SPRINGFIELD – To implement safeguards preventing toxic heavy metal exposure for young children, State Senator Laura Fine outlined legislation at a press conference on Friday that would inform parents about any harmful toxins in baby food.

“When parents think they’re feeding their child nutritious baby food, and learn they might be potentially putting their child at risk, it is horrifying, ” said Fine (D-Glenview). “It is important that parents have access to information about the contents of the baby food they’re purchasing, and this measure ensures transparency between manufacturers and consumers.”

Senate Bill 73 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.

The measure also requires manufacturers to make certain information about their product publicly available on their website, including the name and level of each toxic heavy metal found in the food, the product name, UPC, and a link to the FDA’s website with information about the health risks of toxic heavy metal exposure for children. Links to this information must also be easily accessible on the products themselves, through a QR code.

“We need to support Illinois families and future parents in their effort to nurture their children – our future generations,” said Fine. “By giving parents access to critical information about the contents of their baby’s food, they can better protect their children from unnecessary exposure.”

Senate Bill 73 passed the Senate last week and awaits further action.

[VIDEO] – Link: https://youtu.be/HXguhfNH4JQ?si=W3uWP5KB-bpdYlld

SPRINGFIELD – An avid cyclist himself and supporter of bike riders, State Senator Mike Simmons passed two bills through the Senate that would remove current prohibitions on bicyclists in Illinois.

“Current rules prevent cyclists from doing what is safe in favor of what is required by law,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We want to remove and clear up language surrounding bike riders to give all travelers better and safer options when cycling.”

Under the new legislation, Senate Bill 2111, bicyclists would be able to treat stop signs as yield signs only when it is safe to proceed if they give a signal, slow to a reasonable speed and yield to the right of way. This would not apply to railroad crossings or youth under age 18.

Ellman to strengthen Illinois gun safety standards

SPRINGFIELD — For far too long, unsecured firearms in homes have led to devastating and preventable tragedies, especially among children and teenagers. In response to this ongoing crisis, State Senator Laura Ellman is championing a critical public safety measure to strengthen gun storage standards in Illinois, ensuring firearms are securely stored and kept out of the hands of minors and individuals at risk. Senate Bill 8, which passed the Senate last week, would strengthen Illinois’ safe storage laws and expand protections to help keep guns out of the hands of children, at-risk individuals, and criminals.

“For far too long, we have witnessed the tragic consequences of unsecured firearms in homes,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Firearms, if left unaccounted for and unsecured, pose risks to those who shouldn’t have access to them. Firearm owners can help prevent gun-related incidents by ensuring their guns are securely stored away from others.”

Read more.

Johnson advances measure to strengthen access and accountability for 2-1-1 helpline

SPRINGFIELD — To improve coordination and oversight of the 2-1-1 helpline that connects Illinois residents to vital health and human services, State Senator Adriane Johnson championed legislation to bolster reporting standards and statewide collaboration.

“Families across Illinois rely on 2-1-1 to get help during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “We have a responsibility to make sure this system is responsive, transparent and consistently high quality across every community.”

Read more.

Schools would be more prepared for emergencies under Murphy's measure

SPRINGFIELD — With worries about hazardous material explosions on the rise, schools would be required to establish emergency evacuation plans under a measure from State Senator Laura Murphy.

“It’s vital to establish clear plans before an emergency happens, which is why our schools need to know how to best protect their students should the unthinkable happen,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Evacuation plans developed with emergency management experts give schools the tools they need to act quickly and confidently in a hazardous spill – saving time, reducing chaos and protecting lives.”

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Feigenholtz works to connect schools, families with one-stop shop for youth mental health care

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois teachers and families would have better tools to identify behavioral and mental health needs for youth to connect them with community-based supports under a measure led by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz.

“My focus has always been on prioritizing behavioral health care and social services that reinforce our commitments to Illinois children and families, and this legislation continues that important work,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “This initiative will help teachers connect students with school-based supports but also create stronger pathways to behavioral health care and services at home and in the community.”

Read more.

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SPRINGFIELD – To support mothers across Illinois, State Senator Lakesia Collins is leading a measure to give people enrolled in Medicaid better access to maternal health services.

“We are enabling the continuous support for mothers to have a doula by their side and be able to rely on their services,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “With this legislation, we continue our commitments to the mothers of Illinois, and especially those on Medicaid, with better support and more resources available throughout their pregnancy.”

Under Senate Bill 2437, hospitals and birthing centers would be required to give patients enrolled in Medicaid the option to select a certified doula through the Illinois Medicaid-Certified Doula Program. Covered doula services can include counseling and support, newborn care, development of a birth plan, attendance at health care appointments, support during labor and delivery and more.

SPRINGFIELD – Following an increase in anti-immigration tactics utilized by the federal government, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus (ILLC) restates its support for immigrants across the country.

The ILLC condemns recent federal actions expanding mass deportation efforts by targeting individuals with legal immigration status, including U.S. citizens and international students. The ILLC is concerned about recent reports that the federal administration is detaining individuals with proper documentation, including lawful permanent residents and visa holders, and detaining individuals based on their perceived immigration status. The ILLC released the following statement:

“Ordering the arrest and deportation of numerous individuals by revoking their protected status without due process sets a precedent for dehumanizing tactics and government overreach that threatens the security of immigrants across the U.S. 

SPRINGFIELD – To address concerns about high caseloads that may hinder the ability of special education teachers to provide individualized care, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel presented a resolution to the Senate Wednesday.

“I know firsthand how hard special education teachers work to support their students’ diverse learning needs,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “When more caseloads are being piled onto educators, reduced effectiveness and burnout is inevitable.” 

Senate Joint Resolution 2 would direct the Illinois State Board of Education and the Professional Review Panel to conduct a study on the impact of implementing maximum caseloads for special education teachers. The resolution requests ISBE to submit a report of their findings to the General Assembly and governor by Dec. 31, 2026.

SPRINGFIELD – In order to combat fraud, State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through the Senate that would create an alert system to notify property owners when a deed or instrument has been filed on their property.

“People work hard to be able to say they own a property in their name,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This legislation would ensure your hard-earned property is protected from common scam tactics and deception.”

Senate Bill 1523 would require county recorders to establish a fraud referral and review process to review deeds and other instruments and a fraud alert system to notify property owners when a deed or instrument has been filed on their property. The bill creates a legal pathway for any rightful property owner against any person who fraudulently files a deed or other instrument.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons is continuing his push to remove barriers to accessing housing and state resources for unhoused Illinoisans.

“Unhoused individuals often have no form of legal identification, affecting their housing, job prospects, transit options and more,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “To get an identification card, these individuals are required to have a signature from a notary, which comes at a cost. This legislation will ease the requirements to make the whole process easier.”