SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to safeguard the rights of young people, State Senator Robert Peters advanced a measure out of the Senate to update regulations on child labor to shield young individuals from exploitation.

“This measure shows we're committed to keeping young people in the workforce safe,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Protecting youth in work environments gives them the opportunity to learn and grow while contributing positively to the economy without fear of harm.”

SPRINGFIELD – Burdensome medical debt can quickly snowball, making it difficult for people to keep up with the cost and, in turn, affecting their credit scores. During a press conference Wednesday, State Senator Steve Stadelman outlined his measure aimed at prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information related to medical debt in credit reports.

“Medical debt should not be a barrier to financial stability or access to credit opportunities,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This bill seeks to ensure that individuals are not unfairly penalized for seeking necessary medical care or experiencing financial hardship due to health care expenses.”

Senate Bill 2933 would prohibit a consumer reporting agency from making a credit report containing any adverse information about the consumer related to medical debt.

SPRINGFIELD – Last summer, significant flooding hit Cook County in the wake of historic storms, leaving numerous properties with immense damage and leading President Joe Biden to approve a federal disaster declaration for the area. In response, State Senator Mike Porfirio is leading legislation to address future flooding concerns by giving renters the right to receive critical information about a property’s flooding history before they sign their lease.

“This bill is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety and wellbeing of tenants across the state,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “By requiring landlords to disclose flood hazards, we are arming renters with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their families from potential harm.”

Berwyn and Cicero – in the district Porfirio represents – received nearly nine inches of rain in a matter of hours from a storm on June 2 last summer, causing extensive damage to residential and commercial properties and requiring costly repairs. Currently, only seven states require some disclosure of flood risk to renters. Porfirio’s measure would equip potential tenants with essential information about flood risks before renting the property, fostering a fair and informed rental market.

SPRINGFIELD – The cost of managing diabetes can be a significant burden for many families. To help ease the financial strain experienced by people with the condition, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure to expand insurance coverage for medically necessary glucose monitors and related supplies.

“Being forced to make the choice between insulin and other necessities is unacceptable,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It is my goal to ensure that insurance companies adequately cover life-saving medication for people with all types of diabetes.”

Senate Bill 3414 would require insurance companies to cover glucose monitors, related supplies, and training on how to use glucose monitors for individuals diagnosed with any form of diabetes. Under the measure, a person would not need to have prior authorization for coverage for a glucose monitor and any physician would be allowed to prescribe them.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Laura Ellman to make the property tax exemption process easier for qualified seniors passed the Senate on Tuesday.

“My goal is to make property taxes seamless for seniors and remove their worries about the application process,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “We are building on what has worked for our seniors in previous years, and this legislation extends that relief to all senior citizen homestead exemptions for years to come.”

Between 2019 and 2023, the requirement to reapply for the senior citizen homestead exemption was temporarily removed under a pilot program. Currently, in all counties in Illinois, apart from Cook, there is no review requirement to assess these tax exemptions. Senate Bill 2878 would permanently remove the renewal requirement and make reviews a permanent requirement for Cook County. For counties currently practicing automatic renewals, the county assessor must also conduct a review.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a measure to require certain non-profit organizations to disclose the aggregate demographic data of their boards of directors and officers, and to make this information available on their website.

“We are taking vital steps to support diversity and inclusion in the non-profit sector,” said Johnson (D – Buffalo Grove). “While individual board members can decline to disclose any or all demographic information, it is important that we continue to highlight and elevate leadership diversity, equity and inclusion throughout Illinois.”

Senate Bill 2930 would require charitable organizations that annually report $1 million or more in grants to other charitable organizations to disclose on their public-facing websites the aggregate demographic data of their boards of directors. This demographic data includes race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Additionally, in collecting this information, the organization must provide an opportunity for individual board members to decline to disclose any or all of their personal demographic information.

SPRINGFIELD – Promoting an environmentally conscious approach to hospitality, State Senator Laura Fine passed a measure out of the Senate to phase out the use of small, single-use plastic bottles in hotels across Illinois.

“According to researchers, by 2050, plastic could outweigh all fish in the oceans,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Personal products available in plastic bottles are common in hotels and pose immediate risk to our environment once they are thrown away. This bill puts our state on the path to being part of a solution by reducing plastic pollution.”

Senate Bill 2960 creates the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act, which requires hotels with 50 or more rooms to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan. 1, 2026, all hotels with fewer than 50 rooms are expected to make this transition.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman’s legislation to prioritize water protections by targeting critical water issues and implementing necessary recommendations passed the Senate on Tuesday, moving it one step closer to becoming law.

“Access to clean, high-quality water is vital to sustaining a healthy and safe future for everyone,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure will allow Illinois to standardize evaluations of existing water issues and the needs of our environment.”

Senate Bill 2743 would require the State Water Plan Task Force to address water issues and reevaluate environmental needs by assisting state and local authorities in the implementation of recommended plans. The measure would also require the task force to publish a State Water Plan at least once every 10 years and meet once per quarter each calendar year.