-neutral multi-occupancy restrooms. However, the legislation is permissive – gender specific multiple-occupancy restrooms are still allowed.

SPRINGFIELD – To set forth concrete guidelines, supports and collaborations that will transform the way Illinois delivers high quality behavioral and mental health care to children and youth, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz championed the Interagency Children’s Behavioral Health Services Act, which was signed into law Friday.

“Families of children with behavioral health challenges seeking help have faced barriers for far too long,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “The evidence-driven solutions in this plan will create a more streamlined, accessible and responsive system of care for youth in Illinois.”

The plan implements recommendations from the Governor’s Behavioral Health Transformation Blueprint that was released in February. The initiative, which set out to research the current state of mental and behavioral health issues facing children in Illinois and develop recommendations to better help families, was spearheaded by Dr. Dana Weiner and Senator Feigenholtz in collaboration with experts and state agencies that currently serve youth and families.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement regarding the Illinois Supreme Court upholding the state’s assault weapons ban.

“This is a victory for common sense. Weapons of war have no place on our streets. I am proud to have worked on it and even prouder to see it upheld in court today.”

Harmon was the sponsor of the legislation creating the assault weapons ban.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter, a dedicated advocate for public health and champion of health legislation, held her annual Family Health and Fitness Fair on Aug. 5, bringing local residents together for a day of health screenings, resources and entertainment.

“Year after year, this health fair serves as a way to extend essential health services and information directly into our community,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “By offering these free resources — including diabetes and kidney screenings and school physicals — we are encouraging families to prioritize their well-being.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Fine and State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz’s initiative to limit the consumption of single-use plastics and polystyrene by state agencies has just been signed into law.  The Degradable Plastic Act, SB 58, prioritizes sustainability by banning the purchase or use of polystyrene or styrofoam by state agencies and universities by January 1, 2025.

“By finding environmentally friendly alternatives to styrofoam, this new law allows the state government to lead the way in protecting our environment,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Because it is so lightweight and easily breaks apart into smaller pieces, styrofoam tends to drift away. Since it is used so much in disposable packaging, polystyrene is one of the largest causes of global pollution.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham is alerting his constituents about big changes to how Illinois issues driver’s licenses. Starting September 1, anyone looking to renew their license, or get one for the first time, will have to make an appointment before visiting a Secretary of State office.

The new appointment-only program, called “Skip-the-Line,” is being introduced by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to end the dreaded ritual of waiting in line for hours to renew a driver’s license.

“This new approach should drastically improve the experience of getting a driver’s license in Illinois,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “However, it will take some getting used to for both motorists and the Secretary of State’s office, so it’s important that Illinois residents familiarize themselves with the appointment-only process to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

The easiest way to book an appointment is to visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.ilsos.gov. Visitors can easily search for appointments by facility, date and time. Those who do not have access to a computer or are uncomfortable using one can call (844) 817-4649 to schedule an appointment with an operator.

Motorists seeking some other vehicle-related service, such as title and registration or renewing license plate stickers, are not required to make an appointment and can walk in to any Secretary of State facility. Many of those services can be accessed online as well.

In conjunction with the “Skip-the-Line” program, the Secretary of State’s office is changing operating hours at many of its facilities. Starting Sept. 1, the facilities closest to the 18th Senate District will operate as follows:

• Chicago South: 9901 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Midlothian: 14434 S. Pulaski Rd., Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Bridgeview: 7358 W. 87th St., Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. No Saturday hours.
• Orland Township: 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. No Saturday hours.

“Our goal is to eliminate the Time Tax that has plagued Illinoisans for years, forcing them to stand in long lines wasting time – just to conduct basic services,” Giannoulias said. “Extending hours and requiring appointments is the most efficient way to get the services you need quickly and without the headache of unpredictable wait times.”

For more information about the “Skip-the-Line” program, visit the Secretary of State’s website.