EAST ST. LOUIS — State Senator Christopher Belt helped secure a $2.4 million grant for the Metro East Auto Task Force — a move that will prevent carjackings, vehicle theft and break-ins throughout the community.

“The uptick in carjackings is a disturbing trend,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Innocent people are being targeted by this senseless crime across Illinois — and particularly in the Metro East.”

With carjackings on the rise, Belt stood alongside Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to announce a $2.4 million grant for the Metro East Auto Task Force. The group is a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies to investigate and prevent auto thefts, carjacking and other related crimes.

New law will give more students access to Illinois universities

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.”

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Belt initiative to ensure fair compensation for teachers signed into law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt led a new law that will ensure fair compensation for teachers and protect school boards from undue financial burdens.

“Our state’s educators deserve a fair salary that keeps pace with the rising cost of living,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This shows that we care about all teachers in the state who are educating our future leaders.”

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Aquino law removes barriers to licensing for international health care professionals

SPRINGFIELD - Legislation sponsored by State Senator Omar Aquino expanding licensing opportunities and procedures for internationally trained and licensed health care professionals was signed into law.

“The demand for qualified health care professionals in our state will continue to grow in the coming years,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “This law creates a licensing liaison to serve as a resource for international applicants and streamline the process so we can continue to grow our health care workforce.”

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SPRINGFIELD – A new law championed by State Senator Christopher Belt will tackle the increasing number of food deserts in Illinois.
“Everyone should be close to fresh and affordable food,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This new Grocery Initiative Act will provide crucial support to grocery stores in areas where they are needed most.”

Under the new law, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will be required to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to grocery stores located in or to be located in a food desert. This aims to help mitigate the issue of food deserts across the state. An area is considered a food desert when urban residents have to travel more than a half-mile and rural residents more than 10 miles to get to the nearest grocery store.

“When communities lack grocery stores, it can have a significant impact on the health and well-being of residents,” said Belt. “With this new initiative, we are heading in the right direction to ensure everyone has easy access to healthy food.”

Senate Bill 850 was signed Friday.

Former State Representative Lakesia Collins becomes new state senator

Now-former State Representative Lakesia Collins was sworn in as the new state senator of the 5th District Tuesday evening. Collins joins the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus after serving in the Illinois House of Representatives where she was the Black Caucus Whip and chair of the Health Care Availability and Access Committee. Welcome, Senator Collins!

Harmon applauds Illinois Supreme Court ruling upholding state assault weapons ban

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."

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Castro initiative to equalize course credits for transfer across colleges and universities

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois students will soon have an easier time transferring across public colleges and universities without having to repeat courses they have already earned major credit for, thanks to an initiative championed by State Senator Cristina Castro that was signed into law Friday.

“The first iteration of the Illinois Articulation Initiative was a success,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Now that we have a blueprint set in place, it’s time to expand transfer equivalency to all major courses so that our students can graduate without barriers and begin a meaningful career.”

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Loughran Cappel waives pet adoption fees for veterans

SPRINGFIELD - Veterans adopting dogs or cats will no longer have to pay a fee, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“We have seen the benefits pets can give to our veterans,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Everyone deserves companionship and many have a special bond with their pets. Providing the resources to improve our veteran’s health and overall happiness was the driving force behind this law.”

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Johnson's new law to expand training for ambulance drivers

SPRINGFIELD - In May of 2022, a 23-year-old resident from the district State Senator Adriane Johnson represents lost his life after an ambulance collided with his motorcycle. Over the next year, she worked with his family to honor his life and ensure that no other person is injured or killed in such a way.

“Proper training will help save lives,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “As first responders work to protect one life, we must ensure other lives are not at risk.”

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Sound of the State: EpiPen affordability for Illinois families

State Senator Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) joins the Sound of the State to highlight a new law imposing a cap on the cost of EpiPens for Illinois families.

Read more.

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Now-former State Representative Lakesia Collins was sworn in as the new state senator of the 5th District Tuesday evening.

Collins joins the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus after serving in the Illinois House of Representatives where she was the Black Caucus Whip and chair of the Health Care Availability and Access Committee. Welcome, Senator Collins!

SPRINGFIELD – Students who participate in a work-based learning experience, like Future Farmers of America or 4-H program competitions or exhibitions, will be able to count the time outside of the classroom as hours of school work thanks to a measure championed by State Senator Doris Turner that was signed into law Monday.

“As a strong supporter of ag education, I advocated for the FFA and 4-H program students who have been jeopardized for missing class to participate in competitions,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Learning through hands-on experiences, especially in the agriculture industry, is a great way for students to expand their wealth of knowledge.”

ELGIN – Two local community-based organizations will receive more than $230,000 in combined literacy grants to grow and enhance their programs, thanks to support from State Senator Cristina Castro.

“The Literacy Connection and YWCA Elgin have a long history of serving and supporting the families in our community, and this investment ensures they can continue providing critical adult education and literacy programs to those who may not otherwise be able to access services,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Not only do these funds support programs and classes for adult learners, they also benefit our youngest learners by incorporating literacy education into a family-oriented model.”

Two area agencies are set to receive a total of $230,485 to enhance community and family literacy and improve access to services. The Literacy Connection in Elgin will see $130,485 in family literacy and community literacy grant funding, and YWCA Elgin will see $100,000 in family literacy grant funding that will benefit children from birth to age five.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias awarded the grants through the Adult Literacy Grant Program, which helps learners develop and enhance their reading, math, writing and English-language skills. Family literacy projects funded through the program include both adult and child literacy services, delivered in holistic and family-centered models.

More information about the Secretary of State’s Adult Literacy Program grants can be found here.

SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing the humanity of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, State Senator Robert Peters championed a new law that will end the requirement of disclosing criminal background information in certain license applications.

“There’s no need to disclose criminal background information when it can’t be used against an applicant for licensure,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Once individuals impacted by the justice system disclose this information, they often face discrimination despite rectifying their mistakes.”

Under previous law, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would consider mitigating factors and evidence of rehabilitation contained in an applicant's record after finding that the applicant for a license, certificate, or registration was previously convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

Peters’ law forbids inquiry into criminal history by IDFPR if the licensing statute states that criminal history cannot be used against an applicant. With this new prohibition, IDFPR would only need to perform a mitigating factor analysis in limited circumstances.

“One of the goals of the justice system is to rehabilitate individuals, not blacklist them once they are released from detention centers,” Peters said. “Second chances are given endlessly to those without justice system involvement. This same opportunity should be extended to everyone seeking to improve their lives and the community around them without judgement.”

House Bill 2826 was signed into law Friday.