SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner joined Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Transportation and local officials in the announcement of a new $68.3 million underpass at Madison and Jefferson streets in Springfield. This is the latest landmark for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, which will separate railroad tracks from regular vehicle traffic to reduce congestion and delays, improve safety, provide better access for bikes and pedestrians, cut down on emergency response times and enhance local quality of life.

“Congestion in downtown Springfield can be hectic, especially when the train crosses right through town during peak traffic hours,” said Turner (D-Springfield), who helped make the Springfield Rail Improvements Project possible. “Emergency vehicles have been delayed getting to and from the medical district, increasing the wait time when residents need medical assistance. This investment not only uplifts the city, but also takes into account the safety, livability and development of Springfield for years to come.”

SPRINGFIELD – When Bloomington resident Curt Richardson got his DNA test results back from Ancestry.com, his life – and those of his parents – changed forever when they learned they had been victims of fertility fraud.

Richardson’s story is similar to hundreds of others across the state and nation who have lived most of their lives thinking the very people who raised them were their biological parents. State Senator Dave Koehler is working to bring awareness to fertility fraud and provide justice to the families who fall victim to the heinous act.

“Fertility fraud is an issue that has been overlooked for far too long,” said Koehler (D – Peoria). “This is a horrible practice that has gone unpunished. Illinois needs to join other states in taking a stand for those who have been affected by this horrendous act.”

Murphy measure to cap insulin at $35 passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy passed a measure through the Senate that would ensure that Illinoisans in need of insulin have affordable access to the life-saving medicine by capping the price at $35.

“Too many lives have been lost because they could not afford the rising costs of insulin,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “No family should need to choose between purchasing medication or putting food on their table.”

Read more.

Senators Villivalam, Pacione-Zayas announce child care agenda

SPRINGFIELD – One in three families across the nation struggle to connect with affordable and accessible child care – an all-too-common issue millions of Illinoisans face. State Senators Ram Villivalam and Cristina Pacione-Zayas outlined their child care agenda to combat low worker wages and expand eligibility at a press conference last week.

“Working families deserve access to quality, affordable child care to ensure their children are in a safe, learning environment,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “We also must ensure that our child care providers have a livable wage, the best working conditions, and great benefits. They deserve nothing less and they certainly should not be working in poverty.”

Read more.

Simmons bill to increase youth access to mental health care passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To increase the availability and accessibility of mental health resources for students, State Senator Mike Simmons advanced an initiative out of the Senate last week.

“Mental health has become a leading concern for parents and children today, yet there are still gaps in mental health care,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This legislation will help to support youth, their families, and schools by providing support, access and resources so students can find mental health care while they are at school.”

Read more.

Chicago Elected Representative School Board Hearing Information

The Illinois State Senate has launched an online map making portal to encourage public participation in the creation of the new Chicago elected school board districts.

This is the start of a new and exciting era in community-led education to empower parents and loved ones to decide what is best for their children and loved ones.

Our caucus has convened a Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board to conduct citywide hearings throughout April.

Here is the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board hearing schedule:

• April 5, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., George Westinghouse College Prep, 3223 W. Franklin Blvd., Chicago, IL 60624
• April 6, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Imani Village, 901 E. 95th St., Chicago, IL 60619
• April 12, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630
• April 13, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
• April 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Virtual Hearing

We want to hear from you – click here to help identify communities of interest.

Residents may also view submissions from your neighbors – click here to view submissions.

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SPRINGFIELD – As a longstanding advocate for women’s reproductive rights, State Senator Linda Holmes was proud to be a cosponsor of Senator Celina Villanueva’s legislation to prohibit crisis pregnancy centers from providing misleading information to women seeking to learn about safe and legal options when they believe they are pregnant. That measure – Senate Bill 1909 – passed the Senate Friday.

“For years, we’ve seen facilities that call themselves ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ (CPCs) and present themselves to the public as health care clinics; in fact, they give vulnerable women information that is misleading and false,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “Instead of getting accurate, fact-based information with which they can consider all of their options, they are given unsafe advice, are literally misdirected away from clinics that provide inclusive reproductive health care and directed to a CPC with limited services, all of which exclude abortion procedures.”

Senate Bill 1909 prohibits CPCs from hindering a woman from gaining access to a provider of abortion or emergency contraceptives and persuading them instead into their clinics with limited services and counseling that discourages their access to abortion and misstates risks. This would also cover their advertising and promotional materials.

“The majority of Americans support women’s bodily autonomy in choosing what happens with their health,” Holmes said. “Abortion is legal and protected in Illinois; I will continue to stand up for reproductive care without interference by deceptive facilities.”

Senate Bill 1909 passed the Senate Friday. It now moves to the House for their consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative led by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton that would require bottle filling stations in many new buildings being constructed in Illinois passed the Senate.

“Although there are already requirements for water fountains in buildings, many people use their own bottles or containers,” said Glowiak Hilton (D – Western Springs). “These people are taking the right steps of helping the environment, and should have easy access to do so.”

Senate Bill 1715 would require new buildings that are 5,000 square feet or larger and with a 100 person or more occupancy to provide a bottle filling station for every drinking fountain required under the plumbing code.

To help tenants who rent small properties like houses and duplex homes, State Senator Steve Stadelman passed legislation on Thursday to provide greater transparency for renters.

“Currently, there are no security deposit protections for renters of small properties with five or fewer units,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation would expand the current ways renters are protected to include those renting smaller properties with five or fewer units.”

Under the current law, landlords can withhold security deposits for tenants in buildings with five units or more as long as they provide an itemized statement of damages within 30 days after a tenant moves out. For those living in a building with five or fewer units, a withheld security deposit does not require a statement explaining why and listing the damages incurred.

Senate Bill 1741 would remove this limitation and require all landlords to provide an itemized statement of damages before withholding a security deposit from any tenant, regardless of the number of units in the property.

SPRINGFIELD – Taking another leap toward enshrining safe and secure access to reproductive health care, State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a measure to end deceptive and misleading practices at crisis pregnancy centers.

“There is a war on people’s ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive health care,” said State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Workers at crisis pregnancy centers should not be able to deceptively mislead women into making decisions that aren’t the best for them or their futures. When you go to the doctor and someone appears to be medical staff, you trust they are medical staff. You trust your ability to make autonomous, informed, evidence-based decisions. Reproductive health care should be no different.”

Senate Bill 1909 prohibits the use of deceptive practices to interfere with an individual seeking to gain entry or access to the provider of an abortion or emergency contraceptives, induce an individual to enter a limited services pregnancy center, in advertising, soliciting, or otherwise offering pregnancy-related services, or in providing pregnancy-related services. Villanueva worked in tandem with Attorney General Kwame Y. Raoul to prevent such deceptive practices at crisis pregnancy centers.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Fine has passed legislation to ensure reports of abuse or neglect in state-operated developmental centers are thoroughly investigated and addressed. The legislation intends to address allegations of abuse at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, Illinois, where certain staff members have been accused and charged with multiple accounts of abuse to patients.

“Vulnerable residents living in state-run facilities are entitled to the best care possible and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This initiative will ensure people who take advantage of people in our care will face consequences for their actions.”  

Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center serves patients struggling with mental and behavioral health concerns and/or developmental disabilities. Some employees of Choate have been charged with and found guilty of physically or emotionally abusing patients, as well as obstructing official probes and lying to investigators about wrongdoing.