SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Paul Faraci’s measure to rename and expand the ABLE Account Program in honor of the late Senator Scott Bennett was signed into law.

“Senator Scott Bennett was passionate in his advocacy for people living with disabilities and their families,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “He was their voice, their supporter and their defender when they didn’t have one. By renaming the ABLE Account program in honor of Senator Bennett, his endless service and commitment to bettering the lives and world around him will always be remembered.” 

The program, created and passed by Senator Scott Bennett during the 99th General Assembly, allows individuals with disabilities and their families to save money for expenses related to living with a disability without losing access to certain federal government assistance. Under Faraci’s legislation, the ABLE Account Program will be renamed to the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program.

SPRINGFIELD – To promote standardization on food labels and reduce food waste across the state, State Senator Rachel Ventura sponsored House Bill 3849 which was signed into law today.

“By providing more guidance on food labels, we can reduce the amount of food ending up in the garbage and help feed more community members struggling to get by,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “As inflation continues to impact the rising cost of grocery bills, some families might extend the shelf life of their food purchases.”

According to ReFED, a national nonprofit working in conjunction with Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic, a national food labeling standard could divert 582,000 tons of food waste per year and provide $2.41 billion in annual economic value. Illinois does not currently have any food labeling laws; however, if labeled, eggs cannot be sold past the label date.

House Bill 3849 defines "quality date," "safety date" and "sell by date" and requires the Illinois Departments of Agriculture and Public Health to publish information to encourage food manufacturers, processors and retailers to voluntarily use uniform terms on food product labels to communicate quality and safety dates.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie led a new law to prohibit the consideration of immigration status during real estate transactions.

“This law sets clear boundaries, protecting the rights of immigrants and ensuring that financial institutions and service providers cannot engage in discriminatory practices,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Putting these protections in place will promote fairness to ensure people are not unjustly denied housing.”

The Illinois Human Rights Act will now include immigration status as a protected class, making it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their immigration status when renting or selling property. Landlords and property sellers cannot refuse to rent or sell, receive or transmit offers, or negotiate the terms of a deal with someone based on their immigration status.

SPRINGFIELD – The state’s Rainy Day Fund has reached historic levels of over $2 billion thanks to the responsible fiscal leadership of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.

“When I first joined the Senate in 2018, our state’s Rainy Day Fund was depleted, we had billions of dollars in unpaid bills and we were facing immense financial strains,” said Majority Appropriations Leader Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). “Thanks to five consecutive balanced budgets, paying down our bills and making a number of smart spending decisions, Illinois now stands with the best fiscal footing it has seen in years. We’re better equipped than ever to handle a fiscal emergency. We will continue to be good stewards of the resources taxpayers trust to us, while setting Illinois up for long-term fiscal success.”

This week, the final deposit of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget was made to the Rainy Day Fund – bringing the FY 23 deposits to $1.18 billion – just as the Fiscal Year 2024 budget is set to begin, which will deposit an additional $138 million.

AURORA – State Senator Linda Holmes is ready to bring the state’s hiring practices out of the 1950s and into the present so Illinois’ ability to recruit and hire quality applicants is improved and streamlined. The future is now, as Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2228 into law Tuesday.

“It’s difficult to believe Illinois’ Personnel Code has not been systematically updated since it was adopted in 1955, but I’m pleased we can make these substantial updates now so the process will move more quickly with greater accessibility and transparency,” said Holmes (D-Aurora).

Senate Bill 2228 changes the code to implement modern processes and best practices in the state's hiring methods, while reducing the time it takes to hire and grow the state's workforce. It also provides for real-time review of proposed rules by JCAR and the Civil Service Commission to reduce the time it takes to make necessary regulatory changes. This improves transparency and access to workforce data, too.

Historic legislation creates Illinois insurance marketplace, protects consumers from unfair rate hikes

CHICAGO – Illinois residents will have more options when it comes to affordable, quality health insurance thanks to legislation from State Senators Ann Gillespie and Laura Fine. Gillespie’s bill creating a state-based health insurance marketplace and Fine’s legislation protecting consumers from unnecessary insurance rate increases have both been signed into law.

House Bill 579 establishes a state-based health insurance marketplace offering a variety of health insurance plans from different insurers. Illinois residents currently access the Affordable Care Act Marketplace using the federal platform which the state pays a fee to use. The federal platform does not share real-time data, and the Illinois Department of Insurance must rely on federal reports with limited information regarding enrollment in ACA Marketplace coverage. The new law helps address that challenge, allowing Illinois to better target and serve uninsured communities.

“Today, we take a significant step forward in providing accessible and affordable health care for all Illinois residents. Establishing a state-based insurance marketplace reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring everyone can find a high-quality plan tailored to their needs,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “I am pleased to see these measures become law, empowering individuals to make informed choices, increasing transparency, driving down costs and ultimately improving the overall well-being of our communities.”

Villivalam pushes for an end to barriers faced by immigrant drivers

CHICAGO – To provide more safety and security for immigrant drivers, State Senator Ram Villivalam joined Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias for a press conference highlighting legislation that would expand identification options for immigrants and make Illinois roads safer.

“Currently, many immigrant and refugee families are not able to receive a number of services because they only have a Temporary Visitor Driver's License,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “With House Bill 3882, we are modernizing the law to provide eligible individuals the ability to obtain a standard driver’s license without discrimination and to eliminate any stigma. This legislation builds on our mission to continue to be the most welcoming state in the nation."

Read more.

Gillespie's Medicaid packaged signed into law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie’s comprehensive Medicaid package was signed into law, which will expand access to care for thousands of Illinois residents and provide vital support for mental health services.

“Medicaid is a critical safety net for thousands of Illinois residents who rely on it for health care,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “By increasing reimbursement rates, expanding services and investing in telehealth, we can help providers offer affordable, quality care.”

Read more.

Villanueva joins legislative leaders to discuss reproductive rights at the White House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – State Senator Celina Villanueva joined legislative leaders at the White House to discuss ways they can continue to fight for reproductive rights since the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year.

As many Black and Brown communities have long faced barriers to abortion access and health care largely due to systemic barriers and discrimination, continuing the fight for equal healthcare rights and abortion care on a national level gives hopes to a population who is often overlooked and misrepresented,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Abortion is health care and everyone, no matter their income, immigration status, or ZIP code should be able to access the care they deserve without fear and obstacles.”

Read more.

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CHICAGO – To provide more safety and security for immigrant drivers, State Senator Ram Villivalam joined Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias for a press conference highlighting legislation that would expand identification options for immigrants and make Illinois roads safer.

“Currently, many immigrant and refugee families are restricted access to certain services by Temporary Visitor Driver’s Licenses and face stigma for having only that as a form of identification,” said State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). “With House Bill 3882, we are modernizing the law to provide eligible individuals the ability to obtain a standard driver’s license without discrimination and to eliminate any stigma. This legislation builds on our mission to continue to be the most welcoming state in the nation."

House Bill 3882 – which passed the Illinois General Assembly last month – would allow eligible noncitizen residents to receive a standard Illinois driver’s license with the wording “Federal Limits Apply” printed on top of the card, per the federal REAL ID Act.