Senate approves legislation by Glowiak Hilton to require Native American history in schools

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is spearheading a measure to make Native American history a requirement for all public elementary and high school students.

“Native American history is American history, and it has been overlooked for far too long,” said Glowiak Hilton (D – Western Springs). “Our history classes should be more representative of our nation’s origins.”

House Bill 1633 would require public schools to make Native American history part of curriculum. Teachings would include the study of the genocide of and discrimination against Native Americans, as well as tribal sovereignty, treaties made between tribal nations and the United States, and the circumstances around forced Native American relocation.

Read more: Senate approves legislation by Glowiak Hilton to require Native American history in schools

Villivalam advances for employee leave for organ donors

SPRINGFIELD – To help ensure that saving a life does not come at the cost of employment, State Senator Ram Villivalam passed legislation to give employees up to ten days of paid leave for serving as an organ donor.

"We have outstanding residents in Illinois who are ready to give and donate to those in need," said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “When someone goes to donate an organ for a person in need, it is crucial they are able to take time off to recover."

House Bill 3516 changes the Employee Blood Donation Leave Act to the Employee Blood and Organ Donation Leave Act to allow employees to take up to ten days of earned leave in any 12-month period to serve as an organ donor. The earned leave would apply to employees of any unit of local government, board of election commissioners, or private employer in Illinois with 51 or more employees.

Read more: Villivalam advances for employee leave for organ donors

EpiPen costs will drop to $60 thanks to Senator Mike Halpin

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin passed legislation through the Senate that limits the cost of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors, commonly known by the brand name EpiPens, to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack.

"No household should have to decide between buying life-saving medication and providing food for their family," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "This legislation marks a significant stride towards enhancing the affordability and accessibility of EpiPens for all Illinoisans who require them."

Epinephrine Auto-Injectors are the only medication that works on the entire body to combat anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. However, since 2017, a global shortage of these devices has made this medication increasingly difficult to obtain. Parts of the United States have experienced shortages since 2018, with the FDA permitting an extension of the recommended shelf life of EpiPens to combat the shortage.

Read more: EpiPen costs will drop to $60 thanks to Senator Mike Halpin

Belt champions measure to address teacher shortage

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure out of the Senate Wednesday that would help address the ongoing teacher shortage in Illinois.

“The entire state is having issues with recruiting and retaining quality teachers in schools,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “It’s apparent that we need to be investing more in our educators, as they have a significant impact on our children.”

House Bill 3801 would provide retention bonuses of $4,000 per year, for two consecutive years to teachers who are National Board Certified and are employed in hard-to-staff schools. A hard-to-staff school is a public school that no less than 30% of the student enrollment is considered low-income. Becoming a National Board Certified teacher is a career continuum for those who start in pre-service teacher preparation, leading aspiring teachers to pursue and achieve National Board Certification.

This measure aims to provide an incentive for teachers to work in underserved areas, as these are the areas that are most affected by the current teacher shortage.

“Without enough well-equipped teachers in our classrooms, we cannot provide children with the education they deserve,” said Belt. “It’s not just a numbers problem, but a moral imperative to ensure they have access to education that will guide their futures.”

House Bill 3801 passed the Senate.