Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD - A new law sponsored by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) gives public workers a better way to save for retirement.

“I’m happy the governor signed this plan to make better retirement savings available to many people in Illinois,” Martwick said. “Encouraging public workers to invest in their retirement early on will allow for greater savings later in life and a more financially stable future.”

SPRINGFIELD – Today, legislation sponsored by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) that ensures medical coverage for Chicago first responders injured in the line of duty was signed into law by the governor.

“Our firefighters and police officers put themselves in danger every day.  When they are injured in service to our community, their medical treatment should be covered,” said Martwick.

CHICAGO – The board of Chicago Public Schools will be fully elected thanks to a new law spearheaded by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago).

“With today’s historic new law, our great city is now on track to be at the forefront of community-led education,” Martwick said. “Parents have always deserved a say in how their kids’ schools are run, and now, they’ll have it. An elected school board opens up a world of possibilities, and because of it, the future of Chicago’s youth is bright.”

House Bill 2908 creates a fully elected school board for Chicago Public Schools that will be in effect after Nov. 2026. In Nov. 2024, a two-year hybrid period begins, with 10 members being elected to four-year terms, 10 members being appointed by the mayor to two-year terms, and the board president being appointed by the mayor for a four-year term.

SPRINGFIELD – Today the Illinois House of Representatives passed legislation, House Bill 2908, spearheaded by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-10) and Representative Delia Ramirez that would enact an elected school board for Chicago Public Schools. Martwick issued the following statement:

“Creating an elected school board allows for more accountability, more democracy, and more community influence on our city’s school board. We need a school board that acts in the interests of our students, families, and communities.

SPRINGFIELD – A group of Chicago-based state Senators, led by State Senator Robert Martwick (Senate District 10), is celebrating the Senate passage of a proposal to enact an elected school board for Chicago Public Schools. Martwick issued the following statement:

“Today’s win in the culmination of a decade-long fight that is an important step toward giving our communities a say in how the schools their children attend are run. We’re delivering accountability to the school board and ensuring that the people who will be making the decisions about how CPS is run and will always act in the best interests of CPS students and families.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) is pushing legislation to help schools identify students who are at higher risk of suicide, in order to help provide those students with more resources.

 “We know there are certain factors that put people of greater risk of suicidal thoughts,” Martwick said. “Recognizing this fact and providing students who may need help with more resources could save lives.”

This legislation requires schools to adopt policies that prioritize students who may be at higher risk of suicide for intervention. This includes students who are suffering from a mental health or substance abuse disorder, have a history of self-harm or attempted suicide, are experiencing housing struggles, have lost a loved one to suicide, and are part of the LGBTQ community.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) passed legislation out of the Illinois Senate Thursday to ensure the mental health needs of school children are met.

House Bill 576 gives students the opportunity to take days off school to focus on their mental health without facing disciplinary action. The proposal comes as suicidal thoughts and mental health struggles among teens continues to rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of suicide in young people increased 56% from 2007 to 2017. 

“Students experiencing mental health struggles need to know that they will not be disciplined for attending to their mental health.” Martwick said. “Giving students the opportunity to make up their work allows them to stay on track and not feel the pressure of falling behind.”

Under the measure, public school students would be able to take excused absence days to prioritize their mental or behavioral health.  Students who are granted an excused absence would be able to make up all work missed.

“It is important to remove barriers to students getting help when they need it,” Martwick said. “After all, mental health is every bit as important as physical health.”

HB 576 now returns to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – According to a CNBC report, 15% of American have no retirements savings. State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) wants to change that by expanding the Secure Choice Savings Program – Illinois’ landmark program to help everyone save for retirement.

“Saving for retirement is hard, and people honestly need help,” Martwick said. “We’ve already seen that the Secure Choice Savings Program makes a difference. Having retirement savings taken directly out of your paycheck before you ever see the money reduces the temptation to spend it.”

The program creates a default retirement savings program for people whose employers don’t provide retirement plans, which they must opt out of if they don’t want to participate.