Veterans’ Affairs supervisors must be veterans under Connor’s new law

SPRINGFIELD – All service officers and supervisors for the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be required to be honorably discharged veterans under legislation sponsored by State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) signed into law Friday.

“When our servicemen and women are coming to the VA looking for assistance, we need to be sure that they are able to work with someone who has been in their shoes and who is best able to give them the help they deserve,” Connor said. “By putting our veterans in touch with others who have honorably served, we are putting them on a path for success.”

Read more: Veterans’ Affairs supervisors must be veterans under Connor’s new law

Governor signs Villa law providing services to undocumented college students

SPRINGFIELD – Tailored support services and resource centers for undocumented students will be available on college campuses under a new law sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago).

“Undocumented college students deserve to have equitable and inclusive access to resources to help them successfully graduate and become contributing members of society,” Villa said. “These liaisons and resource centers will have a profound impact on retention and matriculation rates for marginalized communities on campus.” 

The law will require public universities and community colleges in Illinois to designate an employee as an Undocumented Student Resource Liaison, as well as encourage schools to establish an Undocumented Student Resource Center on campus to assist undocumented students.

Read more: Governor signs Villa law providing services to undocumented college students

Consumers will be able to cancel automatic renewals more easily under Connor’s new law

SPRINGFIELD – A new law sponsored by State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) and signed Friday will require businesses to provide a toll-free number, email address, or postal address to ensure that consumers are able to cancel automatically renewing services easily and quickly.

“Getting into automatic renewal contracts is like quicksand—it is much easier to enroll in them than it is to cancel them,” Connor said. “My goal is to put an end to predatory business practices, and making it easier to cancel subscriptions will help customers.”

Read more: Consumers will be able to cancel automatic renewals more easily under Connor’s new law

Hunter bill will add traffic stop protocol to driver’s education

SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to ensure all new drivers are provided with guidance on how to interact with law enforcement during traffic stops has been signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker.

This legislation was prompted by the deaths of Daunte Wright, Sandra Bland, and many others in cases where traffic stops have escalated into police violence against Black Americans.

Read more: Hunter bill will add traffic stop protocol to driver’s education