Caucus News

DEERFIELD — State Senator Julie Morrison spearheaded a new law that streamlines dental coverage reimbursement for dental care providers.

“Navigating insurance and reimbursement policies can be difficult, creating barriers to access to timely dental care for Illinoisans,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Clarifying which forms of payment a provider can accept and how they can opt in to that payment system will streamline dental services and treatments for both the patient and provider.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler’s House Bill 4420, which enhances editorial independence and makes changes to the College Campus Press Act to include professional journalist on campus has become law.

“The freedom to investigate a story is how journalism thrives and real reform happens,” Said Koehler (D-Peoria) “Denying editorial independence to our aspiring journalists and professional journalists on campus is denying our communities honest stories about the real events taking place on and off campus.”

This law modifies the College Campus Press Act to define public media produced at a state-supported institution of higher learning. The measure states that public media and professional journalists at these institutions would not be subject to prior review by the institution's public officials, and expression by employees or agents producing the media would not be considered speech attributable to the institution itself.

SPRINGFIELD – In Feb. 2025, a whistleblower came forward sharing pictures and describing a gruesome scene at Crown Cremations and Heights Crematory in Chicago Heights ─ prompting an investigation from the Office of the Comptroller that discovered the crematorium improperly stored over 100 bodies.  In response, State Senator Patrick Joyce worked to expand the comptroller’s ability to investigate crematory’s operations.

“By bringing together both the comptroller’s office and the funeral industry, we were able to craft legislation that allows crematoriums to operate successfully and ethically,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “When you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, the last thing you should have to worry about is how their remains are treated.”

House Bill 4695 will expand the comptroller's ability to investigate a licensed crematory, its records or any other aspects of crematory operation the comptroller deems appropriate. It will permit the comptroller to perform an unannounced inspection of the premises. As part of its investigations, if the comptroller finds any violation or wrongdoing under the grounds for dismissal that constitute an imminent danger to the public, the comptroller will be able to suspend the crematory’s license. The law will also implement additional penalties for violations.

SPRINGFIELD – To help Illinois residents access treatment for conditions like cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome and other endocrine disorders, State Senator Lakesia Collins led a new law requiring health insurance plans to cover up to a six-month supply of prescription hormone therapy.

“Far too many are facing unnecessary burdens as they try to maintain their health plan and stay on schedule with their medications,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “This law will ensure patients are prescribed enough medication to ensure continued access without the worry or frequent trips to the pharmacy.”

Collins’ law, House Bill 5492, will require health insurance plans to cover up to a six-month supply of prescription hormone therapy and any necessary supplies for self-administration when prescribed by a health care provider and dispensed at one time. By allowing patients to receive a longer supply of medication at once, the law will reduce interruptions in treatment and make it easier for individuals to maintain consistent care.

SPRINGFIELD – Accurate gender identification is essential for daily life, yet, for many transgender individuals, barriers remain. To strengthen privacy protections, State Senator Laura Ellman championed a new law to codify Illinois’ existing policy, allowing gender marker updates on IDs through self-attestation.

“An ID should never put someone in a vulnerable position,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This ensures people can safely and accurately reflect who they are.”

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure patient’s medical information is kept private, State Senator Adriane Johnson’s new law will remove hormonal medications such as testosterone and estrogen from the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program.

“No one should fear being monitored or tracked for receiving hormone replacement therapy prescribed by their healthcare provider,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Respecting medical privacy allows patients to access care with confidence and peace of mind.”

Intended to prevent patients from going from one doctor to another to get multiple prescriptions for powerful and addictive pain medications, the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program collects controlled substance prescription records from pharmacies. The data is provided to authorized individuals for the purpose of clinical care, regulation of professional practice, research and evaluation and law enforcement.

SPRINGFIELD – Graduating high school students will soon see more opportunities to attend Illinois’ public colleges and universities, thanks to a law led by State Senator Celina Villanueva that expands in-state tuition rates to any individual who attended an Illinois high school for three years.

“Expanding in-state tuition at public colleges and universities will offer an otherwise unreachable lifeline to so many students, especially those coming from vulnerable situations,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This is about ensuring our higher education system prioritizes equity and opportunity for all.”

For the past several years, Illinois lawmakers have voiced concerns with college costs, specifically citing rising in-state tuition that has led to many students taking on more in education-related debt or seeking higher education across state lines. Villanueva recognizes that the continued rising cost of living disproportionately affects low-income families and students participating in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – groups that often have to temporarily relocate due to unforeseen circumstances.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci’s measure that will modify how individuals with developmental disabilities are made aware of critical money-saving resources through the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program was signed into law Friday.

“This law will be essential for uplifting individuals with disabilities and their families so they can make real strides toward financial independence without violating SSI and Medicaid’s benefit eligibility rules,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “With just a small change, we’re providing tangible relief to residents who are looking to maximize saving for their future and ensuring the Scott Bennett ABLE Program is accessible to everyone in need.”