Ventura-backed medically assisted treatment program to address opiate overdose deaths passes committee

SPRINGFIELD – A measure from State Senator Rachel Ventura that would provide opiate use disorder treatments for incarcerated individuals passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee Tuesday.

“Overdoses are the leading cause of death among people returning to their communities after incarceration,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “There is an urgent need for comprehensive opiate use disorder programs statewide, and this legislation would save lies, is compassionate, and has the potential to break the cycle of addiction, improve health outcomes and reduce rates of recidivism.”

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Guzmán bill to enhance sanitary options for women on jobsites

CHICAGO – In order to uplift construction workers who are menstruating or lactating, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is leading a bill in partnership with Chicago Women in Trades to provide sanitary conditions, reasonable accommodations and menstrual products on job sites.

“We must ensure women and anyone who menstruates aren’t left behind in the workplace – no matter the job,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “The hardworking people of the trades should not be worried their bodies will impact their work in a negative way or vice versa. The common sense requirements in this bill will ensure sanitary standards are met and job site work is unimpeded.”

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Hastings builds on missing persons identification methods

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is building on his missing persons investigation work by advancing legislation that would accelerate the timeline for critical forensic data being added to state and national databases.

“Families dealing with a missing loved one should not have to wait for answers,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This legislation would ensure vital information, such as dental records, gets into the right law enforcement systems sooner — increasing the likelihood of timely matches and helping law enforcement and families get results.”

Under current law, missing persons cases are entered into state and federal databases and may eventually receive additional identifying data. Senate Bill 2949 would update the process so that if a person remains missing for 30 days after a police report, their dental record will be added to the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System — rather than waiting longer under previous practice. After 60 days, the bill would require dental records to be entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, the federal repository used to match missing persons with unidentified remains.

Read more: Hastings builds on missing persons identification methods

Holmes and PaintCare roll out household paint recycling program in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Linda Holmes welcomed representatives of PaintCare, Inc. to the Capitol to announce early progress in the new statewide household paint recycling program, created by Holmes’ 2024 Paint Stewardship Act.

Many households and businesses have old, unused cans of paint in their basements or garages; there have been few options to dispose of them safely. Beginning in December of 2025, designated collection centers at familiar paint retailers began opening across the state for environmentally safe disposal.

Holmes’ Paint Stewardship Act was passed and signed in 2024, and the program has been in development by PaintCare and their stewardship cohorts throughout 2025.

Read more: Holmes and PaintCare roll out household paint recycling program in Illinois