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Hastings’ bipartisan measure to crack down on crime now law

Details
Category: Senator Michael E. Hastings News
Tuesday, August 01, 2023 11:02 AM
  • Hastings
  • Law Enforcement
  • Stolen Vehicles
  • HB2245

hastings 080123SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings’ measure to help police and sheriffs quickly track stolen vehicles is now law.

“This measure helps us evolve by better utilizing the latest technology to track criminal actions,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “We already know that there is technology readily available to track carjackers and kidnappers as they travel from Point A to Point B. It is essential that we empower law enforcement with these tools to successfully apprehend these criminals.”

Nationwide, carjackings are on the rise, but without formal coordination between authorities and vehicle manufacturers, law enforcement officers had little to no ability to access real-time tracking information.

Read more: Hastings’ bipartisan measure to crack down on crime now law

Holmes produces savings for Aurora with smarter disposal of water treatment product

Details
Category: Senator Linda Holmes News
Tuesday, August 01, 2023 10:38 AM
  • Holmes
  • Limestone
  • HB3095
  • Water Treatment

holmes 080123 1Creates a framework for the Illinois EPA to approve the use of limestone residual for additional means beyond what is currently permitted

SPRINGFIELD – Limestone quarries provide a number of products encountered every day: on our roads, in our homes and businesses, and in agriculture. One such lime product is used to treat drinking water and remove particulates. Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes is the sponsor of legislation allowing the return of the limestone residual back to a limestone mine after that use, projected to save the city an estimated $7 million over 10 years. That measure was signed into law Friday by the governor.

“Aurora’s Water Treatment Plant has used limestone in its processes since it was built in 1992, but disposing of the residual product was problematic,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “The City of Aurora initiated this legislation, as it cost the city quite a bit of money to dispose of it in landfills or to apply it on farmland. Putting that material back into an underground mine cavity 250 feet below ground will save significant taxpayer dollars.”

House Bill 3095 creates a framework to allow limestone residual material to be deposited safely back into unused mines. Under this measure, the Pollution Control Board is tasked with adopting rules to ensure the material is regulated and stored in a manner that best protects the health of the environment.

“For the sake of preserving our natural world, it’s vital that we not immediately dispose of materials so reactively termed ‘waste products,’” said State Representative Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), who sponsored the measure in the House. “As we work to build a greener future, it’s time to stop overlooking the potential to reclaim resources that can be valuable to the community.”

A measure in the works for several years with Holmes’ leadership, House Bill 3095 was signed into law Friday, and will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

Castro announces $4 million for lead service line replacement in Carpentersville

Details
Category: Senator Cristina Castro News
Tuesday, August 01, 2023 10:26 AM
  • Castro
  • Illinois EPA
  • Lead Service Line Replacement

leadpipe 080123ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro announced that the Village of Carpentersville will receive $4 million in funding from the Illinois EPA to replace lead service lines in the community.

“Clean drinking water is a basic human right, and it’s especially important that our children have access to clean water that is lead-free,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Investing in replacing these pipes will keep harmful chemicals out of our water and give Carpentersville families, schools and businesses peace of mind that their water infrastructure is safe, healthy and upgraded.”

Read more: Castro announces $4 million for lead service line replacement in Carpentersville

Koehler law provides coverage for cancer treatment

Details
Category: Senator Dave Koehler News
Tuesday, August 01, 2023 10:06 AM
  • Koehler
  • Cancer Treatment
  • Insurance Coverage
  • HB2799
  • Proton Beam Therapy

protonbeam 080123SPRINGFIELD – To improve patient access to proton therapy, State Senator Dave Koehler led a measure that will provide coverage for cancer treatment using proton beam therapy that was signed into law Friday.

“Cancer patients deserve to have access to every available treatment,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This high-precision radiation therapy treatment helps preserve healthy tissue, which may give folks a better outcome.”

Proton beam therapy is an advanced cancer radiation therapy that uses focused beams to target nearly the exact depth and location of cancerous cells in the body, delivering a higher dose to the tumor and less to the surrounding healthy tissue. Under Koehler’s law, cancer treatment using proton beam therapy will be covered by insurance.

Read more: Koehler law provides coverage for cancer treatment

The Majority Report 07/31/23 - Targeting costly medication, deepfakes

Details
Category: Majority Report
Monday, July 31, 2023 04:43 PM
  • Koehler
  • Prescription Costs
  • Majority Report
  • Fine
  • Peters
  • Ellman
  • Johnson
  • Homelessness
  • Fentanyl
  • Edly-Allen
  • Deepfake

Sen. Dave Koehler

Koehler protects Illinoisans from price gouging of generic medication

SPRINGFIELD – Drug manufacturers and distributors will now be unable to spike the costs of generic medication thanks to a law spearheaded by State Senator Dave Koehler.

“Every Illinoisan deserves affordable access to necessary medication,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This law prevents companies from robbing residents just for an extra buck.”

Read more.

 

Homelessness

Senate democrats celebrate transformative plan to end homelessness in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Adriane Johnson, Robert Peters and Laura Fine – longtime advocates for addressing the root causes of homelessness – announced the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness were codified into law last week.

“Homelessness is the effect of numerous causes,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “By taking a comprehensive approach to decrease homelessness and improve health and human services, we are able to successfully combat root causes head on.”

Read more.

 

Sen. Mary Edly-AllenMeasure to crack down on harmful deepfakes signed into law thanks to Edly-Allen

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen championed a law signed Friday to crack down on the abusive and harmful use of digital forgeries known as deepfakes.

