SPRINGFIELD - During a busy legislative session day, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus put on their best sneakers with their usual session attire to demonstrate support for cancer patients and survivors throughout the state.

“This day is more than a symbolic gesture, it’s a reminder that cancer can touch every community, every family and every heart,” said State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign). “For members of the General Assembly, wearing sneakers with our professional attire highlights the importance of funding cancer research, promoting early detection and ensuring access to care for all. It’s a small step that speaks to a much larger cause, calling for continued awareness, advocacy and action.”

This is a tradition that is inspired by the Coaches vs. Cancer program, a joint initiative between the American Cancer Society and the NCAA to raise cancer awareness.  Additionally, this initiative coincides with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Cancer Action Day, a key advocacy event dedicated to empowering those affected by cancer to raise their voices at the state Capitol.

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Karina Villa led a measure through committee to crack down on landlords that may maliciously or ignorantly place a minor on an eviction action, resulting in negative consequences affecting a child’s future ability to rent.

“While eviction is traumatic for families in its own right, including a child in an eviction filing can negatively impact their lives for years to come,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Through no fault of their own, a minor’s record will reflect that eviction. Illinois must protect these innocent people from the careless actions of landlords.”

SPRINGFIELD – According to the Food Allergy Research & Education organization (FARE), 33 million Americans have a food allergy, with the most common allergies including milk, tree nuts, shellfish and peanuts. To increase the accessibility of epinephrine to help those having an allergic reaction, State Senator

Mary Edly-Allen worked with House Assistant Majority Leader Maurice West to bring House Bill 2462 to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SPRINGFIELD – Ensuring middle school students receive equal opportunity to earn high school credits, State Senator Laura Ellman is sponsoring a measure to provide seventh- and eighth-grade students with the option to earn high school credit for high school level courses.

“Students statewide work diligently to achieve success in their academic careers,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “A middle school student, whose course is not taught by a teacher with a certain certification level, may not receive the necessary high school credits to enroll in the next level of their education.”

Under current Illinois law, middle school students are able to receive credit for high school level courses, as long as the course is offered by the high school in the student’s district and the instructor holds a professional educator license and is endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course.

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure through the Senate Licensed Activities Committee to expand implicit bias training for health care workers in Illinois.

“Having implicit bias training in our health care system is essential as Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related cause of deaths than white women,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “We must protect the maternal health of every women in our state.”

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure all educators, including substitute teachers, know what to do in case of an emergency at school, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel passed a bill out of committee that requires them to be trained in evacuation and lockdown procedures.

“Parents send their children to school expecting their teacher to know what to do if there’s an emergency,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Ensuring every teacher, substitute or full-time, is trained for emergency response situations is the logical thing to do.”

Lightford leads measure to prohibit collection agencies from collecting debt incurred through coercion

SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing that financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to maintain control over victims, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is leading a measure to prohibit collection agencies from collecting debt incurred through coercion.

"Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking should not be haunted by debts that were forced upon them during their trauma," said Lightford (D-Maywood). "We must prevent predatory collection practices that can re-traumatize survivors and hinder their path to recovery and independence."

SPRINGFIELD — Following the advancement of House Bill 1226 through the Senate Transportation Committee, State Senator Ram Villivalam joined Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, State Representative Jay Hoffman and AARP Senior Manager of Advocacy and Outreach Ryan Gruenenfelder to raise awareness about the measure that would reduce barriers for seniors renewing their driver’s licenses.

“I am so proud that we have moved to the step of the process with this legislation as Illinois is the only state that bases behind-the-wheel driving tests on age,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago).