Belt's plan to provide financial assistance for utility bills passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that would allow water and sewer utilities to provide an additional financial assistance program passed the Senate on Friday.

“Financial assistance policies for electric and gas services exist in Illinois, but not for water and sewer services,” Belt said. “Many families spend a large percent of their monthly income on utility services. It’s important we extend the policies to include water and sewer, especially for those who struggle to pay their bills.”

The legislation would create the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund, authorizing the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to make payments directly to the utility providers on behalf of qualified customers. The fund is financed through the opt-in program. One-third of the available funds will go to the households with the lowest incomes. Older adults and people with disabilities will also be prioritized.

Read more: Belt's plan to provide financial assistance for utility bills passes Senate

Senator Bush’s measure to tackle lead in drinking water passes

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has more lead lines that bring drinking water into homes than any other state, but under the Lead Service Line Replacement Notification Act passed by Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), that will change.

“Lead service lines are a health threat that poisons our children, undermines our residents’ confidence in our municipal government and costs billions of dollars,” Bush said. “This is a feasible and equitable path forward that would require all cities in Illinois to tackle a problem that we know harms Black and Latinx communities the most.”

Contained in House Bill 3739, the Lead Service Line Replacement Notification Act requires water utilities statewide to replace all lead service lines and creates a low-income water assistance program to help fund financial assistance and water projects that include lead pipe replacement.

Read more: Senator Bush’s measure to tackle lead in drinking water passes

Insurance would expand to cover infertility treatment for single women, same-sex couples under Senator Fine legislation

SPRINGFIELD – Insurance coverage for infertility treatments would expand beyond women in heterosexual relationships under legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), which passed the Senate Thursday.

“Women of all ages, medical histories, partner statuses and sexual orientations should receive coverage for infertility treatment,” Senator Fine said. “This expansion would open the door for more Illinoisans to become mothers.”

Read more: Insurance would expand to cover infertility treatment for single women, same-sex couples under...

Feigenholtz passes marriage license name change legislation

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Senate passed legislation requiring county clerks to issue new marriage certificates to reflect legal name changes. Sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), the measure was the second this session aimed at modernizing marriage license practice in Illinois.

“We’ve focused on removing gendered language on marriage certificates, but many individuals who adopt new gender identities often change their legal names in the process,” Feigenholtz said. “Simply removing the gendered language is not enough. Non-binary and transgender individuals should be able to have a marriage license that lists their correct name.”

House Bill 2590 requires county clerks in Illinois to issue new marriage certificates at the request of one of the parties involved that reflect legal name changes, provided the marriage occurred in Illinois and legal documentation of the name change is provided. The new certificate cannot contain additional markings, such as an indication of the individual’s former name.

Read more: Feigenholtz passes marriage license name change legislation