SPRINGFIELD – Senator Bill Cunningham passed legislation out of the Illinois Senate requiring insurance companies to fully cover the cost of replacing a vehicle that is totaled in an accident.

Under current Illinois law, insurance companies do not have to pay certain taxes and fees for purchase of a replacement vehicle, saddling accident victims with hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in unanticipated costs — even when they were not at fault in the auto accident.

“This is the first step to bringing these crimes to light.”

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate acted to fight human trafficking Friday, passing two pieces of legislation by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) to study the problem and require more businesses that come into contact with traffickers to be more vigilant.

“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity that overwhelmingly affects people of color and women: 40% of human trafficking victims are Black,” Collins said. “We must acknowledge the hard truth that globally, the United States is one of the worst countries for human trafficking and that as a centrally located state that serves as a national transportation hub, it is happening here in Illinois.”

According to a 2014 study by the Urban Institute, human traffickers target Black women due to the belief getting caught will result in less jail time than if they traffic in white women. Black women constitute an estimated 40% of human trafficking victims despite only making up about 13% of the population. There are as many as 24,000 human trafficking victims in the Chicago area on any given day due to its status as a major city at the confluence of multiple interstates.

Initiative expands financial options to support apprenticeships, K-12 tuition

SPRINGFIELD – To bring Illinois on par with neighboring states, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) has advanced a bipartisan initiative to allow families to use funds from qualified tuition plans to cover the cost of K-12 tuition and apprenticeship supplies.

“Many of our bordering states like Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin consider K-12 tuition and apprenticeship costs eligible expenses under qualified tuition plans,” Crowe said. “This initiative builds on Illinois’ commitment to ensure our students have access to the best opportunities by helping families afford K-12 education and job training.”

Qualified tuition plans, also known as 529’s, are tax-advantaged savings plans sponsored by states, agencies or institutions to encourage families to save for future education costs.

These plans allow residents to open an investment account to save for future qualified higher education expenses, like tuition, mandatory fees, or room and board.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure introduced by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would require the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fly the United States, Illinois and prisoner of war/missing in action flags at all state parks passed the State Senate on Friday.

“These flags are representations of our state and nation, as well as a reminder of the sacrifices service members have given to protect the freedoms we have today,” Belt said.

The measure would require IDNR to fly a United States, Illinois and POW/MIA flag at all state parks within five years after it is signed into law. Additionally, the legislation would allow for groups and individuals to donate resources to the department’s Special Projects Fund to cover the cost of implementation.

“Our state government doesn’t exist to serve ICE.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect the privacy and safety of Illinois’ undocumented residents, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would prevent photographs taken for state IDs and driver’s licenses from being shared with federal immigration authorities on Thursday.

“Undocumented residents need to be able to trust our state institutions,” Villanueva said. “It’s impossible to expect that of them if we are sending their facial recognition data directly to authorities. Our state government doesn’t exist to serve ICE.”

SPRINGFIELD – Public schools and state agencies would be required to disclose the use of toxic coal tar-based pavement sealant under State Senator Laura Fine’s (D-Glenview) initiative, which passed the Senate Friday.

“Clean air is a basic human right, and parents shouldn’t have to worry about their children breathing in dangerous chemicals on the playground,” Senator Fine said. “Disclosing the use of coal tar-based sealants and encouraging cleaner alternatives is essential to protecting our community and the environment.”  

Under Senator Fine’s Coal Tar Sealant Act, public schools, public school districts, daycares and state agencies would be required to disclose the use of coal tar-based sealant on playgrounds, parking lots and other paved areas. This measure would also require groups planning to use coal tar-based sealant for a pavement project to look into cleaner alternatives.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a plan by State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) to allow for the designation of cultural districts in Illinois, something she said would help to affirm the identity of communities in Illinois and preserve their distinct legacies.

"We want our communities to proudly reflect the identity, contributions and history of the people who have helped build them,” Pacione-Zayas said Friday after the measure passed the Senate. “This gives them a chance to pursue community-driven economic opportunity initiatives that ensure our neighborhoods preserve their unique cultures and continue to build legacies."

SPRINGFIELD – To protect women and children in Illinois, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation the Illinois Senate that would establish the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission.

“Incidents of domestic violence have increased dramatically since the start of the pandemic,” Villanueva said. “Families are counting on us to take proactive measures to prevent violence.”