Hundreds served at Hunter’s 20th annual health fair

CHICAGO — State Senator Mattie Hunter celebrated her 20^th Family Health and Fitness Fair this month, empowering residents with free health screenings and streamlined access to local and state services.

“When I hosted my first health fair 20 years ago, it was a small event in a parking lot. We saw about 20 people show up,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “Now we’ve partnered with Illinois Institute of Technology, using a large, visible outdoor space with more vendors inside. We’ve been able to help thousands of residents over the years achieve better health through education and resources, all while having fun.”

Read more: Hundreds served at Hunter’s 20th annual health fair

New Belt law promotes more economic equity and opportunity

SPRINGFIELD – A new law led by State Senator Christopher Belt will identify and correct inequities some individuals face when seeking loans, mortgages or other financial services.

“Unfair lending practices undermine the financial stability of our communities,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This new law is the first step toward enacting stronger protections to ensure every borrower is treated with fairness and respect.”

The new law builds off previous legislation that incentives state-regulated financial institutions to meet the financial service needs of areas where there is a lack of access to affordable banking, credit for small businesses, reasonable interest rates, mortgages and other lending services.

Read more: New Belt law promotes more economic equity and opportunity

Collins excited for signing of Liam’s Law to provide closure to parents experiencing a stillbirth

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Lakesia Collins is proud to support and see the signing of Liam’s Law that will provide better bereavement support measures to parents experiencing perinatal and infant loss.

“This law will give grieving families more supportive options when perinatal loss occurs,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “It is important these parents know what their rights are during a loss of pregnancy as they go through what can be the hardest time of an individual’s life.”

Collins measure, Liam’s Law, will better support families in these circumstances. The measure will require hospitals to notify the parents of their right to receive a certificate of birth resulting in a stillbirth following a spontaneous fetal death during or after the second trimester.

Read more: Collins excited for signing of Liam’s Law to provide closure to parents experiencing a stillbirth

Hotel industry to reduce plastic waste thanks to Fine law

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste across Illinois, State Senator Laura Fine championed a law to phase out the use of small, single-use plastic bottles in hotels.

“Tiny plastic bottles provided by hotels that contain personal care products, like shampoo and conditioner, produce unnecessary plastic pollution,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “By taking an environmentally conscious approach to hospitality, we can reduce plastic pollution across the state and throughout our waterways.”

Sen. Fine’s law, known as the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act, requires hotels with 50 or more rooms to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan. 1, 2026, all hotels with fewer than 50 rooms are expected to make this transition.

Read more: Hotel industry to reduce plastic waste thanks to Fine law