Caucus News

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro is encouraging eligible organizations and businesses to apply for $2.4 million in state tourism grant funding announced by Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

“The state’s $2.4 million investments in these tourism grant programs will build upon the success of our tourism industry while creating economic opportunities for Illinoisans,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “The Tourism Attraction and Tourism Private Sector grant programs are incredible opportunities for eligible entities to gain state support for their tourism endeavors across Illinois.”

ELGIN — To strengthen student engagement and support academic success, a new law championed by State Senator Cristina Castro will create a statewide school cellphone ban, helping schools foster distraction-free learning environments.

“Teachers should not have to compete with a cellphone for a student’s attention,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “By removing this distraction from the classroom, we are giving educators a better opportunity to engage students and help them succeed.” 

Under the new law, each school district in Illinois will adopt a policy prohibiting students from using wireless communication devices during school time – often referred to as a “bell-to-bell” ban on cellphones during the school day – on or before the 2027-2028 school year. The Illinois State Board of Education is required to publish a template wireless communication device policy by Sept. 1, 2026 to provide guidance for local school districts when implementing their own policies. 

Students who need access to a device for medical purposes, accommodation plans, language access or because they are a caregiver are exempt. School districts can exclude lunch and passing periods for high school students if it fits the needs of their community. To ensure students are not met with restrictive punishments that set academic progress back, school districts cannot enforce their cellphone policies via expulsions, suspensions, fines, tickets or citations.

Over three-quarters of public schools in the U.S. prohibit students from using cellphones during class, including many school districts in Illinois. School districts with substantially similar policies already in place can maintain those policies until the 2030-2031 school year under Castro’s law.

“When students put their phones down, they are more likely to participate, collaborate and learn,” said Castro. “This law is about giving students every opportunity to succeed and ensuring classrooms remain places where education comes first.”

Senate Bill 2427 was signed into law Tuesday and took immediate effect.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Cristina Castro spearheaded a new law that will provide ease of communication between police officers and drivers with an autism spectrum disorder.

“Strong communities depend on strong partnerships between residents and law enforcement,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “When officers can more effectively serve their communities, it leads to improved trust, accountability and outcomes for everybody.”

Nationwide, the Blue Envelope Program is a community-driven, voluntary initiative designed to improve communication and reduce stress during encounters between law enforcement and individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Advocacy groups such as the Autism Hero Project have led efforts to establish Blue Envelope Programs in states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia.

SPRINGFIELD — Under a new law led by State Senator Cristina Castro, unaccompanied immigrant children will have a path to Illinois’ legal system and access to comprehensive resources and social services following abuse, neglect or abandonment.

“All children deserve protection, no matter their immigration status or background,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “We have a moral obligation to uplift those in need, especially children.”

Under the federal administration, unaccompanied immigrant children are being held in federal detention, often for months with no end in sight – a practice that not only inflicts physical and psychological harm but also precludes youth from being able to seek legal protections such as a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status order. While the number of children and the network of shelters that house them have decreased in recent years, the average length of stay for young people has more than tripled between 2015 and 2025. 

SPRINGFIELD — To keep students engaged in the classroom and promote better academic outcomes, State Senator Cristina Castro sponsored a measure that would ban cellphones during school time.

“Academic success depends on students being present during class so they can perform their best,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Keeping students’ minds engaged with teachers ensures a productive classroom environment.” 

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a plan to establish a pilot program for local school charter authorization.

“Accountability should be at the forefront when making decisions about students’ education,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Having educational decision makers with their ears to the ground will allow them to better advocate for students’ needs.”

The vast majority of charter schools in Illinois are locally authorized – meaning they apply directly for authorization with their local school board. State-authorized charter schools apply for authorization through the Illinois State Board of Education rather than their local school board. Because current law does not allow school board oversight of state-authorized charter schools, Castro’s legislation aims to create a pilot program to provide this mechanism for two suburban state-authorized charter schools.

SPRINGFIELD — Drivers with an autism spectrum disorder could see improved interactions with police officers during traffic stops with a measure passed by State Senator Cristina Castro.

“People deserve to feel seen, heard and respected when interacting with law enforcement,” said Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). “Creating stronger connections between officers and the communities they serve helps build trust and leads to better outcomes for everyone.”

Nationwide, the Blue Envelope Program is a community-driven, voluntary initiative designed to improve communication and reduce stress during encounters between law enforcement and individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Advocacy groups such as the Autism Hero Project have led efforts to establish Blue Envelope Programs in states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia.

SPRINGFIELD — To close gaps in health care that new mothers and their children face before their standard six-week postpartum checkup, State Senator Cristina Castro led a measure through the Senate that would expand at-home care for newborns and their families.

“Providing a community and resources for new mothers and their children delivers stability in a critical period of their lives,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “The challenges of becoming a new parent should not be faced alone.”