ISDC
  • Home
  • Senators
    • Alphabetical
    • Committees
    • Leadership
    • Find My Senator
  • Caucus News
    • ILBC Committee Roundup
    • Subscribe
    • Majority Report
  • Issues
    • Agriculture
    • Budget
    • Business
    • Criminal Law
    • Diabetes
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Ethics
    • Health
    • Higher Education
    • Law Enforcement
    • Seniors
    • Transportation
    • Veterans
  • Multimedia
    • Monthly Minute
    • Photo of the Day
    • Sound of the State
  • Resources
    • Bills / Resolutions
    • Fact Sheets
    • For Educators
    • I Like Illinois
    • Illinois Compiled Statutes
    • Illinois General Assembly
    • Internships
    • Media Guidelines
    • NCSL
    • Senate Schedule
  • About the Senate
  • Contact Us
    • How to contact a Senator
    • Employment
    • Submit Feedback
  • ILBC Pillars
    • Pillar 1
    • Pillar 2
    • Pillar 3
    • Pillar 4
  • COVID-19

Villanueva leads measure to strengthen crime victims’ rights and prevent deceptive investigations

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Tuesday, May 06, 2025 05:18 PM
  • HB3710
  • Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights

050824CM0736SPRINGFIELD – In a continued effort to ensure survivors of crime are treated with dignity and respect from the moment they come forward, State Senator Celina Villanueva is leading legislation to protect victims from deceptive practices during investigations.

“Survivors of crime deserve compassion and transparency—not manipulation,” said Senator Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This measure makes it clear that basic dignity and truthfulness are not an option during investigations—they’re a right.”

Read more: Villanueva leads measure to strengthen crime victims’ rights and prevent deceptive investigations

Villanueva leads measure to raise wages for workers supporting individuals with disabilities

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 04:44 PM
  • Villanueva
  • IDHS
  • SB 1617
  • Reimbursement rates
  • DSPs amd frontline staff

Villanueva PCSPRINGFIELD – At a press conference on Wednesday, State Senator Celina Villanueva reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening Illinois care infrastructure by advancing legislation to improve compensation for Direct Support Professionals who provide critical daily care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Direct Support Professionals are the backbone of care for thousands of Illinois residents living with disabilities,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Their wages should reflect the essential, often demanding work they do every day. This measure gives us the opportunity to move toward equity and dignity for this workforce.”

Under Senate Bill 1617, the Illinois Department of Human Services would be required to increase reimbursement rates for community agencies and residential programs that employ DSPs and other frontline staff. The measure aims to support a $2 per hour wage increase for DSPs by July 1, 2025, pending federal approval.

Read more: Villanueva leads measure to raise wages for workers supporting individuals with disabilities

Villanueva strengthens measure to regulate predatory towing

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Tuesday, April 08, 2025 03:13 PM
  • Illinois Commerce Commission
  • SB2040
  • Predatory towing

villanueva 040825SPRINGFIELD – In response to predatory towing practices that take advantage of Illinois drivers, State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced legislation to strengthen enforcement against bad actors and ensure safer roads for drivers. 

"For too long, predatory towing operators have taken advantage of unsuspecting drivers, leaving them with outrageous fees, missing belongings, and no recourse,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This legislation is about restoring fairness and accountability to the system, ensuring that no one falls victim to these deceptive practices.”

 

Read more: Villanueva strengthens measure to regulate predatory towing

Villanueva recognizes March 25 as Equal Pay Day

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Thursday, March 20, 2025 03:38 PM
  • Villanueva
  • SR158
  • Equal Pay Day

032025CM1695rSPRINGFIELD — Despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women across the country still do not earn wages equal to those of their male counterparts —leading State Senator Celina Villanueva to name March 25, 2025 Equal Pay Day in Illinois.

"Equal pay is not just a women's issue—it is an economic issue that affects families, communities, and the overall health of our economy," said Villanueva (D-Chicago). "We must continue to push for policies that close the wage gap and ensure that every worker in Illinois is fairly compensated for their work."

Senate Resolution 158 highlights the pay disparities faced by women and other marginalized groups. The average woman must work until March 25 to earn what the average man earned the previous year.