“These videos may be fake, but the emotional impacts are real. The sad reality is, deepfake technology is predominantly being used to create sexual videos of women without their consent,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “Despite the rise of deepfakes there are no consequences for bad actors.”

Read more.

 

FentanylFentanyl education expanded in high schools thanks to Senator Ellman

SPRINGFIELD – Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, high school students will be required to learn about the dangers of fentanyl thanks to a new law supported by State Senator Laura Ellman.

“In order to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic on all fronts we need to educate our most vulnerable populations, which includes young people,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “The age of fentanyl exposure is younger than we think. Educating high school students on the dangers of fentanyl in their health classes is the next step in ending the opioid epidemic.”

Read more.

 

members in the news

In case you missed it

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Senator Napoleon Harris, Harvey: South Suburban Airport gets a clutch victory thanks to Harris | Patch

Senator Steve Stadelman, Rockford: Free school lunch bill awaiting Governor Pritzker approval | WIFR

Senator Celina Villanueva, Chicago: Misleading clients on abortion could cost Illinois pregnancy centers | Pantagraph
 

Copyright 2023 - Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus - All Rights Reserved

Porfirio/Kifowit law to protect military service members who are sexual assault survivors signed by governor

Details
Category: Senator Mike Porfirio News
Monday, July 31, 2023 03:04 PM
  • Sexual Assault
  • Porfirio
  • Military service members
  • Kifowit
  • HB3103

military sexassault 073123SPRINGFIELD –Military service members who are survivors of sexual misconduct will now be more protected thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Mike Porfirio, a Navy Veteran, and State Representative Stephanie Kifowit, a Marine Corps Veteran.

“Survivors of sexual assault must receive all the protections they deserve,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “Service members sacrifice their lives for the protection of our country, the least we can do is ensure that they are protected as well.”

The law ensures that Illinois National Guard and reserve military service members who are survivors of non-consensual sexual conduct and have received a military protective order are also protected under the state’s civil no contact and stalking no contact orders.

“Military sexual assault is a real problem that can have long-term safety risks and consequences for victims,” Representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) said. “I have been focused on aligning our laws to ensure that survivors receive the protections they deserve, not just from a military judge, but from the state they live in as well.”

In 2022, close to 36,000 service members reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact. Broken down further, the numbers equate to 8.4% of women at nearly 16,000 service members and 1.5% of men at nearly 15,000 service members. Porfirio’s measure will align Illinois laws to ensure that survivors receive protection from both the military and the state.

“Service members who have tragically dealt with unwanted and unwarranted advances deserve the peace of mind that the state will protect them,” said Porfirio. “Everyone deserves to be protected, including those who protect us abroad.”

House Bill 3103 was signed on Monday and goes into effect immediately.

Senator Fine advances harm reduction initiative to prevent youth overdose

Details
Category: Senator Laura Fine News
Monday, July 31, 2023 02:55 PM
  • Fine
  • Substance Abuse
  • SB2223
  • School Curriculum

fine 073123SPRINGFIELD – To further educate young people on the dangers of drug overdose, State Senator Laura Fine led a measure that improves our state’s curriculum on substance abuse for school-age students. This initiative, formerly known as SB 2223, was signed into law on Friday.

“Research has shown that the current school curriculum around substance abuse is insufficient; too many young people are finding themselves in danger of overdose without knowing what they need to do to save their life or help a friend,” said State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview). “We need to improve harm reduction strategies to better support young people in our state.”

The legislation is also known as Louie’s law.  It is named after a suburban youth who died as a result of an overdose. Senate Bill 2223 requires ISBE to develop a standardized curriculum around the dangers of substance abuse with an emphasis on harm reduction and cultural competency. In addition to prevention, the curriculum will provide information on how to get support and medical assistance for people who may otherwise find themselves in a dangerous situation. Based on expert research and similar programs in other states, the goal of this initiative is to help prevent young people from overdosing and save lives.

“With this initiative, young people will have access to vital information to keep them safe, by reducing potential harm,” said Fine. “This will prevent other families from experiencing the same pain and loss as Louie’s family.”

Senate Bill 2223 was signed into law on Friday. 

Joyce-backed measure to promote environmental conservation signed into law

Details
Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
Monday, July 31, 2023 02:51 PM
  • Joyce
  • Renewable Energy
  • SB1474
  • Hydropower

hydro 073123SPRINGFIELD – A comprehensive plan backed by State Senator Patrick Joyce that aims to increase renewable energy procurement and promote environmental conservation was signed into law last Friday.

“By using our existing hydropower infrastructure, we are minimizing the need for additional construction and associated costs,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Right here in the 40th District, we have two major hydropower dams that will benefit greatly from this new law.”

The new law aims to support hydropower dams across the state, especially the Kankakee Hydropower Dam and the Wilmington Dam located in Joyce’s district. The law will require the Illinois Power Agency to procure a percentage of its renewable energy credits from hydropower dams. This will help increase the use of this renewable energy source, while also promoting environmental conservation by using dams that already exist.

“The state’s energy goals can be achieved through this measure, while discouraging the construction of new dams by taking away incentives for these projects,” said Joyce. “There’s no need for new dams, when we already have the available resources. This highlights the importance of using our current resources wisely.”

Senate Bill 1474 was signed and takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

More Articles …

  1. Ventura plan to support hydropower signed into law
  2. Gillespie: OSLAD grants available to improve outdoor spaces
  3. Illinois targets SNAP benefit fraud, thanks to Senator Hunter
  4. Fentanyl education expanded in high schools thanks to Senator Ellman
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