Caucus News

CHICAGO – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus celebrated the announcement of IBM’s new FutureNow Chicago delivery center, which will be part of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and create 750 full-time jobs, with a commitment to hiring from a new City Colleges apprenticeship program.

“This announcement is a win for City Colleges students, Illinois workers and our state’s economy,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). “By supporting forward-thinking partnerships that bring the next generation to the table, Illinois is solidifying its status as a global leader in the technologies of the future.”

SPRINGFIELD – Artificial light at night is estimated to contribute to the deaths of hundreds of millions of migratory birds each year in the U.S., while also disrupting nocturnal wildlife and ecosystems, according to the National Audubon Society. State Senator Laura Ellman is working to address these impacts with legislation through the Senate aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing harmful outdoor lighting across Illinois.

“Senate Bill 3037 is an important step in combating rising costs on energy bills. This legislation ensures Illinois is using smarter, more efficient lighting that protects both our environment and taxpayers,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Light pollution is more than just an inconvenience: it impacts our health, disrupts wildlife and wastes energy.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans are one step closer to knowing the cosmetics on their bathroom shelves won’t make them sick long term thanks to a measure led by State Senator Mattie Hunter to ban such items from containing polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals."

“For too long, the cosmetics industry has operated without the kind of oversight we apply to food, medicine and drinking water,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “We are working to close that gap and put Illinois at the forefront of a national movement to hold manufacturers accountable for what goes into their products and onto our skin.”

SPRINGFIELD – To provide stability in the lives of children experiencing homelessness, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would expand access to emergency housing assistance for students and their families.

“As a former school social worker, I’ve seen first-hand how housing instability suppresses a student’s ability to learn,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Children cannot be expected to focus on learning when they are worried about where they will sleep at night. Every child deserves a safe, stable place to live, and it’s our responsibility to close the gaps that leave too many families without support.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a landmark measure that would eliminate prior authorization for HIV treatment and make it easier for people to receive vital preventative care.

“Removing barriers imposed by prior authorization and getting people living with HIV into treatment quickly is the path to healthier, longer lives,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).

Disparities in health outcomes, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, often stem from limited access to high-quality prevention and treatment services, like PrEP – an HIV preventative medicine.

To bolster statewide efforts to improve access to preventative care and HIV treatment, Feigenholtz is leading House Bill 2584. The measure would require private insurers to cover pre-PrEP HIV and sexually transmitted infection screenings.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement regarding the fatal shooting of Officer John Bartholomew that occurred at Endeavor Swedish Hospital on Saturday, April 25:

“My family and I have been patients at Endeavor Swedish Hospital for decades, and on Saturday, I found my beloved childhood neighborhood barricaded and on lockdown due to an active shooter.

“I commend law enforcement and our local leaders for their swift action that led to the apprehension of the alleged shooter. I want to honor the life of Officer John Bartholomew. Officer Bartholomew was just 38 years old and had served with the Chicago Police Department for over a decade before his life was tragically taken.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that more students can get ahead academically while maintaining strong instructional standards, State Senator Laura Ellman advanced House Bill 4239, which would expand access to high school-level coursework for seventh and eighth grade students.

“Students learn at different paces, and our policies should reflect that,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure ensures that motivated middle school students have clear, equitable access to high school coursework, without unnecessary barriers, while maintaining the high standards families expect.”

House Bill 4239 would clarify that middle school students may enroll in high school courses offered by the high school they would attend, so long as the course is taught by a properly licensed educator and can be taken at the student’s current school.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a measure that would develop a program to increase care for newborns.

“The postpartum period is a critical phase of newborns’ well-being,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Delivering needed care in that time period will ensure their health is not compromised.”