SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s resolution to declare April 1 as “Skip the Plastic Day” in Illinois passed committee Thursday.

“With our landfills and waterways being filled with plastic waste, Illinois has an opportunity to stand up and be part of the solution rather than the problem,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island) “Skip the Plastic Day will bring more awareness to this issue that is impacting the whole planet.”

“Skip the Plastic Day” would urge all residents, businesses and visitors to reduce plastic waste and protect our environment. The resolution would also commend businesses for willingly participating in offering single-use plastics only at customer request. The single use plastics included under the day are straws and cutlery, though businesses are encouraged to draw down all plastic use.

SPRINGFIELD — In a recent initiative passed through the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee, State Senator Graciela Guzmán would create a task force studying the impacts of climate displacement, and develop plans to better support the communities most impacted.

“Nearly every week on the news, there are reports of a severe environmental disaster that is devastating communities around our country and across the world,” said Guzmán. “From tornadoes and blizzards that impact us in Illinois, to fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes that wreak havoc throughout our country, we are all impacted by climate change, and may be displaced by the resulting damage from these extreme storms. We need to start planning for how to best support folks who will become displaced by climate change, and work on ways to prevent damage from volatile weather in our own communities, and this initiative will help lay the ground work to address these issues.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to expand career and technical education programs to support regional manufacturing. 

“A lot of kids grow up thinking that college is the only option to be successful, and while a four-year degree is great, there are plenty of high-paying jobs in the manufacturing industry that young people may not know about,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “For many jobs, kids might become interested because of a parent or family member, and we want to open the door for other youth without similar experiences. Further, for kids who may already be interested in technical education, this bill would give them the experience they need to get a job right away.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci is building on ongoing efforts to protect the Mahomet Aquifer – a vital sole-source aquifer supplying clean drinking water to approximately 800,000 people across 15 counties in East Central Illinois.

“Protecting the Mahomet Aquifer is not just about preserving water; it’s about safeguarding the future of our community,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “While innovation in carbon sequestration holds promise, we must prioritize the health and safety of our residents, ensuring progress never comes at the expense of our most vital resource.”

Faraci’s measure would prohibit carbon sequestration over, under or through the Mahomet Aquifer, enforcing sustainable practices and preventing harmful activities. This is crucial for residents of Central Illinois, as the aquifer is the only source of clean drinking water for at least half of the population it serves – meaning those residents would have no alternative should the aquifer become contaminated.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect consumers from unexpected fees and incorrect bookings with third-party services, State Senator Steve Stadelman is fighting to improve transparency from these providers.

“Many individuals easily fall victim to deceptive booking practices through third-party services, especially in the hotel and lodging industry,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “People are losing their money because of these services, and it will only continue if we do not take action and require them to provide mandatory disclosures to consumers.”

Senate Bill 2013 would make it illegal for third-party booking services to facilitate the reservation of a hotel room without disclosing to consumers that they are not affiliated with the hotel and that the consumer is not making a reservation with the hotel directly.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to simplify the college admissions process for high school seniors and community college transfer students.

“To keep more students in our state for college, we have to make the application process as seamless as possible,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We have done a lot of work on the admission process in Illinois in recent years, and this measure is another step in the right direction.”

Senate Bill 2448 would reduce barriers for students by offering direct admission to qualified applicants at all public institutions of higher education and community colleges that participate in the program. Under the legislation, students would no longer face the burden of repeated application processes or unnecessary application fees, ensuring a smoother transition into postsecondary education.

SPRINGFIELD – To combat housing insecurity and uphold human rights, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would place restrictions on municipal and county crime-free and nuisance property ordinances (CFNOs).

“Ensuring that our communities are safe is a top priority, but misguided crime-free housing and nuisance property ordinances can do more harm than good in our communities,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Individuals should not fear eviction as a result of contacting police. This is counterintuitive and puts the lives of vulnerable and working-class families at risk.”

CFNOs often require landlords to deny housing, evict, fine or penalize tenants for general connection to criminal activity. The breadth of these ordinances leads to unfair penalties and evictions, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups who are more likely to contact law enforcement agencies.

SPRINGFIELD —Thanks to a new initiative from State Senator Graciela Guzmán to expand the accepted payment plans for homes through community land trusts, more people may soon have the opportunity to become homeowners.

“Housing is a human right. We should be doing everything in our power to make it more affordable and accessible for everyday Illinoisans, including homeownership,” said Guzmán. “Community land trusts are a great pathway to make the dream of homeownership a reality and allow for folks to have more stability in their living situation. I am excited that this initiative will work to make this method of landownership more common, and to continue to build on the ingenuity of their model.”

Community land trusts, or CLTs, are community-based, nonprofit organizations that manage a parcel of land to preserve long-term affordability of homes created through subsidies. CLTs sell homes on the land they manage at affordable prices to a qualifying homebuyer. Oftentimes, they place limits on the incomes of people looking to purchase homes to ensure affordable housing is going to people in the most financial need. Driven by constituents, for constituents, this model aims to keep folks in the community that may otherwise be priced out by corporate rent and mortgage rates.