METRO EAST – MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah announced their grand opening of an expanded terminal on Tuesday. Supported by State Senator Christopher Belt and other state and local officials, this is a transformative, $31 million multi-year project for the Metro East region.

“This is a big day for the Metro East. Whenever you can add terminals to an airport – that means growth and that’s what we want,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The airport will be better equipped to meet the growing demands of passengers, airlines and businesses, driving even more economic growth and bolstering regional development.”

SPRINGFIELD — To further reinforce the goals of the Department of Children and Family Services, State Senator Mattie Hunter’s legislation that removes obsolete language from the Children and Family Services Act was signed into law.

“DCFS services are meant to be temporary, and our focus should remain on reuniting children with their families or placing them in safe, permanent homes,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “This law makes these goals clear and ensures the language within this important act is current and compliant.”

SPRINGFIELD – In order to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence in the massage therapist industry, State Senator Celina Villanueva’s House Bill 2756 was signed into law by the governor.

“It is extremely imperative that licensed massage therapists are required to have additional adequate training and education needed to perform their jobs in a respectful, non-harmful manner,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Without it, individuals can easily find themselves in a domestic violence and or sexual assault situation ruining their careers forever.”

The new law amends the Massage Licensing Act. For each license renewal period, one hour of continuing education needs to be domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education as prescribed by rule of the Department. A continuing education provider approved by IDFPR will provide the one-hour domestic violence and sexual assault awareness continuing education course.

The measure makes it mandatory for licensed massage therapists to take 25, rather than 24, hours of continuing education courses to renew their massage license. The additional hour must include domestic violence and sexual assault awareness.

“As we take sexual assault and domestic violence seriously in the state of Illinois, I am glad we are able to continue educating individuals about the importance of these topics and train those whose profession can easily be compromised if ever found in a situation related to domestic and sexual assault,” Villanueva added.

House Bill 2756 was signed into law Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – Residents across the Southland will have a new law in place to protect them from annoying auto-renewal fees, thanks to the support of State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“We have all fallen victim to unclear auto-renewal fees,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This new law will now require companies to explicitly disclose their automatic contract renewal terms to increase transparency and ensure consumers know the terms of the services.”

Hastings served as a cosponsor on Senate Bill 328 which requires clear and conspicuous disclosures of a contract's automatic renewal terms. This includes items like whether the contract will continue until it is canceled, the deadline by which the consumer must cancel to avoid the automatic renewal fees, the amount of the recurring charges, along with other contract provisions.

The new law also requires companies to provide residents with a retainable acknowledgment of the contract's automatic renewal terms, cancellation policy, and information regarding how to cancel.

“This is a good step in the right direction to put a stop to confusing gimmicks and pesky fees,” Hastings said. “We need to continue toward ending this deceitful practice.”

Senate Bill 328 was signed into law on Friday, June 9 and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – In a historic moment, Illinois has become the first state in the nation to prohibit the banning of books in libraries, thanks to a measure championed by State Senator Laura Murphy, which was signed into law Monday.

“Often times, censorship like book bans comes from fear, which is insidious. It spreads like a disease and leaves our vulnerable communities injured,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We cannot allow ourselves to give into fear – we must stand against this fear disguised as moral outrage and stand up for what we know is right.”

CHICAGO – In response to attacks on transgender individuals around the nation, State Senator Mike Simmons championed a law to increase inclusivity of gendered language in pre-existing state laws and initiatives.

“This law will ensure the language we use in state statutes and codes is more inclusive. Everyone deserves to be addressed and represented with the pronouns they use and prefer, especially by their state’s agencies and laws,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Encouraging inclusive language at the state level is an important step for people to feel safe and accepted by their government while attacks are raging against the LGBTQ+ community in other states.”

SPRINGFIELD – With growing demands for mental health providers to support patients struggling with substance use, State Senator Laura Fine is encouraging people to become recovery support specialists through a new initiative expanding the behavioral health workforce student loan forgiveness program.

“If we want people struggling with alcohol and substance abuse to receive the help they need to recover, we need to invest in the people working to become recovery support specialists,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Thanks to this law, professionals will be able to get assistance for debts they took on while studying to become counselors, providing them financial relief and encouragement to enter this vital field.”  

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson’s measure bringing Illinois in line with national standards regarding environmental covenants is now law.

“Our environment directly affects our health,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “It is my hope that together, we can improve our environment for a safer community.”

Johnson’s legislation will protect the health of the community and the environment by expanding the state’s ability to establish land use restrictions. These tools are necessary to protect resident’s health and the environment against inadvertent exposures to residual contamination while encouraging economic redevelopment by upholding an environmental standard.

“I’m proud to support Illinois in environmentally conscious efforts,” said Johnson.

House Bill 2278 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.