SPRINGFIELD – As chants rose in the air – a sea of orange gathered beneath the statue of Lincoln, signs held with grief and hope – members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus stood alongside survivors, advocates and community leaders in a powerful call to action: fully fund the Reimagine Public Safety Act and end the epidemic of gun violence through community-led solutions.

“When we fund community organizations, prioritize healing, and give young people opportunities to thrive, we’re not just responding to violence – we’re preventing it. This is about putting resources where they belong: in our neighborhoods, with the people doing the work every day,” said State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “I’ll keep fighting to make sure our communities get what they need to feel safe, seen and supported.”

Every name lost to gun violence carries with it a story of stolen potential, of families left grieving and of communities struggling to heal. As gun violence continues to claim lives across the state, advocates at the Capitol demanded increased, sustained funding and legislative backing to fully realize the vision of the RPSA. Speakers highlighted the need to expand outreach efforts, support community-based organizations and treat gun violence as the public health crisis it is.

SPRINGFIELD — To further protect children in state care from being placed in dangerous home environments, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton advanced legislation that would expand the list of individuals prohibited from taking on the care of a child in foster or adoptive capacities.

“Children under state care have already endured hardship, including the loss of their familiar living situation,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This legislation aims to close dangerous loopholes to ensure their placements are as safe and stable as possible.”

House Bill 871 would prohibit the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from placing a child in a foster or adoptive home with an individual who has a record of human or sex trafficking.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler is leading legislation to ease the financial burden on student teachers and provide incentives for experienced educators to mentor Illinois’ next generation of teachers.

“Our state needs talented, dedicated teachers and that starts with removing some of the financial hurdles students face when pursuing an education degree,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This program will help aspiring teachers afford the costs of student teaching while rewarding experienced educators who guide them along the way.”

House Bill 1375 would establish a stipend program through the Illinois Board of Higher Education, offering student teachers stipends of up to $10,000 per semester for a maximum of two consecutive semesters. The program also would include stipends of $2,000 per semester for cooperating teachers who mentor student teachers, which are also limited to two consecutive semesters each year.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to safeguard student athletes, State Senator Mary Edly-Allen brought House Bill 2521 to the Senate Criminal Law Committee on Tuesday to increase protections for students and strengthen background checks for sports officials.

“As an educator, it is of utmost importance to safeguard our children, both in and out of the classroom,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “This bill helps ensure all children are safe and guarded while participating in high school athletics.”

Under current law, school employees, including bus drivers, are required to undergo fingerprint background checks. However, background checks do not apply for sports officials, such as referees or umpires.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Ram Villivalam hosted a press conference Tuesday morning, highlighting Senate Bill 1939 and how it supports the state’s economy, auto dealers, workforce and the future of electric vehicles.

“This legislation protects Illinois jobs, as we have over 700 dealers serving communities across the state that have created, maintained and supported over 90,000 jobs,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago).

Recently, out-of-state corporations have repeatedly bypassed the state’s current franchise system by selling directly to consumers through new subsidiary companies. Currently, some corporations such as Rivian and Lucid have received previous approval to participate in direct-to-consumer sales.

SPRINGFIELD — Today, children have internet access at every turn — from tablets to phones and other smart devices — putting them at greater risk of exploitation. To help protect children from this growing threat, State Senator Julie Morrison is working with the Illinois State Police to expand their authority to investigate and put an end to these internet crimes.

“Online predators don’t limit themselves based on county lines, so neither should our police investigations,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This legislation removes barriers to allow state police to act quickly and effectively when children are targeted online.”

House Bill 2586 would give ISP’s Division of Criminal Investigation broader jurisdiction to pursue online child exploitation cases and work alongside local task forces across the state. The legislation aims to improve response times, close jurisdictional gaps and strengthen coordination between agencies working to protect children from digital threats. These changes would bring Illinois in line with Alicia’s Law, a national initiative that empowers specialized law enforcement units to track and prosecute predators who target children online.

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus met with students from throughout Illinois at the Capitol Tuesday during their annual Tech Day event, which showcases student-made technological projects.

“Every year, Tech Day shows us just how brilliant Illinois students are becoming,” said State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). “As long as we continue to value STEM education in Illinois, we invest in our states future as an innovative workforce. These students are already solving complex problems, and it’s our job to ensure they have the resources to keep learning in this highly dynamic field of study”

The Illinois Digital Educators Alliance collaborates with Tech Day to provide students with a platform for showcasing their robotics, coding software design and digital innovation projects to state legislators. The event demonstrates the vital role of science, mathematics and engineering in education as it prepares students for their future careers.

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus gathered to honor firefighters who risked their lives on the job during the 32^nd annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony.

The Illinois Firefighter Memorial honors the courageous firefighters of Illinois who have valiantly given their lives in the line of duty, as well as those who continue to serve with courage, pride and honor. The ceremony also gives families of fallen firefighters the Line of Duty Death Award in recognition of their loved ones’ bravery and resilience.