SPRINGFIELD – To protect youth from the dangers of vaping, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel is sponsoring a measure that would prohibit shipping e-cigarettes to anyone in the state.

“The internet makes it easy for kids to access vapes,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “We have to do what we can to protect our youth from the risks e-cigarettes pose to their health.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced a measure that would give minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses the opportunity to apply for up to $2 million in loans.

“Establishing better business incentives for our underrepresented populations, such as minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities, helps create a more inclusive business ecosystem,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This will greatly impact communities that have traditionally faced systemic barriers to entry and growth.”

Senate Bill 3807 will encourage more people to apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Minority, Veteran, Female and Disability Loan Program by increasing the maximum loan amount from $400,000 to $2 million.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a measure that would enable volunteers who serve at local disaster and emergency services agencies in Illinois to qualify for the volunteer emergency worker tax credit.

“When disaster strikes, emergency services volunteers are there to provide assistance, perform damage assessments, remove debris and, ultimately, help our communities recover,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Giving them the ability to claim the same tax credit as volunteer firefighters is one small way we can extend our gratitude for their service while providing an incentive for others to volunteer in their communities.”

Senate Bill 2704 would allow certain municipal and county volunteer emergency workers to qualify for the Illinois volunteer emergency worker tax credit beginning in taxable year 2024. The volunteer would be eligible if they serve for at least 100 hours at a local emergency services and disaster agency during the taxable year, do not earn more than $5,000 for their service, and are registered with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. These requirements would only apply to volunteers working with a local emergency services and disaster agency. Volunteer firefighters and emergency service volunteers with a fire department are already eligible for the tax credit.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris, III advanced a new initiative inspired by constituent concerns for individuals fighting cancer who were unable to afford a hair prosthesis.

“Individuals who are experiencing hair loss due to alopecia, chemotherapy or radiation have enough health hurdles to overcome,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “Making wigs and other scalp prostheses available to them can provide hope and help them feel more like themselves, giving them a sense of normalcy.”

Senate Bill 2573 would require insurance plans to provide coverage for wigs or other scalp prostheses for individuals experiencing hair loss due to alopecia, chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions.

SPRINGFIELD – Social workers practice in a variety of settings with individuals, families and communities affected by substance use disorders, which results in encounters with individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose. For this reason, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would allow social workers to administer opioid antagonists, which is an initiative from social workers at the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

“The opioid epidemic is still ongoing and we must do everything we can to prevent future fatalities from occurring,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers are on the frontlines of these issues severely affecting our communities and should be allowed to administer lifesaving medication.”

Senate Bill 3779 allows a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker to possess and administer opioid antagonists. Opioid antagonists, such as Naloxone, temporarily block the effects of an overdose and restore breathing. Employers of social workers would be required to provide training and establish a policy to control the acquisition, storage, transportation, and administration of opioid antagonists.

SPRINGFIELD – Under a new measure proposed by State Senator Laura Murphy, medications could be easier to obtain during shortages.

“When you are a patient dealing with a long-term illness or condition, the last thing you want to hear is that your medication is out of stock, but the name brand — which isn’t covered by your insurance — is in stock and you’ll have to pay hundreds more just to get the medicine you need,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It is even worse when you have to call every local pharmacy and get the same answer. We need to ensure better outcomes for our patients by ensuring that they have access to the medications that they need.”

Murphy’s measure would require health insurance and managed care plans to cover brand name prescription drugs if the generic drug is unavailable during a nationwide shortage.

SPRINGFIELD – Nicotine companies marketing to kids is nothing new but now they’re creating vapes that are designed to appear to be school supplies, like a highlighter. State Senator Julie Morrison introduced a measure to prevent these products from being sold.

“The dangerous and addictive nature of nicotine consumption is the reason I have taken a strong stand on this issue,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We should do everything in our power to make it impossible for children to obtain and conceal tobacco products.”

Educators have complained to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services about finding electronic cigarettes on school property that are designed to look like school supplies such as highlighters, erasers and pencil sharpeners. Senate Bill 2662 would prohibit the advertising, marketing or promoting of an electronic cigarette in a manner that is likely to cause an adult to mistake it for an object that is not a tobacco product.

SPRINGFIELD – During Soil Health Week, State Senator Doris Turner joined agriculture advocates and stakeholders at a rally on Wednesday.

“From the food we eat to our economy, healthy soil benefits our daily lives,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m a voice for our farmers, producers and ag community.”

Soil Health Week is recognized in Illinois during the week of March 6-10. Soil is an essential natural resource, and Illinois farmers and professionals play a critical role in managing Illinois’ soil and water resources. Practices like zero tillage and using cover crops can improve soil health while reducing erosion, increasing water retention and enhancing biodiversity.