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Belt cuts red tape for Illinois hair braiders

Details
Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Wednesday, April 09, 2025 06:40 PM
  • Hair Braiders
  • Cosmetology School Licensing Requirements
  • SB2348

SB2348BeltSPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would eliminate the licensing requirements for hair braiders in Illinois.

“It is common sense to eliminate unnecessary licensing requirements for hair braiders,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Illinois is one of the few states that imposes these stiff requirements, and it’s time we get out of the way and allow individuals to practice their craft and earn a living without unnecessary barriers."

Read more: Belt cuts red tape for Illinois hair braiders

Belt bill to expand manufacturing programs in the Metro East passes Senate

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Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Friday, April 04, 2025 09:29 AM
  • Belt
  • Metro East
  • Labor
  • SB58
  • Manufacturing

Sen. Belt

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt scored a win for Metro East manufacturing and labor with the passage of his bill to enhance career and technical education opportunities.

“If we want to bring back and build up manufacturing in the Metro East, we need to build the labor pool,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Career and technical education can help a young person create a stable career, leading to a stable family and ultimately a stable Metro East.”

Senate Bill 58 would expand a current program that is successful in other parts of the state to the Metro East. The program allows manufacturing companies to partner with local community colleges and high schools to set up technical training programs that would translate directly into a job. This creates a targeted labor pool that connects prospective workers with the manufacturers in their community.

Read more: Belt bill to expand manufacturing programs in the Metro East passes Senate

Belt’s measure would keep more students in Illinois for college

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Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Thursday, April 03, 2025 01:07 PM
  • Video
  • Belt
  • Higher Education
  • SB2448
  • College Admissions

Senators Martwick, Belt, Turner and Edly-Allen (L-R)

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt stood alongside his colleagues to highlight a measure that would simplify the college admissions process for high school seniors and community college transfer students at a press conference Thursday.

“High school seniors and community college transfer students already have enough on their plates,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The last thing they need is a complicated college application process filled with extra fees, paperwork and delays.”

Senate Bill 2448 would grant automatic admission to qualified applicants at all public institutions of higher education and community colleges that participate in the direct admissions program. Under the legislation, students would no longer face the burden of repeated application processes or unnecessary application fees, ensuring a smoother transition into postsecondary education.

Read more: Belt’s measure would keep more students in Illinois for college

Belt secures nearly $1 million clean energy and workforce development grant for East Side Health District

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Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 04:08 PM
  • Belt
  • Workforce Development
  • Clean Energy

Sen. Belt

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt is highlighting nearly $1 million in grant funding to the East Side Health District.

“Securing this funding for the East Side Health District is a proud moment in our continued effort to advance public health, clean energy and workforce development,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The work we’ve done with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is just beginning, and with initiatives like these, we are ensuring that communities in the Metro East are not left behind.”

The East Side Health District received a significant boost in their mission to improve public health and the environment by advancing clean energy and workforce development, securing approximately $1 million to implement energy efficiency measures and expand solar energy initiatives across its six health clinics, serving Stites, Canteen, East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights—areas recognized as environmental justice communities. The Equitable Energy Future Grant Program is funded through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which Belt supported in 2021.

Read more: Belt secures nearly $1 million clean energy and workforce development grant for East Side Health...

Belt works to expand access to blue-collar job training programs in Metro East

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Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Thursday, March 20, 2025 01:44 PM
  • Belt
  • SB58
  • Tech Education

Senator BeltSPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to expand career and technical education programs to support regional manufacturing. 

“A lot of kids grow up thinking that college is the only option to be successful, and while a four-year degree is great, there are plenty of high-paying jobs in the manufacturing industry that young people may not know about,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “For many jobs, kids might become interested because of a parent or family member, and we want to open the door for other youth without similar experiences. Further, for kids who may already be interested in technical education, this bill would give them the experience they need to get a job right away.”

Read more: Belt works to expand access to blue-collar job training programs in Metro East

Belt advances measure to simplify college admissions process for Illinois students

Details
Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 06:48 PM
  • Higher Education Savings Program
  • Community College Students
  • SB2448

belt 031925SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to simplify the college admissions process for high school seniors and community college transfer students.

“To keep more students in our state for college, we have to make the application process as seamless as possible,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We have done a lot of work on the admission process in Illinois in recent years, and this measure is another step in the right direction.”

Senate Bill 2448 would reduce barriers for students by offering direct admission to qualified applicants at all public institutions of higher education and community colleges that participate in the program. Under the legislation, students would no longer face the burden of repeated application processes or unnecessary application fees, ensuring a smoother transition into postsecondary education.

Read more: Belt advances measure to simplify college admissions process for Illinois students

Belt’s measure helps students with reading difficulties get help earlier

Details
Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 04:02 PM
  • Belt
  • SB 1672
  • Literacy Education
  • Kindergarten through Third Grade

Belt SB1672SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to enhance early literacy education for students in kindergarten through third-grade.

“It’s so important that kids receive early intervention if they are having difficulties reading,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The earlier a student is identified as potentially struggling with reading, the sooner intervention and support can start for the student.”

The Illinois State Board of Education created and adopted a Comprehensive Literacy Plan in 2024. The plan acts as a roadmap to enhance and unify core literacy instruction efforts statewide. It is designed to outline necessary supports and resources for literacy reform, ensuring all students receive developmentally appropriate and evidence-based literacy instruction. The purpose of Belt’s measure is to ensure kindergarten through third-grade students receive regular screenings for potential reading difficulties so those needing additional support can be identified early on and receive intervention.

Read more: Belt’s measure helps students with reading difficulties get help earlier

Car seats, cribs for new moms would be covered by insurance under Belt measure

Details
Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Friday, February 21, 2025 03:52 PM
  • Belt
  • Children
  • Child Safety
  • Mothers

Senator BeltSPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt introduced a new measure to alleviate some costs for new mothers in Illinois by requiring all health insurance plans to cover car seats and cribs.

“New moms are shelling out a couple hundred bucks to purchase cribs and car seats, which is essentially a hidden tax on becoming a parent,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Every mother in our state should be afforded the luxury of keeping their child safe in their home and on the road.” 

Read more: Car seats, cribs for new moms would be covered by insurance under Belt measure

More Articles …

  1. Belt secures second round of Illinois Grocery Initiative Funding
  2. Belt urges residents to nominate local school board members for award
  3. New grocery stores coming to Illinois food deserts thanks to Belt’s Grocery Initiative Act
  4. New Belt law promotes more economic equity and opportunity
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