SPRINGFIELD – Public school teachers and employees who are about to become new parents will have greater flexibility on how they can use their sick time for parental leave as part of a new law sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).

“In 2021 families are formed in their own unique ways. Teachers and employees who have earned sick time should have flexibility in how and when they use this earned time” Feigenholtz said. “Many new families today, especially LGBTQ+ and single-parent families, function differently than when these laws were written. Every family is unique and deserves the right to decide how to use their sick time in the way that best suits them.”

Creates Historic Statewide Affordable Housing Law

CHICAGO – More Illinois residents will have affordable housing options thanks to a measure championed by a team of State Senators Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) that was signed into law Thursday.

“One of Illinois’ biggest challenges has always been affordable housing, which was amplified during the pandemic,” Feigenholtz said. “Housing was our top priority this legislative session. Finding a way to provide incentives to local mom-and-pop landlords and new developments to keep rent affordable for future and existing tenants was the goal of this legislation.”

CHICAGO – A pair of proposals that State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) sponsored to modernize marriage certificates in Illinois are now law, after being signed by the governor Tuesday.

“Today, we commit to righting the wrongs of the past and providing a path for our residents to live a life that truly reflects how they identify,” Feigenholtz said.

Under Senate Bill 139, married couples will now be able to request a marriage certificate from their county clerk without any gender identifying language. This includes changing terms like "bride" and "groom" to gender neutral alternatives, such as "spouse."

SPRINGFIELD – A new law sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) will help streamline the adoption process in Illinois.

“Prospective parents waiting to adopt have shared their challenges in the adoption process,” Feigenholtz said. “This legislation will ease some of these challenges and streamline the process while protecting the best interest of the child. Bringing a child into a loving home through the process of adoption should be a blessed experience.”

Measure paves the way to more efficient patient care

SPRINGFIELD – A bill sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) that allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to attest to their completed clinical hours was signed into law Friday.

“Our allied health care workers are stretched to the limit—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Feigenholtz said. “This new law will assist Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who have completed their clinical training hours to self-attest and eliminate delays that some APRNs have been experiencing.”

Senator Feigenholtz was the chief sponsor of the original Full Practice Authority law, passed in 2017, and took the lead on this important follow-up legislation.

CHICAGO – Illinois bars and restaurants will have more options and more time to utilize the state’s “cocktails-to-go” program under a new law sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).

“Many business owners in the hospitality industry were worried about recovering from COVID-19-related losses to their business,” Feigenholtz said. “We passed cocktails-to-go last year as a response to the pandemic, and it was a lifeline to restaurants. Expanding this further to give struggling bars and restaurants more options for cash management is crucial.”

SPRINGFIELD – On Saturday, the Illinois Senate approved State Senator Sara Feigenholtz’s measure that would restrict the use of restraints on children in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services during transfers.

“Children at DCFS are our state’s most vulnerable population,” said Feigenholtz. “They have had enough trauma.  We need to ensure shackling them will never happen.”

Over the past few years, there have been several reported instances of shackles and other hard restraints being used during the transport of youth under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services. Feigenholtz’s measure ensures that DCFS treat youth in their care with dignity at all times, which would effectively ban the use of restraints during transportation.

Measure also includes month-long vaccination incentive

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) expanding the state’s “cocktails-to-go” program was approved by the Senate Sunday and will head to the governor.

“The hospitality industry was hit the hardest by the pandemic,” Feigenholtz said. “Our favorite local bars and restaurants are the cornerstones of our communities. Sadly, we have lost many that were unable to survive the shutdown. This legislation will help restaurants and bars survive the pandemic by continuing cocktails-to-go delivery along with the other cash management methods.”

Senate Bill 104 extends the sunset on cocktails-to-go until Jan. 3, 2024, allows single servings of wine to be available for delivery, and allows for products filled, labeled and sealed by the manufacturer to be included. It also provides businesses with options for cash flow management during lean times by allowing retailers to pay their distributors for wine and spirits with a credit card.