SPRINGFIELD – Nicotine companies marketing to kids is nothing new but now they’re creating vapes that are designed to appear to be school supplies, like a highlighter. State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure to prevent these products from being advertised to children.

“The dangerous and addictive nature of nicotine consumption is the reason I have taken a strong stand on this issue,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We should do everything in our power to make it impossible for children to obtain and conceal tobacco products.”

Educators have complained to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services about finding electronic cigarettes on school property that are designed to look like school supplies such as highlighters, erasers and pencil sharpeners. Senate Bill 2662 would prohibit the advertising, marketing or promoting of an electronic cigarette in a manner that is likely to cause an adult to mistake it for an object that is anything other than what it is, a tobacco product.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel championed a measure through the Senate that would protect youth from the dangers of vaping by prohibiting e-cigarettes from being shipped to anyone in the state.

“Students can easily buy e-cigarettes on the internet, including ones that look like school supplies,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “These vapes make it hard for teachers to decipher what it is. We have to take the necessary steps to protect our kids from the risks e-cigarettes pose on their health.”

Senate Bill 3098 would prohibit electronic cigarettes purchased by mail, online or through other remote sale methods from being shipped to anyone in the state other than a distributor or retailer. Loughran Cappel’s initiative comes in response to students obtaining e-cigarettes that are designed to look like everyday objects, such as highlighters.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner spearheaded a measure through the Senate that would hold funeral homes accountable by reestablishing integrity and trust in the death care industry. Her legislation, Senate Bill 2643, comes in response to a Carlinville funeral home insufficiently handling human remains, giving over 60 families the wrong remains.

“The status quo isn’t working. Dead or alive, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “I’m committed to holding bad actors accountable. No family should receive the dreaded call that they were given the wrong remains.”

Senate Bill 2643 would add identification rules and regulations for the handling and storing of human bodies. When the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation receives a complaint, the agency would be required to inspect the premises within 10 calendar days.

SPRINGFIELD – Standing alongside health care providers and cancer experts at a press conference Tuesday, State Senator Julie Morrison outlined her plan to require insurance to cover preventative cancer screenings and genetic testing for individuals with a family history of cancer.

“Taking preventative measures increases the chances of survival and is more cost effective than treatment,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Since 1990, cancer mortality rates have dropped by 25%. This measure will increase early detection and improve prevention of all types of cancer. With this bill, we are moving the needle further in the right direction.”

Currently cancer screenings for certain types of cancer are covered as long as the patient meets the age requirement. Senate Bill 2697 would expand that coverage to include prevention and susceptibility cancer screenings for all types of cancer for people who have a family member affected by the deadly disease. Additionally, insurance companies would be required to cover genetic testing for an inherited gene mutation for individuals with a family history of cancer.

Koehler, Hunter highlight Illinois Works Bid Credit Program

CHICAGO – State Senators Dave Koehler and Mattie Hunter are highlighting the Illinois Works Bid Credit Program, a key component of the state's comprehensive strategy to enhance equity and access in capital construction employment through the Illinois Works Jobs Program.

“Illinois’ greatest asset is its people, and through the Bid Credit Program, the State of Illinois is providing incentives to contractors who hire within our world-class workforce,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “The Illinois Works Jobs Program is essential to promoting diversity and increasing opportunity for Illinoisans throughout the state.”

Read more.

Belt helps secure funding to address rural nursing shortage

EAST ST. LOUIS – To address the nursing shortage rural communities are currently facing, State Senator Christopher Belt helped secure $150,000 in funding for nursing student scholarships at McKendree University.

“In order to end the nursing shortage in smaller communities, we need to hone in on incentives and other investments that shine light on this career path,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Nurses are essential in our hospitals, and we cannot afford to continue seeing declining numbers of them.”

Read more.

Stadelman announces $44 million in grants for public electric vehicle charging infrastructure

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is announcing $44 million in grants is available to bolster public electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state.

“These grants present a remarkable opportunity to enhance Illinois’ infrastructure while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Investing in public EV charging infrastructure is not only essential for supporting electric vehicle adoption but also for fostering economic growth and sustainability in our communities.”

Read more.

Sound of the State: Expanding access to IVF in Illinois

As lawmakers in several states work to make it harder for people seeking to start or grow their family with assisted reproductive technology, State Senators Cristina Castro, Natalie Toro and Michael Hastings joined the Sound of the State to discuss three bills they’re working on to protect and expand access to these services in Illinois.

Listen here.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is announcing $44 million in grants is available to bolster public electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state.

“These grants present a remarkable opportunity to enhance Illinois’ infrastructure while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Investing in public EV charging infrastructure is not only essential for supporting electric vehicle adoption but also for fostering economic growth and sustainability in our communities.”

This is the second round of grants available to fund the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at publicly accessible locations. This grant opportunity is funded by the historic Stadelman-backed Rebuild Illinois, and authorized under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

 EAST ST. LOUIS – To address the nursing shortage rural communities are currently facing, State Senator Christopher Belt helped secure $150,000 in funding for nursing student scholarships at McKendree University.

“In order to end the nursing shortage in smaller communities, we need to hone in on incentives and other investments that shine light on this career path,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Nurses are essential in our hospitals, and we cannot afford to continue seeing declining numbers of them.”

The Illinois Board of Higher Education awarded a total of $150,000 through a nursing school grant to McKendree University. The grant was awarded through a competitive application process where institutions submitted enrollment, retention, completion and job placement rates of their students during a multi-year period and how grant funds would be used to enhance their program’s efforts to close equity gaps and improve student success.

Nursing school grants will be used to enhance nursing programs and efforts to close equity gaps in enrollment, course completion, graduation and licensure by underrepresented students. Funds may be used for hiring additional nursing faculty and staff, developing and expanding instructional programs and modalities, expanding academic support services, improving classroom and lab spaces, purchasing equipment and instructional materials and more.

“Investing in our health care workforce not only strengthens our local hospitals and other health care systems, but it also ensures that people have immediate access to quality care,” said Belt. “I’m pleased IBHE provided funds to McKendree’s nursing program so we can continue to grow quality, trained nurses down here in the Metro East.”

To see a full list of nursing school grant awardees across the state, click here.

CHICAGO – State Senators Dave Koehler and Mattie Hunter are highlighting the Illinois Works Bid Credit Program, a key component of the state's comprehensive strategy to enhance equity and access in capital construction employment through the Illinois Works Jobs Program.

“Illinois’ greatest asset is its people, and through the Bid Credit Program, the State of Illinois is providing incentives to contractors who hire within our world-class workforce,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “The Illinois Works Jobs Program is essential to promoting diversity and increasing opportunity for Illinoisans throughout the state.”

The Illinois Works Bid Credit Program caters to contractors engaged in or seeking involvement in State of Illinois-funded capital projects. It offers eligible contractors the chance to earn bid credits by hiring and retaining graduates of the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program. These programs collectively seek to cultivate a pipeline of skilled and diverse candidates to fill new job opportunities created by the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital plan.