Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – To provide stability in the lives of children experiencing homelessness, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would expand access to emergency housing assistance for students and their families.

“As a former school social worker, I’ve seen first-hand how housing instability suppresses a student’s ability to learn,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Children cannot be expected to focus on learning when they are worried about where they will sleep at night. Every child deserves a safe, stable place to live, and it’s our responsibility to close the gaps that leave too many families without support.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a landmark measure that would eliminate prior authorization for HIV treatment and make it easier for people to receive vital preventative care.

“Removing barriers imposed by prior authorization and getting people living with HIV into treatment quickly is the path to healthier, longer lives,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).

Disparities in health outcomes, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, often stem from limited access to high-quality prevention and treatment services, like PrEP – an HIV preventative medicine.

To bolster statewide efforts to improve access to preventative care and HIV treatment, Feigenholtz is leading House Bill 2584. The measure would require private insurers to cover pre-PrEP HIV and sexually transmitted infection screenings.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement regarding the fatal shooting of Officer John Bartholomew that occurred at Endeavor Swedish Hospital on Saturday, April 25:

“My family and I have been patients at Endeavor Swedish Hospital for decades, and on Saturday, I found my beloved childhood neighborhood barricaded and on lockdown due to an active shooter.

“I commend law enforcement and our local leaders for their swift action that led to the apprehension of the alleged shooter. I want to honor the life of Officer John Bartholomew. Officer Bartholomew was just 38 years old and had served with the Chicago Police Department for over a decade before his life was tragically taken.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that more students can get ahead academically while maintaining strong instructional standards, State Senator Laura Ellman advanced House Bill 4239, which would expand access to high school-level coursework for seventh and eighth grade students.

“Students learn at different paces, and our policies should reflect that,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure ensures that motivated middle school students have clear, equitable access to high school coursework, without unnecessary barriers, while maintaining the high standards families expect.”

House Bill 4239 would clarify that middle school students may enroll in high school courses offered by the high school they would attend, so long as the course is taught by a properly licensed educator and can be taken at the student’s current school.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a measure that would develop a program to increase care for newborns.

“The postpartum period is a critical phase of newborns’ well-being,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Delivering needed care in that time period will ensure their health is not compromised.”

DEERFIELD — State Senator Julie Morrison is leading legislation that would ensure the Illinois State Police utilize the national DNA profile database CODIS to notify investigating agencies if a consistent DNA profile has been identified.

“The CODIS database is a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies to ensure our safety and seek justice for victims of crimes,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It is imperative that we continue to provide the administrative tools needed to ensure the Illinois State Police is able to utilize and contact investigating law enforcement agencies if a match is identified.”

SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to keep students safe, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is leading a measure to include railroad safety information in student handbooks.

“Student safety has to be at the forefront of our priorities,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “Our residents have expressed concern about schools near railroads and ensuring students understand the protocols in place to keep them safe.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Doris Turner celebrated the opening of the new SCHEELS Sports Park complex Tuesday. Projections indicate the facility will attract 250,000 annual visitors, generate an estimated $25 million in annual economic activity, and bring a significant boost to Springfield’s tourism industry. The new complex will also allow youth in Springfield and the surrounding area to access new, state-of-the-art sports facilities that provide opportunities for healthy physical activity and community engagement.

“The SCHEELS Sports Park development has been years in the making, but it’s not just a park — it will serve as a premier destination for a wide range of family-friendly and community events,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We are seeing hundreds of people, from athletes to spectators to organizers, come to Springfield for tournaments each weekend, boosting our local economy and bringing in tourism dollars. This facility will have a lasting effect on the Springfield community for decades to come.”