SPRINGFIELD – Illinois veterans may soon have a new way to connect with careers in state government, thanks to a measure advanced by State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“Our nation’s heroes have worked tirelessly to defend our freedoms and democratic values,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This internship program will serve as another way for veterans to continue their mission after retiring their uniforms by serving our state and engaging in another mode of public service.”

Senate Bill 2769 would require the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to create a Veteran Internship Pilot Program. The program would provide internships to honorably discharged veterans with the opportunity to participate in the General Assembly's legislative staff internship program.

SPRINGFIELD – Under a new measure from State Senator Laura Murphy, residents of mobile home parks could see improved transparency and protections.

“As any member of the community, mobile home owners deserve to know their basic rights,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “They have a right to know that if the park owner does not have a license, they do not have the right to continue to collect rent, nor can they be evicted for failing to pay rent during that time.”

Murphy’s measure would require mobile home park owners to give notice to tenants that parks must be licensed to operate, and if they are not licensed, the owner cannot collect rent. Lease agreements would be required to have this disclaimer included in a clear and conspicuous manner.

SPRINGFIELD – To provide additional access to Illinois' Early Childhood Construction Grant program, State Senator Ram Villivalam passed legislation out of the Senate Education Committee that would make community-based not-for-profits eligible for $40 million in grant funds.

“Early childhood organizations provide necessary assistance to families across Illinois who are struggling to access child care resources,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “With this legislation, we are able to provide opportunities for nonprofit organizations in our community to be eligible for grants that would significantly assist them with providing better learning environments for our youth.”

This new legislation, Senate Bill 2675, would remove a provision specifying that grants made in fiscal year 2024 could be awarded only to public school districts.

SPRINGFIELD — Medical treatments for infertility are increasingly expensive and difficult to navigate, rendering a growing number of women in Illinois unable to access the care necessary to start or grow their family. In response, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus held a press conference Wednesday to highlight legislation they are championing to make infertility treatments like IVF and preservation services more accessible.

“Many women, including myself and those close to me, experience profound anxiety about running out of time to start a family and facing barriers to preserving their fertility,” said State Senator Natalie Toro (D-Chicago). “Requiring insurers to cover expenses for standard fertility preservation for all, not just those diagnosed with infertility, will give people the security to explore their options about having a family without facing emotional and financial stress.”

State-regulated health insurance plans are only required to cover standard, evidence-based fertility preservation services — such as cryopreservation — when deemed medically necessary, making these treatments largely inaccessible due to their high cost.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons stood with the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity today for Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Day to celebrate the accomplishments in HIV prevention and care and to recognize the work still needed to overcome structural barriers to testing, prevention and treatment in Black communities.

“We have taken steps to reduce the disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS on Black communities, but disparities continue to exist,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). "It is crucial that we have conversations about HIV/AIDS to increase education, testing, community involvement and treatment among Black communities.”

SPRINGFIELD — Under a proposal announced Wednesday by State Senator Omar Aquino and State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr., working parents in Illinois earning the median income or less could soon have the option to claim a state-level child tax credit on their state income taxes.

“The Child Tax Credit I am proposing this year would put money back in working-class parents’ pockets,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “That little bit of extra change helps families stay afloat, provide a good education for their children, and re-invest that money right back into our local economy. It’s why studies show that just this investment in our families would pay dividends, by creating a $1 billion surplus in our economy.”

Senate Bill 3329 would create a state-level child tax credit for eligible low- and middle-income families. Families would receive a $300 tax credit for each child under the age of 17. The proposal would benefit joint filers earning less than $75,000 and single filers earning less than $50,000. If passed, Illinois would become the 15^th state to enact a state-level child tax credit.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci is leading a measure to give veterans and first responders access to mental health providers of their choice.

“We have to give veterans and first responders proper access to their preferred mental health services,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Right now, we have police and firefighters who can’t receive mental health services from trained professionals of their choice and we need to change that.”

The legislation is in response to a situation in Champaign where several firefighters were unable to engage the mental health counselor of their choice based on a non-compete clause in the counselor’s contract. When a mental health professional leaves their employment with a provider, often times there is a non-compete clause in their contract, leaving them unable to provide services within a 50-mile radius for two years. In the 52nd District, a non-compete clause would not only prevent a mental health counselor from providing services in Champaign, but it would also stop them from providing services in surrounding communities, including Urbana, Rantoul and Danville. Police, fire and veteran organizations often want to contract mental health professionals that have a shared background or an establishment of trust with the organization, making these non-compete clauses detrimental to mental health care access for first responders and veterans.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. is leading efforts to ensure youth who commit non-violent crimes are given a second chance.

“Providing youth with the opportunity to develop positive behaviors should be the foundation of our efforts to prevent further crime and violence,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “Too often, young people veer off the path toward healthy adult lives because they aren’t provided the resources they need to stay on track.”

Under Sims’ measure, people under the age of 18 who committed a non-violent crime would be provided a number of resources, including employment opportunities, educational resources, parental mentorship training and more.