SPRINGFIELD – Growing and raising food for the nation is engrained in Illinois’ character, with a bountiful farming culture throughout the state. However, there are families all over Illinois who live with food insecurity every day. A measure sponsored by State Senator Linda Holmes that establishes a Farm to Food Bank Program to address that gap was signed into law today.

House Bill 2879 addresses the food insecurity needs identified by a feasibility study conducted by multiple state agencies. This program will help provide nutritious food to expand the Illinois emergency food system and assist more than a million Illinois citizens.

“Getting farmers’ surplus products into a program that will arrange for timely redistribution to food banks for local availability is a victory for everyone in the process,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “Farmers need a secondary market for off-grade and surplus products; food banks face rising food insecurity and difficulty making products available for their clients; and families need greater access to food, particularly for nutritious fresh products. This measure can fulfill those needs.”

During the past two General Assemblies, Holmes worked with numerous organizations to lay out a plan to establish this process and address the imbalance of surplus and hunger. She credits the input and guidance from the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, partnered with Feed Illinois, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Specialty Growers Association and the Department of Agriculture in this venture.

“This measure was an initiative of the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Feeding Illinois, who are on the front line helping families source healthy food,” Holmes said. “It’s great to finally see this multi-year effort come to fruition.”

In 2018, 10.1% of Illinois’ population (1.3 million people) experienced food insecurity. Due to the pandemic, food insecurity increased to 12.7% of all Illinoisans in 2020 and 10.9% in 2021.

House Bill 2879 passed unanimously through the General Assembly in May; with the governor’s signature, it takes effect immediately.

For more information on the program, visit https://www.feedingillinois.org/farmers/

SPRINGFIELD – All Illinois children will now have equal access to full-day kindergarten thanks to a new law championed by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford.

“Kindergarten is pivotal for children’s learning journey,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Full-day kindergarten classes across the state will ensure equal access to early learning opportunities for all our families.”

SPRINGFIELD – Homeowners throughout Illinois have something in their basement or garage that should be discarded, but until now, there hasn’t been a means to get rid of it safely: unused household paint. Legislation sponsored by State Senator Linda Holmes that establishes a program to dispose of household paint was signed into law by the governor Friday.

The Paint Stewardship Act creates a process for consumers to dispose of household paint in Illinois. No state resources are in place today to deal with this waste. Under this law, manufacturers of architectural paint will create and submit a plan to the Illinois EPA to establish the program.

“It is exciting to offer this service to Illinoisans with old paint taking up space in their homes,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “To get rid of it in an environmentally safe manner will give us an opportunity to make our state’s soil and water cleaner for our children and to safely produce our crops to feed the state and nation.”

SPRINGFIELD – A new law sponsored by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton will help families of our fallen heroes in securing survivor benefits.

“Our nation’s military families have made life-changing sacrifices to serve our communities,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This new law will create clarity to ensure the families of these fallen heroes will be given the financial support they are entitled to.”

House Bill 2856 will require vital records to list contributing factors behind a veteran’s death. This requirement would ensure survivor benefits and other rights are distributed if the death was caused by a service-related injury.

SPRINGFIELD – Motorcycles can now be equipped with forward facing turn signals and driving lights under a measure spearheaded by State Senator Doris Turner that was signed into law Friday.

“Drivers need to be aware of what’s going on around them,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Motorcyclists aren’t always easy to see on the road so we need to make sure they have all the tools they need to be safe and visible.”

The new law allows a motorcycle to be equipped with two forward facing electric turn signals that emit a white or amber light. Two driving lights can be added that display a steady white or amber light in addition to the already required headlamps. Lastly, the law allows a motorcycle to be equipped with red-light auxiliary lighting to use while braking.

Turner’s law seeks to provide clarity regarding new standard lighting on the front of motorcycles by increasing the visibility of a motorcycle and providing a clear indication of what the motorcycle is doing, similar to a vehicle.

“This is a win for all drivers,” said Turner. “Now, motorcyclists can have the lights and indicators they need to show others on the road where they are.”

Senate Bill 896 takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings’ measure to help police and sheriffs quickly track stolen vehicles is now law.

“This measure helps us evolve by better utilizing the latest technology to track criminal actions,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “We already know that there is technology readily available to track carjackers and kidnappers as they travel from Point A to Point B. It is essential that we empower law enforcement with these tools to successfully apprehend these criminals.”

Nationwide, carjackings are on the rise, but without formal coordination between authorities and vehicle manufacturers, law enforcement officers had little to no ability to access real-time tracking information.

Creates a framework for the Illinois EPA to approve the use of limestone residual for additional means beyond what is currently permitted

SPRINGFIELD – Limestone quarries provide a number of products encountered every day: on our roads, in our homes and businesses, and in agriculture. One such lime product is used to treat drinking water and remove particulates. Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes is the sponsor of legislation allowing the return of the limestone residual back to a limestone mine after that use, projected to save the city an estimated $7 million over 10 years. That measure was signed into law Friday by the governor.

“Aurora’s Water Treatment Plant has used limestone in its processes since it was built in 1992, but disposing of the residual product was problematic,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “The City of Aurora initiated this legislation, as it cost the city quite a bit of money to dispose of it in landfills or to apply it on farmland. Putting that material back into an underground mine cavity 250 feet below ground will save significant taxpayer dollars.”

House Bill 3095 creates a framework to allow limestone residual material to be deposited safely back into unused mines. Under this measure, the Pollution Control Board is tasked with adopting rules to ensure the material is regulated and stored in a manner that best protects the health of the environment.

“For the sake of preserving our natural world, it’s vital that we not immediately dispose of materials so reactively termed ‘waste products,’” said State Representative Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), who sponsored the measure in the House. “As we work to build a greener future, it’s time to stop overlooking the potential to reclaim resources that can be valuable to the community.”

A measure in the works for several years with Holmes’ leadership, House Bill 3095 was signed into law Friday, and will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro announced that the Village of Carpentersville will receive $4 million in funding from the Illinois EPA to replace lead service lines in the community.

“Clean drinking water is a basic human right, and it’s especially important that our children have access to clean water that is lead-free,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Investing in replacing these pipes will keep harmful chemicals out of our water and give Carpentersville families, schools and businesses peace of mind that their water infrastructure is safe, healthy and upgraded.”