SPRINGFIELD — Disasters take a physical, emotional and financial toll, which can be compounded by inflated prices of essential items during the recovery process. To protect Illinoisans in a time of need, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is working to prevent price gouging immediately following a disaster.

“Tornados are common in Illinois — imagine one destroys your home and you go to the store to purchase diapers only to find the price has tripled. For some, that’s just not feasible,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “The affordability and availability of essential goods is vital for those rebuilding their lives.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson is leading a measure, in collaboration with the Office of the State Treasurer, to establish a state-managed investment pool for non-profits, providing a secure and competitive investment option.

“Non-profits play a critical role in supporting our communities, but many lack access to investment opportunities that help their resources grow,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This initiative ensures they have the same secure and reliable investment opportunities as government entities.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Ram Villivalam is spearheading a measure aimed at providing schools with calendar dates indicating when a portion of students may be absent due to cultural or religious reasons ─ further assisting schools when scheduling major school or athletic events.

“Illinois is home to many diverse communities, which means portions of a student body may be absent due to a cultural or religious holiday at various times throughout the year,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “No student should have to worry about missing an important event, and providing our schools with this information is imperative.”

Currently, the Illinois State Board of Education provides a guide for school districts regarding attendance days, holidays, special circumstances and frequently asked questions about school calendars.

SPRINGFIELD –To ensure dental patients do not have to pay the bill for their visits out of pocket until their claim is processed, State Senator Javier Cervantes is working on legislation that would require insurance to cover visits immediately.

“Patients should not have to worry about a shelling out a majority of their paycheck from visiting a dentist when they have dental insurance,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Thanks to this measure, their visits will be automatically paid by insurance, without making patients go through the reimbursement process.”

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure families and their children are protected from toxic heavy metals, State Senator Laura Fine advanced a measure to strengthen safety regulations for baby foods.

“Parents expect baby food to be manufactured safely,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “By informing families of the potential presence of toxic heavy metals in baby food, we can prevent exposure and give parents peace of mind about what their child is eating.”

To expand safety regulations for baby food, Fine’s bill would require manufacturers to test samples of their baby food products for toxic elements – such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury – and disclose this information directly on the product’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure to require health insurance companies to provide coverage for speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering.

“In Illinois, we are committed to providing topnotch health care for all individuals,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This legislation grants those from all financial backgrounds with an equal opportunity to receive speech therapy services. It also gives them confidence, relief, encouragement, and support.”

Senate Bill 40 would expand coverage for speech therapy to include rehabilitative services in addition to habilitative services for any child under 19 years of age with an early-acquired disorder that is diagnosed as a speech-language disorder, including stuttering.

SPRINGFIELD – Higher education scholarships would be easier to find under a measure sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner that passed the Senate Thursday.

“College is expensive, and scholarships should be easy for students to find,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “There’s a need for a one-stop shop that includes all scholarships for Illinois students seeking higher education.”

Senate Bill 1331 would create the Illinois Scholarship Database, developed and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to be used as a tool for improving Illinois students' knowledge of and access to higher education scholarships.

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are leading measures to transition away from environmentally harmful disposable plastics and toward more sustainable alternatives.

“Illinois can’t be a true, nationwide climate leader if we leave our natural resources behind without addressing the hazards posed by plastic pollution,” said State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). “We as legislators have a responsibility to strive toward sustainability and protect our fragile ecosystems for future generations.”

Castro is leading Senate Bill 1872, which would seek to prevent large and mid-size retailers from offering single-use plastic checkout bags to customers by 2029, but would allow them to offer recycled paper bags as an alternative. Municipalities in Illinois with current plastic bag taxes would not be able to continue charging working families for plastic bags but rather would also have to eliminate their use. Recognizing the potential impact on small businesses, it would exclude restaurants, gas stations under 5,000 square feet in size, and small independent retailers with fewer than 12 locations within Illinois.