In this episode,State Senator Graciela Guzmán discusses her proposal to expand SNAP eligibility for college students and address food insecurity on college campuses in Illinois. Senator Guzmán goes into detail about her personal connection to the cause, and how this legislation could help over 100,000 students access basic nutrition while pursuing their education.

State Senator Christopher Belt joins the Sound of the State to share his powerful personal story as a kidney transplant recipient and efforts he has championed to advocate for organ donation in Illinois.

In this Black History Month episode, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. sits down with the president of the Pullman Porter Museum,  Dr. David Peterson Jr., to discuss the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters – a pivotal moment in the labor and civil rights movements.

In this episode, we dive into Karina’s Law—a groundbreaking measure to protect domestic violence survivors by closing loopholes in firearm removal. Senator Villanueva shares how this law honors Karina Gonzalez and others affected by similar tragedies, the challenges faced during the legislative process, and what’s next in the fight for survivor safety. Tune in to learn how this law will make a difference and what resources are available for those in need.

In this Black History Month episode, State Senator Robert Peters discusses the history of African American labor movements in Illinois, his advocacy for labor rights and state efforts to support Black laborers and promote workforce equality.

Senator Doris Turner joins the Sound of the State to talk about the work of the Illinois Flag Commission and the public's opportunity to vote on a potential new design for the Illinois state flag.

With the start of a new year, there are a number of new laws taking effect in Illinois. This episode of the Sound of the State takes a look at ten of those laws, ranging from one that fights catalytic converter theft to one which lowers the out-of-pocket cost to Illinois families for life-saving EpiPens, and more.