SPRINGFIELD – As Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan—a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community—State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) wants to ensure kids of every background can take part in cultural traditions without risking their health.

“Fasting is a common practice not just in the Muslim religion, but also in Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and more,” Johnson said. “Especially for kids and teens, fasting can make people feel hungry, unfocused or even physically weak. It’s important that schools are sensitive to students’ needs when they might not be operating at full capacity.”

The legislation would allow students who are fasting for religious purposes to be excused from physical education activities for the duration of the religious fasting period, if the student’s parents have sent in written notification to the school principal.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from sunrise to sunset as a form of spiritual discipline. Jewish people traditionally observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, with a day-long fast and intensive prayer, and several Christian denominations practice full or partial fasting on certain occasions, including during Lent.

Fasting can cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches and dehydration, which may lead to weakness or fainting, especially during exercise.

“This is about our children’s health, safety and well-being,” Johnson said. “Every child, regardless of their background, deserves to feel comfortable at school.”

House Bill 160 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday. The measure was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove).

SPRINGFIELD – To protect the wellbeing of immigrant communities, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force.

“We need this task force in order to determine where relief efforts have fallen short for immigrant communities,” Villanueva said. “We must address the systemic disinvestment in our area and build a recovery that benefits all Illinoisans, regardless of status.”

The legislation would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force, which ended at the start of 2021. The task force would examine where the state can improve relations and services in immigrant communities, the impact of the pandemic, disbursement of funds to immigrant communities, practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state among other issues.

SPRINGFIELD – To support and protect people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders and prevent unnecessary institutionalization, State Senator Cristina Castro has introduced a measure to help people obtain affordable housing and access to recovery support services.

“We need to move away from a system that criminalizes people with mental health and substance use disorders and instead focus on prioritizing compassionate treatment and support for those struggling with these conditions,” Castro said. “This legislation would help those struggling get back on their feet through accessible housing and resources.”

PEORIA – Upon the inauguration of Rita Ali as the mayor of the City of Peoria, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) released the following statement:

“I would like to sincerely congratulate my friend and colleague, Dr. Rita Ali, on her historic achievement as the first woman and the first African America and person of color to be elected as mayor of Peoria. Although she is the first, she will not be the last, and I am certain she will leave a lasting mark on Peoria and Central Illinois. I would also like to thank Mayor Ardis for the time and hard work he has dedicated to bettering our city. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) is spearheading two measures to prioritize the mental health of students in schools.

Senate Bill 576 gives students the opportunity to take days off school to focus on their mental health without facing disciplinary action.

“When students are having mental health struggles, the last thing they need is the added stress of being penalized for missing school,” Martwick said. “Giving students the opportunity to make up their work allows them to stay on track and not feel the pressure of falling behind while trying to maintain a positive mental head space.”

SPRINGFIELD – Students could choose whether or not to submit their ACT and SAT scores when applying to Illinois colleges under a measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville), which passed committee on Tuesday.

“It’s simple: Students are more than a test score. We know standardized tests are not always the most reliable scope of a student’s academic capabilities,” Belt said. “This measure ensures our universities take more than one score into account when considering applicants.”

The measure creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, which prohibits Illinois’ public universities from relying solely on a student’s ACT or SAT score to make an admissions decision.

CHICAGO— Senator Elgie Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) passed legislation out of a Senate committee today to give community college boards of trustees and local housing authorities permission to develop affordable housing for community college students.

“This is about bettering the college experience for every student in this state,” said Sims. “Research shows that students who live on campus have higher GPAs. When students live on campus they are more plugged-in to the campus community and have more opportunities to join clubs, attend events and meet new people.”

Under current law, community colleges do not have the right to own student housing. In order for community schools to develop affordable housing for students, the process must be administered through a local Housing Authority or nonprofit organization.

Proponents of the bill also suggest that restricted housing on community college campuses fail to meet the needs of every student. Traditionally, community colleges catered to students living within a reasonable driving distance of the school. And while that arrangement works for some students, more students are facing a lengthy and costly commute that poses a challenging barrier to those living at a distance, including international students.

House Bill 374 passed out of the Senate Higher Education Committee and moves to the full Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To help children and families build savings and open the door to college, Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) advanced a measure through the committee Tuesday to improve the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program.

“This program gives families the opportunity to start planning for higher education from day one,” Bennett said. “In addition to giving these families a head start on college savings, this legislation gives the Illinois treasurer the necessary tools to implement the program.”

In 2019, the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, established as part of the Illinois treasurer’s existing Bright Start and Bright Directions programs, was signed into law. Under this law, the treasurer will automatically deposit $50 into a college savings account for every child born or adopted in Illinois after Dec. 31, 2020.