Ventura to help local governments transition to zero emission vehicles
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura presented an initiative to assist local governments with the transition to zero emission vehicles by creating a grant program to the Senate Appropriations committee on Wednesday.
“As we continue to work on the goals set forth for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, we need to provide financial avenues to assist local governments with the transition toward zero emission vehicles,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “If enacted, this legislation will help local governments not only be environmentally friendly, but also cost-effective and save taxpayers money in the long run.”
Under a law Ventura led last year, Senate Bill 1769, state owned passenger vehicles, except for law enforcement vehicles, must be either a manufactured zero-emission vehicle or a converted zero-emission vehicle by Jan. 1, 2030.
Read more: Ventura to help local governments transition to zero emission vehicles
Sims to streamline pretrial services
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SPRINGFIELD – To streamline a fair and just pretrial process, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. is collaborating with the court system to enhance the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services.
“The Office of Statewide Pretrial Services will serve as a beacon of fairness, equity and efficiency in this critical phase of the legal process,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “By assessing risk rather than wealth, the office will ensure that pretrial decisions are rooted in principles of justice, not financial privilege.”
Following the passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act in 2021, the Illinois Supreme Court created the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services. It employs pretrial service officers who conduct pretrial investigations and provide pretrial supervision. To date, the office has completed 11,932 investigations and 11,607 defendants have been ordered to its supervision.
Villanueva advances measure to give first-time offenders a second chance
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SPRINGFIELD —State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced a measure to help people who plead guilty to a possession charge a second chance in exchange for diversion into a probation program.
“First-time offenders of possession are typically young people who have made a misstep and by enrolling in a diversion program, they have shown their commitment to righting their wrongs,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Clarifying that a recorded conviction without judgement is inadmissible allows folks to turn their lives around without a negative record lurking behind them.”
Currently, a person who successfully completes a probation program will have their sentence or conviction vacated. This clean record applies while the person is enrolled in the program as well as for those who successfully complete the program.
Read more: Villanueva advances measure to give first-time offenders a second chance
Villanueva advances measure to safeguard reproductive health care records
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced a measure to ensure reproductive health care records are not being improperly disclosed.
“Our fight for access to reproductive and gender-affirming care is far from over,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “It is our duty as a safe haven state to preserve people’s right to care while ensuring their livelihood won’t be put in jeopardy by restrictive, overarching laws of other states.”
Last year Villanueva led House Bill 4664 – a law to shield out-of-state patients and in-state providers from legal action originating from other states regarding abortions performed here. To expand upon that measure and provide further protections, Villanueva is spearheading House Bill 5239 this year.
Read more: Villanueva advances measure to safeguard reproductive health care records
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes’ measure to keep a closer watch on Illinois’ gray foxes moved a step nearer to becoming law on Thursday. The gray fox population in Illinois and much of the Midwest has been declining over the last 30 years, pr... -
SPRINGFIELD – Ensuring middle school students receive equal opportunity to earn high school credits, State Senator Laura Ellman is sponsoring a measure to provide seventh- and eighth-grade students with the option to earn high school credit for high... -
SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to curb the growing threat of synthetic drugs, State Senator Julie Morrison passed legislation in the Senate to regulate the use of xylazine — a powerful animal tranquilizer often mixed with fentanyl and tied to overdose de... -
SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to ensure transparency from health care providers and protect patients from unexpected fees on bills, State Senator Steve Stadelman passed a measure through committee that would require hospitals to be more explicit about t... -
SPRINGFIELD — In response to traffic accidents that have endangered the lives of students, staff and drivers, State Senator Julie Morrison is leading legislation to require seat belts in newly purchased school buses. “We teach children at a young age...
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