SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led the charge through the Senate to create a new state agency – the Department of Early Childhood – to streamline the administration of early childhood education care programs and services.

“The foundation of a child’s success and well-being is built starting the moment they are born,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “As a state, it is our duty to provide the necessary support and resources to build such stability. The creation of this unique agency will break ground on our transition to a whole, trauma-informed approach to meeting children’s diverse needs.”

The Department of Early Childhood – which would be created through Senate Bill 1 – would focus on administering early childhood education programs. The new agency would be dedicated to making access to such state programs easier for parents and providers to navigate.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman’s legislation to ensure driver’s education courses include instruction on worker safety in highway construction zones has passed the Senate.

“This measure signifies our priority of protecting the safety of both drivers and workers in highway construction zones,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “We are underscoring our commitment to fostering a culture of safety on Illinois roadways.”

The legislation would require driver’s education courses to include instruction on workers’ safety protocols in highway construction zones, aiming to reduce accidents and protect the lives of both drivers and construction workers.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation to protect the health and safety of adults who are unable take care of themselves, sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine, passed the Senate Wednesday.

“Individuals facing unfortunate circumstances that prevent them from looking after their personal health should have immediate access to the health care assistance they need,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Connecting them to services and a care plan in a timely manner is essential to prevent self-neglect in the future.”

Senate Bill 2799 creates a screening procedure for cases of self-neglect among adult patients under the Adult Protective Services intervention program. If a patient is found to be a substantial health threat to themselves due to self-neglect, a provider agency must develop a case plan within 10 days and with the consent of the adult. 

SPRINGFIELD – After a Chicago resident was unable to obtain records regarding a deceased relative from the state, State Senator Lakesia Collins pushed forward legislation that would help individuals access their deceased families’ records.

“If someone needs to obtain records about their relative, we need systems in place to allow for the transfer of that information,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “With this legislation we are creating a clear pathway for people trying to secure the information of their deceased to make the process easier.”

Senate Bill 2715 would require the Illinois Department on Aging to establish procedures for the disclosure of program records by the Long Term Care Ombudsman.

SPRINGFIELD – As Illinois residents walk through the aisles of their local grocery store, they may wonder how far their food travels before it reaches their table. This has led State Senator Dave Koehler to advance an initiative to make Illinois food more readily available on store shelves.

“This initiative strengthens our food industry in a way that cultivates a stronger, more sustainable food system that benefits everyone,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “By bridging the gap from farm to table, we give our family farmers more opportunities to distribute their goods while making fresh produce available to our community.”

Senate Bill 3077 would create the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act. This measure would require the Illinois Department of Agriculture to amplify local food processing, collection and distribution within the state through grants. Eligible applicants would include farms, co-ops, process facilities, food businesses and hubs with fewer than 50 employees, as well as Illinois nonprofit organizations and local governments.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure educational resources are accessible for children who are deaf or blind, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton passed an initiative to broaden the scope of services offered at the Philip J. Rock Center and School in Glen Ellyn.

“All children, regardless of their sensory needs, deserve the opportunity to receive high-quality education and support,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “By extending the services of the Philip J. Rock Center and School, we're opening doors to new opportunities for children throughout our community.”

Currently, the Philip J. Rock Center and School only serves students who are both blind and deaf. It is the only publicly funded residential school in the country for deaf-blind students. The school currently assists nine students from age three through 21.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson passed a measure to require regular monitoring of water quality from nearshores, harbors and public water supply intakes in Lake Michigan.

“Lake Michigan is the largest public drinking water supply in the state, serving nearly 6.6 million people, in addition to being Illinois’ largest recreational resource,” said Johnson (D - Buffalo Grove). “The protection of water resources is essential for sustaining public health, quality of life and economic prosperity.”

Senate Bill 3716 would update an existing provision to ensure that the IEPA is regularly monitoring water quality from nearshores, harbors and public water supply intakes in Lake Michigan. The measure would also require the IEPA to provide an executive summary every two years on conditions of the water quality in Lake Michigan to the governor and General Assembly. This update further aligns Illinois with the federal Clean Water Act. 

SPRINGFIELD – To alleviate the negative impacts light pollution poses on our state’s environment, State Senator Laura Ellman passed a measure out of the Senate to implement responsible outdoor lighting standards.

“We may not immediately think of light as a source of pollution or consider the impacts that artificial light creates,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This impact includes migratory birds, nocturnal insects, people who cannot experience a natural night, and our expenditure of resources.”

Light pollution refers to the brightening of the night sky by man-made light sources, including street lights and buildings. Excessive light in our night sky causes a variety of issues, such as interfering with bird migration, nocturnal insects and our optical health.