Welcome to the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus

“Forever chemicals” to be removed from beauty products, thanks to Hunter

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans are one step closer to knowing the cosmetics on their bathroom shelves won’t make them sick long term thanks to a new from 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 closing that gap and putting Illinois at the forefront of a national movement to hold manufacturers accountable for what goes into their products and onto our skin.”

Read more: “Forever chemicals” to be removed from beauty products, thanks to Hunter

Peters’ law to honor legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., empower young voices in democratic process

SPRINGFIELD — To fulfill Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s vision of ensuring every high school student graduates with both a diploma and voter registration card, State Senator Robert Peters championed a law that recognizes education and civic engagement go hand in hand.

“I worked with a coalition of civic advocates throughout this process who all had one goal: honor the legacy of civil rights pioneer Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who acted as a towering and unwavering figure of racial and political equity for decades,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This law does exactly that by ensuring our state’s youth are presented a meaningful opportunity to register to vote before they graduate, in turn keeping Illinois on a path of progress and justice.”

Studies show that people who vote earlier in life are more likely to remain active voters and participants in their communities for decades to come, yet high school students are not automatically provided the resources needed to register once they age into the electorate.

Read more: Peters’ law to honor legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., empower young voices in democratic process

Illinois bans AI use for teacher evaluations

SPRINGFIELD– State Senator Christopher Belt spearheaded a new law that will ban the use of AI tools in teacher evaluations.

“I believe that our teachers should be judged based on actual observations and professional judgement, not by AI software,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Our educators deserve a transparent and fair evaluation process that demonstrates their actual work in the classroom and protects their privacy.”

Senate Bill 2909 will prevent school administrators from using AI to write teacher evaluations. A teacher evaluation is a formal process used to measure an educator's effectiveness, instructional skills and classroom performance. The use of AI while writing these evaluations brings up many transparency and privacy concerns for teachers.

Read more: Illinois bans AI use for teacher evaluations

Turner law to ensure people know about prescription recalls

SPRINGFIELD – People in Illinois will soon have a quicker way to know whether their medications have been recalled thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner.

“People need to be up-to-date on what’s happening with their medications, especially for our seniors,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “I heard from a number of constituents who were unaware of recalls on their prescriptions, and it is clear that we need an avenue for people to instantly find answers on medications they take.”

Turner’s law will require licensed pharmacies in Illinois to post a clear and conspicuous sign near their pharmacy counter and drive-up window that includes a QR code informing patients of the ability to sign up for medication recalls via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website.

The new law will ensure patients can receive instant access to medication recall information without adding new mandates or responsibilities on pharmacists.

Senate Bill 3223 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1.