SPRINGFIELD — A new initiative that would revolutionize how Illinois communities heat and cool their homes and businesses – while also cutting costs and creating new job opportunities – is on the horizon, thanks to State Senator Robert Peters.

“Illinois has an opportunity to lead the way in energy innovation while making it possible for working families to see real savings on their utility bills,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This bill invests in our communities, supports good-paying jobs and prioritizes the transition to cost-effective, sustainable heating and cooling solutions.”

Under Peters’ measure, Illinois electric and gas utilities would have to propose up to three pilot thermal energy network projects, with at least one located in an economically disadvantaged community. These networks would deliver non-combustible thermal energy, reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels, and providing more stable and predictable heating and cooling costs for customers.

SPRINGFIELDState Senator Ram Villivalam joined nurses, nursing home administrators and a bipartisan group of legislators in calling for an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes, continuing his commitment to supporting seniors as the 8^th District has the highest concentration of nursing homes in the state.

“Day in and day out, these homes care for our loved ones with compassion and respect, but they need our help. It's no secret that the cost of everything has gone up,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “From nutritious meals to keeping the lights on, running these facilities is more expensive than ever. Funding that might have gotten the job done in 2017 will not cut it in 2025.”

SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, State Senator Lakesia Collins joined Service Employees International Union members to advocate for safe nursing home staffing levels and spoke about the care in long-term facilities and the options available to Illinois seniors.

“Short staffing can affect the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of workers and often times we have no idea what they are going through and the challenges they face,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “Workers are often punished by shortages with higher workloads and longer hours due to the understaffing, and are often the first to blame when they were the ones who showed up to work.”

Prior to joining the General Assembly, Collins served as a certified nursing assistant in nursing homes and is a strong advocate for care workers and nursing home residents.

SPRINGFIELD – 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.”

SPRINGFIELD — After serving their country, many veterans grapple with securing their next meal — a reality State Senator Julie Morrison is working to address through legislation that would allow more Illinois military families to access federal food benefits.

“Food insecurity is a real issue affecting veterans throughout the state, including in the 29^th District,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We cannot stand by as those who dedicated their time and safety to defend us go hungry.”

SPRINGFIELD – A new measure from State Senator Laura Murphy would close a loophole that leaves schools in the dark about educator misconduct investigations.

“Children must be protected at school, and to do so, the districts must be kept up to date about the teachers they employ,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “A school district has a right to know if an educator they have employed is the subject of a misconduct investigation.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois wastes close to 3.8 billion tons of food each year. In an effort to reduce the amount of food products we throw away, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working on new rules for product labeling.

“We are likely all guilty of throwing away food that seems fine but is past its expiration date,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “I want to ensure we are getting the most out of our food products, and I think this new measure I’m working on will help us get there.”

Senate Bill 2072 builds on legislation passed in 2023 that defined safety and quality dates and directed the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Department of Public Health to publish information to encourage food manufacturers and retailers to voluntarily use these terms on food product labels.

SPRINGFIELD — After an Illinois woman had a negative experience with police when filing her sexual assault report, State Senator Mary Edly-Allen worked alongside her to create Anna’s Law, or Senate Bill 1195, to address a lack of trauma-informed response training within the state.

“No one should be subjected to being re-traumatized and invalidated in any situation,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “After working with the Illinois State Police, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board and the Illinois Chiefs of Police I am hopeful that this will greatly improve the current training practices in place.”

Under Senate Bill 1195, police would be required to be trained on how to identify conflicts of interest between officers who may be familiar with victims or those accused of a crime and the options that are available to them on how to address it.