Ventura measure to prioritize intentional downtime and self-care for students

SPRINGFIELD – School has become increasingly stressful for students, leading State Senator Rachel Ventura to spearhead legislation that would help students across Illinois reduce anxiety and focus on their physical and emotional needs during school time.

“We have to emphasize the importance of having a balance between productivity and self-care within the context of education,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This instills a mindset in our young people that encourages both academic achievement and the well-being of their mental health.”

Senate Bill 2872 would allow all school districts to offer a weekly 20-minute session dedicated to relaxation activities in addition to regular recess. Led by Ventura, the bill aims to improve students' physical and emotional health by emphasizing intentional downtime and self-care. It encourages schools to adopt various approaches, such as mindfulness practices, mental health education, yoga, meditation, and dedicated time for positive emotional and social development, promoting a more balanced mindset.

Read more: Ventura measure to prioritize intentional downtime and self-care for students

Simmons advances bill to increase access to equitable health care

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons passed legislation out of the Senate Public Health Committee on Tuesday that would create a Health Outcomes Review Board to identify and tackle healthcare disparities.

“The findings of the Health Outcomes Review Board will be vital in developing and targeting policy solutions that can improve health outcomes, improve the quality of life for many, reduce health care costs and save lives,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We don’t have to accept dismal health outcomes. It’s important to ensure state agencies and health care providers can focus where attention is needed. Identifying care gaps will help us to build a more effective and humane health care system. Whether it’s the unacceptable life expectancy gap for African-American and Latine communities, disparities in quality of health insurance coverage for low-income households, or inadequate access to follow up and specialty care for LGBTQ+ communities, the board will help identify those gaps and recommend improvements.”

Read more: Simmons advances bill to increase access to equitable health care

Edly-Allen introduces artist protections from AI

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen introduced new legislation that would protect artists and music labels from situations where a third-party creates music using AI and replicates their voice without permission.

“Deepfakes can falsely and convincingly portray anyone saying anything, creating confusion and eroding public trust. This raises serious implications in a world already struggling with rampant misinformation and social media manipulation,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville).  “We need strong regulations and protections in place to protect artists from the ever-changing world of AI that intends to steal their work and pass it off as their own.”

Last year, a song, “Heart on My Sleeve,” purportedly by Drake and The Weeknd landed on TikTok and Spotify and quickly spread across the internet. The song was created using AI by a TikTok user, who had trained AI on Drake and The Weeknd’s works and generated the new song, which perfectly mimicked the artists’ voices, lyrics, and musical styles. Within days, his video, which had gained over 9 million views, was removed from TikTok, Spotify, and other platforms in response to claims by the artists’ record label, UMG. 

Read more: Edly-Allen introduces artist protections from AI

Stadelman proposes legislation to combat speculative ticket listing, ensure transparency in ticket pricing

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is taking decisive action to protect consumers and promote transparency in the ticketing industry by introducing legislation aimed at ending speculative ticket listing and regulating event ticket pricing.

“Speculative ticket listing and opaque pricing practices have long plagued the ticketing industry, leaving consumers frustrated and financially disadvantaged,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation aims to put an end to these deceptive practices and empower consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.”

In speculative ticket listing, sellers list tickets for events they do not yet possess in the hope of acquiring them later at a lower price. This practice often leads to inflated ticket prices, leaving consumers vulnerable to exploitation and price gouging.

Read more: Stadelman proposes legislation to combat speculative ticket listing, ensure transparency in ticket...