Preston’s food safety act passes committee

CHICAGO — State Senator Willie Preston  advanced new legislation to ban harmful chemicals in candy, soda and other food items sold and produced in Illinois.

“People should be able to trust that the food they buy is safe,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “As a father, it really concerns me that some of my family’s favorite food items have harmful chemicals in them.”

Senate Bill 2637 will ban specific, dangerous food additives from being used in the manufacturing, delivering, distributing, holding or selling of food products. These additives include brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye no. 3.

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Toro to mitigate gentrification in 20th District with tax relief legislation

SPRINGFIELD — To assist long-term homeowners from being priced out of their neighborhoods, State Senator Natalie Toro has introduced legislation that would expand eligibility for the long-time occupant homestead exemption.

“Historic communities should not be disrupted because of greed,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “This measure will give established homeowners more opportunity to keep their homes, preserving communities that have been cornerstones for generations.”

Under Toro’s measure, the threshold for qualifying for the long-time occupant exemption would be lowered, allowing more homeowners to benefit. Currently, homeowners must experience a property assessment increase exceeding certain percentages to be eligible for the exemption. Senate Bill 2845 would lower these percentages from 10% to 5% for households earning between $75,000 and $100,000, and from 7% to 3% for households earning $75,000 or less. The property must also be occupied for 10 continuous years or 5 continuous years if the person receives assistance to acquire the property as part of a government or nonprofit housing program.

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Ventura introduces bill to legalize Psilocybin in Illinois under limited use to treat mental health conditions

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura filed legislation in Illinois that would legalize psilocybin for adult-supervised use in a licensed service center. The legislation, known as the CURE ACT (Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act), aims to tackle treatment-resistant conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. Additionally, it facilitates research into the safety and efficacy of psilocybin through medical, psychological, and scientific studies.

“As mental health concerns rise throughout our state and nation, it's imperative to acknowledge that conventional treatments don't always suffice,” stated Ventura (D-Joliet). "Psilocybin shows promise as a potential solution, particularly for those grappling with PTSD and other mental health disorders. The ongoing research and trials have yielded encouraging results."

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Hastings advances measure to connect veterans with careers in government

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois veterans may soon have a new way to connect with careers in state government, thanks to a measure advanced by State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“Our nation’s heroes have worked tirelessly to defend our freedoms and democratic values,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This internship program will serve as another way for veterans to continue their mission after retiring their uniforms by serving our state and engaging in another mode of public service.”

Senate Bill 2769 would require the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to create a Veteran Internship Pilot Program. The program would provide internships to honorably discharged veterans with the opportunity to participate in the General Assembly's legislative staff internship program.

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