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Senator Mike Halpin advances legislation to limit EpiPen costs

Details
Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 06:59 PM
  • EpiPen
  • Halpin
  • HB3639

halpin 042523SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin advanced legislation that limits the cost of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors, commonly known by the brand name EpiPens, to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack.

"No family should have to choose between paying for life-saving medication and putting food on the table," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "This legislation is a major step towards making EpiPens more affordable and accessible to all Illinoisans who need them."

Read more: Senator Mike Halpin advances legislation to limit EpiPen costs

Halpin leads measure to increase access to higher education

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Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 06:04 PM
  • Higher Education
  • Halpin
  • HB3759

halpin 041823SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin advanced legislation that aims to increase access to higher education by modernizing and removing barriers to student directory information. 

“By expanding access to student directory information, we can ensure that students are presented options and can make informed decisions about their future,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “We want to keep Illinois students in Illinois for higher education, and this information will help.”

One of the key components of the legislation is expanding access to student directory information to public higher education institutions in Illinois. By Jan. 1, 2024, student directory information must be made available electronically through a secure centralized data system for official recruiting representatives of the armed forces of Illinois and the United States and to public higher education institutions in Illinois. This will allow colleges and universities to reach high school students more effectively, at a lower cost, and inform them of educational and career opportunities for their school.

Read more: Halpin leads measure to increase access to higher education

EMT recruitment legislation sponsored by Halpin, Anderson passes Senate

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Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 06:34 PM
  • SB1750
  • EMTs
  • Halpin
  • Training Expenses

halpin 032923SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Mike Halpin passed a measure through the Senate aimed at creating incentives to recruit much-needed emergency medical technicians in Illinois fire departments.

“Now that we’ve gotten this passed, we need to ensure the money is appropriated in this year’s budget,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “I look forward to working with Senator Anderson to get it done.”

Senate Bill 1750 would require the board of trustees of a fire protection district to reimburse the mandatory training expenses of EMTs, EMT-Is, A-EMTs or paramedics who are employed by or under contract with the district. The mandatory training expenses would be covered by a state-funded program.

Read more: EMT recruitment legislation sponsored by Halpin, Anderson passes Senate

Rock Island gets an economic development victory

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Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Thursday, March 23, 2023 05:30 PM
  • Halpin
  • SB 1897
  • Rock Island Regional Pord District

032323CM0561 halpin 032323

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s legislation creating the Rock Island Regional Port District passed the Senate on Thursday.

"There’s nothing more rewarding than passing legislation that helps our local community," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "This legislation is another tool for economic growth in the City of Rock Island."

The establishment of the Rock Island Regional Port District aligns with the goal of encouraging the use of waterways to efficiently transport goods and provide for economies of scale. The Port District will also boost recreation and tourism activities along the river. The Rock Island Regional Port District will be the twentieth public port district in Illinois, joining the likes of the Waukegan Port District and the Illinois International Port District.

Read more: Rock Island gets an economic development victory

Halpin measure creates the Rock Island Regional Port District

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Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Thursday, March 09, 2023 01:17 PM
  • Transportation
  • Halpin
  • Rock Island Regional Port District Act
  • Waterways
  • SB 1897

Sen. Mike Halpin

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin passed a measure through committee with bipartisan support that creates the Rock Island Regional Port District Act. The Rock Island Regional Port District will be established within the limits of the City of Rock Island, with the Rock Island City Council serving as the governing and administrative body of the district.

"There are 19 other Regional Port Districts in Illinois, and I believe that it makes sense economically to create one here in Rock Island," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "The Rock Island Regional Port District has the potential to bring economic development and job creation to the area, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this district will have on our community."

The establishment of the Rock Island Regional Port District aligns with the goal of encouraging the use of waterways to efficiently transport goods, and to provide for economies of scale. The Port District will also boost recreation and tourism activities along the river. The Rock Island Regional Port District will be the twentieth public port district in Illinois, joining the likes of the Waukegan Port District and the Illinois International Port District.

Read more: Halpin measure creates the Rock Island Regional Port District

Halpin, Anderson measure to assist in EMT recruitment

Details
Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Wednesday, March 08, 2023 04:29 PM
  • First Responders
  • EMTs
  • Fire Departments
  • Halpin
  • SB 1750

030723CM0584 copy Halpin

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin and State Senator Neil Anderson announced the advancement of Senate Bill 1750, aimed at creating incentives to recruit much-needed emergency medical technicians in Illinois fire departments.

"EMTs are critical to the safety and wellbeing of our communities," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "We hope to create incentives for individuals to pursue a career in emergency medical services and to help alleviate the shortage of EMTs in our fire departments. By reimbursing the mandatory training expenses for EMTs, we can make this career path more accessible and affordable for aspiring candidates and ensure that our fire departments have the necessary personnel to respond to emergencies."

The bill would require the board of trustees of a fire protection district to reimburse the mandatory training expenses of EMTs, EMT-Is, A-EMTs, or paramedics who are employed by or under contract with the district. The mandatory training expenses would be covered by a state funded program.

Read more: Halpin, Anderson measure to assist in EMT recruitment

Sen. Halpin addresses Quad Cities Rail project roadblock

Details
Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 03:14 PM
  • Passenger Rail
  • Halpin
  • Moline
  • Quad Cities

Halpin QC Passenger Rail20231

 

MOLINE – State Senator Mike Halpin join Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati’s press conference on Monday regarding the Quad Cities Passenger Rail project that has been in talks for years.

“This money was there when I first took office in January 2017 and Governor Pritzker announced its renewal with our 2019 budget during his first year in office,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “Too much time has passed to simply rely on Iowa Interstate Railroad to do the right thing.”

The rail project has had the support of multiple presidential administrations, governors, state representatives, state senators, mayors and city councils. Despite agreement on the need for the project, Iowa Interstate Railroad, a private company that controls the 50 miles of track that would connect Chicago and the Quad Cities, has been a barrier to getting the project finalized.

Read more: Sen. Halpin addresses Quad Cities Rail project roadblock

Senator Halpin advances measure to combat human trafficking

Details
Category: Senator Mike Halpin News
Thursday, February 23, 2023 10:28 AM
  • Human Trafficking
  • State Government
  • Halpin
  • Lodging
  • SB 1236

0222230920KP Halpin

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin advanced a measure through the Senate State Government Committee which will require lodging establishments in Illinois to provide Human Trafficking Recognition Training (HTRT) to their employees in order to receive state and local funds.

"Human trafficking is a terrible crime that destroys lives and tears apart families," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "We have a responsibility to do everything we can to combat this heinous practice and ensure that our state is a safe and welcoming place for all people.”

The legislation aims to combat human trafficking in Illinois by ensuring that employees of lodging establishments are trained to recognize and report signs of human trafficking. By making HTRT a requirement for lodging establishments to receive state and local funds, the bill will create a strong incentive for businesses to invest in training their employees and help prevent human trafficking from occurring in Illinois.

Read more: Senator Halpin advances measure to combat human trafficking

More Articles …

  1. Western Illinois set to receive $840k in academic support funding
  2. Sen. Halpin and Rep. Johnson announce committee assignments
  3. Senator Halpin announces more than $3 million coming to Macomb
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