SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus met with students from throughout Illinois at the Capitol Tuesday during their annual Tech Day event, which showcases student-made technological projects.

“Every year, Tech Day shows us just how brilliant Illinois students are becoming,” said State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). “As long as we continue to value STEM education in Illinois, we invest in our states future as an innovative workforce. These students are already solving complex problems, and it’s our job to ensure they have the resources to keep learning in this highly dynamic field of study”

The Illinois Digital Educators Alliance collaborates with Tech Day to provide students with a platform for showcasing their robotics, coding software design and digital innovation projects to state legislators. The event demonstrates the vital role of science, mathematics and engineering in education as it prepares students for their future careers.

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus gathered to honor firefighters who risked their lives on the job during the 32^nd annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony.

The Illinois Firefighter Memorial honors the courageous firefighters of Illinois who have valiantly given their lives in the line of duty, as well as those who continue to serve with courage, pride and honor. The ceremony also gives families of fallen firefighters the Line of Duty Death Award in recognition of their loved ones’ bravery and resilience.

Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus condemns DHS Secretary's Springfield visit

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus condemns the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s visit to Springfield this week, viewing it as yet another attempt by this administration to instill fear within our Latino and immigrant communities. In response, the ILLC released the following statement:

“It is both sinister and cowardly that Noem would choose Latino Unity Day—a celebration of community advocacy—to undermine immigrant voices. This calculated move aims to fuel anxiety and polarization while exploiting our resilience for political gain."

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Senate passes Glowiak Hilton bill to help sexual assault survivors get home from treatment

SPRINGFIELD – After experiencing a sexual assault, survivors often face the added stress of figuring out how to get to a safe location once their medical exam is complete. To help ease this burden, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton advanced a bill that would expand the state’s sexual assault services voucher program to cover transportation following treatment.

“No one should be left stranded after a traumatic experience,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This bill makes sure survivors can get to their next destination safely, without worrying about the cost.”

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Loughran Cappel works to remove statute of limitations for child trafficking

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel passed a measure out of committee that would allow individuals trafficked or exploited as minors more time to bring forth charges.

“The victims of crimes like these can take time to come forward because of trauma or other hardships,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Eliminating the time restriction would help ensure survivors can tell their story when they feel ready, not when the law says so.”

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Senate Democrats wear sneakers for Cancer Awareness

SPRINGFIELD – During a busy legislative session day, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus put on their best sneakers with their usual session attire to demonstrate support for cancer patients and survivors throughout the state.

“This day is more than a symbolic gesture, it’s a reminder that cancer can touch every community, every family and every heart,” said State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign). “For members of the General Assembly, wearing sneakers with our professional attire highlights the importance of funding cancer research, promoting early detection and ensuring access to care for all. It’s a small step that speaks to a much larger cause, calling for continued awareness, advocacy and action.”

Read more.

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SPRINGFIELD — Continuing her efforts to protect the dignity and rights of LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz advanced legislation this week to update Illinois’ property laws with gender-neutral language.

“I’m proud of what Illinois has done to support the LGBTQ+ community, from updating our marriage laws with gender-neutral language to easing barriers to name changes,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “House Bill 1083 continues this critical work of ensuring Illinois’ laws give people the freedom to live as their true, authentic selves.”

Current law only references property transfers between a husband and wife, which has led to lengthy delays in real estate transactions for same-sex couples and transgender individuals in Illinois. Feigenholtz’s proposal addresses this problem by revising state law to refer to married couples with gender-neutral language, giving clarity to title companies and ensuring same-sex couples do not face barriers to acquiring or transferring property.

SPRINGFIELD — Like large urban centers throughout the country, downtown Chicago faces critical challenges coming out of the pandemic as people make different decisions about how and where they live, work, dine and play — something State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is working to change.

“With hybrid workforces, evolving consumer habits and low office occupancy rates across the central business district, Chicago is in need of a united revitalization effort,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “By carefully examining what other cities have done to bounce back from post-pandemic challenges, we can creatively and sustainably rebuild our vibrant, thriving downtown economy.”

Feigenholtz is working to create the Chicago Downtown Revitalization Task Force. The task force would study factors impacting long-term growth in Chicago’s central business district and recommend innovative policies to enhance economic activity, attract travelers and investments, and increase the overall vitality of the city’s central business district.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa successfully led a resolution through the Senate to declare May 8, 2025 as Quinceañera Day in Illinois, celebrating the Latin American tradition while highlighting the 15th anniversary of Latino Unity Day.

“A quinceañera is a tradition centered in community, bringing together every person who has contributed to the upbringing of a young girl,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “It is a reflection of our culture, which understands that substantial change takes a village, whether it is in raising a family or uplifting our community.”

Senate Resolution 248 was adopted in honor of the 15^th anniversary of Latino Unity Day – the largest day of advocacy in Springfield for the Latino community in Illinois. Quinceañera, derived from the Spanish word “quince,” meaning fifteen, is a celebration for a girl’s 15^th birthday that incorporates indigenous and catholic traditions. The purpose of a quinceañera is to mark a young girl’s transition into adulthood.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes’ measure to keep a closer watch on Illinois’ gray foxes moved a step nearer to becoming law on Thursday.

The gray fox population in Illinois and much of the Midwest has been declining over the last 30 years, primarily due to diseases like canine distemper and competition with coyotes, but current law doesn’t allow the state to act on population changes and adjust the hunting season. House Bill 3760 would give the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the authority to set the hunting and trapping seasons for the gray fox based on current research and population data. Other states including Indiana, Ohio and Iowa, are also looking at potential legislation to address this issue.

“The Illinois Department of Natural Resources can be more proactive in managing the gray fox population to avoid further declines and remove extra pressure on the population,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “This applies for the 2025 hunting and trapping season only to provide adequate notice for hunters and trappers. IDNR can consider readjusting their season when the population rebounds.”

SPRINGFIELD — In response to the federal administration’s plan to collect private medical information, Governor JB Pritzker issued an executive order to restrict autism-related data collection and sharing.

State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest), who has served as co-chair of the bipartisan and bicameral Disability and Accessibly Caucus, commended the state’s response, releasing the following statement:

“The federal administration has depicted individuals with autism as those who do not lead fulfilling lives or contribute to their communities, and that can’t be further from the truth. Tracking individuals with autism — what Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy has declared ‘a tragedy’ and ‘an epidemic’ — will reduce them to a data point without clarity on how this information will be used.