SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Cervantes’ measure to prohibit all drivers from using an electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle in Illinois, including any video conferencing or social media applications, was signed into law Friday.

”This law will ensure Illinoisans are driving safely and not endangering anyone else on the roadways,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This law takes action against drivers video calling and not paying attention to the road. I am proud to play a part in making Illinois a safer place for everyone.”

DECATUR – State Senator Doris Turner joined state and local officials and leaders at a press conference Wednesday to break ground on TCCI’s new Electric Vehicle Innovation Hub in Decatur.

“By investing in TCCI’s Innovation Hub, we are investing in our community, boosting our local economy and bringing jobs to Decatur,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Central Illinois will be a leader in the industry by expanding EV manufacturing and working with Richland Community College to prepare students for the workforce. This is a huge win for our community.”

Over $21 million was invested to build the first-of-its kind Climatic Center for Innovation and Research and the EV + Energy Workforce Training Academy through the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois incentive package that supports the manufacturing facility expansion.

SPRINGFIELD – Building upon her steadfast commitment to ensure Illinois schools are taking a trauma-responsive approach, Senator Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford championed a new law to bring more training and resources to the education system.

“School officials should be equipped to identify the warning signs of mental illness, trauma and suicidal behavior in youth,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Training is crucial to encouraging appropriate trauma-responsive intervention and techniques in schools.”

The Whole Child Task Force establishes an equitable, safe, inclusive and supportive environment in all schools for students dealing with trauma and mental health issues. The task force collects data on adverse childhood experiences and trauma, as well as the total number of school counselors, social workers, nurses and psychologists in Illinois schools.

As a part of the Black Caucus’ Four Pillar Agenda that Lightford spearheaded, House Bill 342 implements recommendations to the Whole Child Task Force Report to improve schools in Illinois by ensuring that all schools are equipped with training and resources to meet the diverse trauma and mental health needs of their students.

Under the law, the Illinois State Board of Education would create a Children’s Adversity Index, which would measure community childhood trauma exposure across the population of children 3-18 years old by May 31, 2025.

“For all students to succeed in schools and beyond, we need to ensure every school is equipped to meet the diverse needs,” said Lightford. “We need to continue laying the foundation for Illinois to become a national leader in addressing student needs and well-being.”

House Bill 342 was signed into law Thursday.

CREST HILL – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel is urging local government agencies across the 49^th District to apply for the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant program.

“Continuing to invest in our local communities fosters a sustainable environment for our residents,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “By funding recreational and conservational projects right here in our neighborhoods, programs like OSLAD enhance our communities and help attract visitors to these vibrant destinations.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31.

The program offers funding assistance to local governmental agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. A total of $56 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. In addition, IDNR will once again provide funding to cover 100% of eligible projects located in economically distressed communities.

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 31 and should be submitted to IDNR. For more information on the OSLAD program, visit IDNR’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – Growing and raising food for the nation is engrained in Illinois’ character, with a bountiful farming culture throughout the state. However, there are families all over Illinois who live with food insecurity every day. A measure sponsored by State Senator Linda Holmes that establishes a Farm to Food Bank Program to address that gap was signed into law today.

House Bill 2879 addresses the food insecurity needs identified by a feasibility study conducted by multiple state agencies. This program will help provide nutritious food to expand the Illinois emergency food system and assist more than a million Illinois citizens.

“Getting farmers’ surplus products into a program that will arrange for timely redistribution to food banks for local availability is a victory for everyone in the process,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “Farmers need a secondary market for off-grade and surplus products; food banks face rising food insecurity and difficulty making products available for their clients; and families need greater access to food, particularly for nutritious fresh products. This measure can fulfill those needs.”

During the past two General Assemblies, Holmes worked with numerous organizations to lay out a plan to establish this process and address the imbalance of surplus and hunger. She credits the input and guidance from the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, partnered with Feed Illinois, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Specialty Growers Association and the Department of Agriculture in this venture.

“This measure was an initiative of the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Feeding Illinois, who are on the front line helping families source healthy food,” Holmes said. “It’s great to finally see this multi-year effort come to fruition.”

In 2018, 10.1% of Illinois’ population (1.3 million people) experienced food insecurity. Due to the pandemic, food insecurity increased to 12.7% of all Illinoisans in 2020 and 10.9% in 2021.

House Bill 2879 passed unanimously through the General Assembly in May; with the governor’s signature, it takes effect immediately.

For more information on the program, visit https://www.feedingillinois.org/farmers/

SPRINGFIELD – All Illinois children will now have equal access to full-day kindergarten thanks to a new law championed by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford.

“Kindergarten is pivotal for children’s learning journey,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Full-day kindergarten classes across the state will ensure equal access to early learning opportunities for all our families.”

SPRINGFIELD – Homeowners throughout Illinois have something in their basement or garage that should be discarded, but until now, there hasn’t been a means to get rid of it safely: unused household paint. Legislation sponsored by State Senator Linda Holmes that establishes a program to dispose of household paint was signed into law by the governor Friday.

The Paint Stewardship Act creates a process for consumers to dispose of household paint in Illinois. No state resources are in place today to deal with this waste. Under this law, manufacturers of architectural paint will create and submit a plan to the Illinois EPA to establish the program.

“It is exciting to offer this service to Illinoisans with old paint taking up space in their homes,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “To get rid of it in an environmentally safe manner will give us an opportunity to make our state’s soil and water cleaner for our children and to safely produce our crops to feed the state and nation.”

SPRINGFIELD – A new law sponsored by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton will help families of our fallen heroes in securing survivor benefits.

“Our nation’s military families have made life-changing sacrifices to serve our communities,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This new law will create clarity to ensure the families of these fallen heroes will be given the financial support they are entitled to.”

House Bill 2856 will require vital records to list contributing factors behind a veteran’s death. This requirement would ensure survivor benefits and other rights are distributed if the death was caused by a service-related injury.