Welcome to the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus

Villa measure to protect students’ biometric data passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – In response to the growing threat of cyberattacks and data breaches targeting educational institutions, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure to secure students’ sensitive information.

“As schools rely more on technology, we must ensure strong safeguards are in place to mitigate potential risks,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Biometric data is highly personal, and students, teachers and community members should be least exposed to risk in their schools.”

Senate Bill 415 would prohibit school districts from acquiring and using biometric systems unless they are used for legitimate instructional purposes, limiting the collection and use of students’ data.

Read more: Villa measure to protect students’ biometric data passes Senate

Martwick’s measure to keep artificial intelligence from grading student work passes

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Martwick’s legislation that would require students be graded by teachers and not artificial intelligence has passed.

“Decisions about grading and student assessment require oversight and fairness from trained professionals, not large language models prone to hallucination and implicit bias,” said Martwick (D-Chicago). “We are in a new world where AI is trying to creep into every aspect of our lives. It is vital to place guardrails for our children to ensure they are protected in educational settings.”

Senate Bill 416 would prohibit teachers from using artificial intelligence to grade a student’s work. It also requires that any other use of AI in a classroom setting be approved by the school board.

Read more: Martwick’s measure to keep artificial intelligence from grading student work passes

Stadelman champions bill to give fans a fair shot at tickets

SPRINGFIELD – As ticket-buying becomes more competitive, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working to strengthen consumer protections in the ticket sales marketplace, prevent the use of bots from buying up tickets and crack down on deceptive online purchasing practices.

“Attending a live event should be about excitement and anticipation, not frustration and unfair obstacles,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This bill puts fans first by stopping bots, cracking down on misleading resellers, and making the ticketing process more transparent.”

As artificial intelligence proliferates in the ticket sales marketplace, consumers are increasingly forced to compete against automated bots that bypass ticket limits and deceptive resale websites that appear to be officially affiliated with artists or venues. Existing federal protections address some of these issues, but gaps in enforcement and transparency continue to frustrate consumers when attempting to purchase event tickets.

Read more: Stadelman champions bill to give fans a fair shot at tickets

Edly-Allen advances critical AI safety measure to address catastrophic risks, increasing transparency

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Mary Edly-Allen advanced legislation Thursday to establish safety standards and transparency requirements for the largest artificial intelligence developers as AI systems become increasingly integrated into critical infrastructure, cybersecurity and public safety operations.

“Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly and is like the ‘Wild Wild West’ with little to no guardrails in place. While these tools can create opportunities, they also come with serious risks if left unchecked,” said Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake). “This measure is about putting responsible safeguards in place before a preventable catastrophe occurs. Illinois has an opportunity to lead the nation by setting clear expectations for transparency, accountability and public safety.”

Read more: Edly-Allen advances critical AI safety measure to address catastrophic risks, increasing...