Read more: Villanueva recognizes March 25 as Equal Pay Day

Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus stood with home care workers in fight for living wage

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 11:17 AM
  • SEIU Healthcare
  • SB120

031825CM0047SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, including State Senators Celina Villanueva and Graciela Guzmán as well as other Senate colleagues, stood alongside Service Employees International Union members to push for a dignified pay for home care workers in Illinois at a rally Tuesday.

“Direct service workers are on the front lines, ensuring that our most vulnerable are taken care of and are able to live an independent and dignified life,” stated Guzmán (D- Chicago). “A living wage is the bare minimum of what these workers need and deserve.”

Read more: Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus stood with home care workers in fight for living wage

Villanueva introduces bill to regulate predatory towing

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 04:05 PM
  • Villanueva
  • SB2040
  • Predatory towing

VillanuevaSPRINGFIELD – In response to predatory towing practices that take advantage of Illinois motorists, State Senator Celina Villanueva introduced a measure to strengthen enforcement against bad actors and ensure safer roads for drivers during a press conference Wednesday. 

“Legitimate, law-abiding towers also suffer from these bad practices,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This legislation is about protecting drivers, cracking down on predatory towers, and ensuring that Illinois has the enforcement tools necessary to hold violators accountable.”

Currently, the Illinois Commerce Commission issues fines to violators, but many of the worst offenders ignore penalties and continue operating under new business names. Senate Bill 2040 would strengthen enforcement by allowing the ICC to impound unregistered tow trucks, authorizing the Secretary of State to suspend license plates for unpaid fines, and requiring tow operators to register business and storage locations to prevent vehicles from being held at unlisted lots. The bill also would ban fraudulent towers from obtaining new licenses for three years and prohibit operators from placing liens on essential personal property left in a towed vehicle.

Read more: Villanueva introduces bill to regulate predatory towing

Karina’s Law signed to protect domestic violence survivors thanks to Villanueva

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Monday, February 10, 2025 12:15 PM
  • Firearms Restraining Order
  • Karina's Law
  • HB4144
  • Survivors of Domestic Violence

karina signed 021025 2SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva’s transformative measure aimed at safeguarding survivors of domestic violence has been signed into law.  Karina’s Law enables the swift confiscation of firearms from individuals subject to emergency restraining orders, addressing critical gaps that have left survivors at risk.

“This law reflects our unwavering commitment to safeguarding survivors when they need it most,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Karina’s Law empowers law enforcement to act decisively, preventing tragedies and honoring the memory of Karina and Daniela.”

Read more: Karina’s Law signed to protect domestic violence survivors thanks to Villanueva

Villanueva passes Karina’s Law to protect domestic violence survivors

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Monday, January 06, 2025 08:39 PM
  • Domestic Violence
  • Protective Order
  • Karina's Law
  • Slideshow
  • Confiscating Firearms from Abusers
  • HB4144

villanueva 010625SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva passed Karina’s Law, a groundbreaking measure designed to enhance protections for survivors of domestic violence by allowing for the prompt confiscation of firearms from individuals subject to emergency restraining orders. The legislation, named in honor of Karina Gonzalez and her daughter Daniela, addresses critical gaps in current laws that left survivors vulnerable to harm.

“Today, we honor Karina and Daniela by taking decisive action to protect domestic violence survivors,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Karina’s Law ensures that firearms are removed from the hands of abusers when survivors need protection the most. This legislation is a life-saving step forward for Illinois families.”

Read more: Villanueva passes Karina’s Law to protect domestic violence survivors

More Articles …

  1. Villanueva protects warehouse workers
  2. Villanueva law to protect driving privileges
  3. Villanueva law to increase business loan opportunities for underserved communities
  4. Villanueva law safeguards and upholds reproductive rights
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10

Page 1 of 15

Follow ILSenDems

Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Sign up for the Majority Report

Laws Going Into Effect 2025

Employment Opportunities

Find Your Senator

Senate Schedule

Bills & Resolutions

SPRINGFIELD OFFICE

phone(217) 782-2728

phone309 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Senate Floor, Illinois State Capitol, Springfield, IL

Senate President Don Harmon © 2025 Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus
FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTube
CHICAGO OFFICE

phone(312) 814-2075

phone160 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 720
Chicago, IL 60601