SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner, a strong advocate for agriculture education, passed a measure that would allow any agriculture-related course to satisfy the vocational education requirement for public high school students.

“A lot of kids know early on that they want to have a career in agriculture, whether that’s farming, becoming an agricultural economist, farm manager or researcher,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We should let them take classes that peak their interests, not force them into electives they have no interest in.”

Senate Bill 1605 would clarify in statute that agricultural education, agricultural business or any other agriculture-related course can satisfy the vocational education requirement for public high school students beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Currently, one year of music, art, foreign language, vocational education or speech and debate are required to graduate from high school.

SPRINGFIELD – Ensuring Illinois nursing mothers have proper workplace accommodations, State Senator Laura Fine passed a measure through the Senate to require employers to provide paid break time for pumping breastmilk.

“Working as a mother to a newborn or infant needing to be breastfed can be challenging without workplace accommodations accounting for the time needed to do so,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “By giving nursing mothers paid break time for pumping breastmilk, we are promoting a supportive work environment for these employees.”

SPRINGFIELD — Thanks to a measure spearheaded by State Senator Mike Porfirio, firefighters could see increased safety while encountering severe smoke and unsteady terrain on roofs.

“I am honored to name this bill the Drew Price Act in honor of Andrew Price, a Chicago firefighter who gave his life protecting his community,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “This is an important first step we must take to protect our first responders on the job, as they defend us from danger every day.”

The bill would require a parapet or guard to be installed around light shafts, skylights and open courts on low-sloped roofs to aid firefighters traversing through dense smoke. Local municipalities would be required to complete surveys of roof safety and hazards of buildings in their district. The surveys would be shared with local police and fire departments to ensure they can avoid dangerous obstacles on roofs when called to an emergency.

SPRINGFIELD – To support students serving in critical leadership roles within Illinois' higher education system, State Senator Dave Koehler has introduced Senate Bill 1475, which would provide scholarship assistance to student members of the state's higher education boards.

"Student voices are essential in shaping Illinois' higher education policies, yet serving on these boards requires significant commitment," Koehler said. “Offering scholarship assistance recognizes their contributions and helps ease these students' financial burdens."

Under Senate Bill 1475, student members serving on the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board would receive a $500 scholarship for each semester they are enrolled and actively serving.

SPRINGFIELD- Joining transit workers, union members and fellow legislators at a press conference Tuesday morning, State Senator Ram Villivalam spoke about Senate Bill 1938 ─ a measure to address issues facing the public transit system amid the quickly approaching $771 million fiscal cliff.

“The Regional Transportation Authority is approaching a $771 million fiscal cliff in 2026, and everyday riders continue to face challenges such as ghost buses, lack of service and safety concerns,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “To address the issues that current riders face, I introduced Senate Bill 1938 in collaboration with transit workers and union members.”

SPRINGFIELD — Saving for retirement could soon become easier and more flexible for thousands of Illinois workers, thanks to a new plan from State Senator Robert Peters that expands access to portable, customizable savings options. 

“Too many Illinoisans are stuck without good retirement savings options, and that’s a problem we need to fix,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This bill would give workers more control over their financial futures, whether they stay in one job or move between employers.”

In 2015, the state created the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program to address the growing gap in retirement savings for Illinois workers. Nearly 40% of private sector workers in Illinois do not have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, leaving many with no way to save for the future. Since its inception, the program has helped over 150,000 participants save more than $200 million for retirement, with more than 25,000 employers offering the program to their workers. 

SPRINGFIELD — A new initiative that would revolutionize how Illinois communities heat and cool their homes and businesses – while also cutting costs and creating new job opportunities – is on the horizon, thanks to State Senator Robert Peters.

“Illinois has an opportunity to lead the way in energy innovation while making it possible for working families to see real savings on their utility bills,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This bill invests in our communities, supports good-paying jobs and prioritizes the transition to cost-effective, sustainable heating and cooling solutions.”

Under Peters’ measure, Illinois electric and gas utilities would have to propose up to three pilot thermal energy network projects, with at least one located in an economically disadvantaged community. These networks would deliver non-combustible thermal energy, reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels, and providing more stable and predictable heating and cooling costs for customers.

SPRINGFIELDState Senator Ram Villivalam joined nurses, nursing home administrators and a bipartisan group of legislators in calling for an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes, continuing his commitment to supporting seniors as the 8^th District has the highest concentration of nursing homes in the state.

“Day in and day out, these homes care for our loved ones with compassion and respect, but they need our help. It's no secret that the cost of everything has gone up,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “From nutritious meals to keeping the lights on, running these facilities is more expensive than ever. Funding that might have gotten the job done in 2017 will not cut it in 2025.”