Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – To protect patients and providers in the future, State Senator Adriane Johnson has advanced legislation that would remove hormonal medications such as testosterone and estrogen from the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program.

“A patient’s medical information is deeply personal, and protecting it is essential to preserving trust between individuals and their healthcare providers,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Without that trust, people are less likely to seek the care they need.”

Intended to prevent patients from going from one doctor to another to get multiple prescriptions for powerful and addictive pain medications, the Illinois Prescription Monitoring System collects controlled substance prescription records from pharmacies. The data is provided to authorized individuals for the purpose of clinical care, regulation of professional practice, research and evaluation and law enforcement. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s latest effort to decouple Illinois adult education funding from federal rules passed the Senate Higher Education Committee Wednesday.

“Many Illinois residents benefit from adult education courses and Illinoisans should have control over how our state funds these programs,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Higher education continues to be under assault while the Trump administration is in power – and this is not a path we will willingly follow.”

The measure comes as the Trump administration continues to threaten education funding and demand an unprecedented role in university admission, curriculum and operations. Without action from the state, federal threats to education programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act could limit Illinois residents’ access to higher education and key adult education programs.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva led legislation through the Senate that would strengthen environmental justice protections by ensuring state regulators consider the potential impacts on communities that have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens when reviewing pollution control permits.

“We know that underserved, low-income and minority communities have been forced to carry a heavier burden when it comes to pollution exposure – from air toxins to industrial waste to traffic pollution,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “By requiring the evaluation of potential environmental impacts, this measure will guarantee industries are considering the health and well-being of all Illinoisans when reviewing pollution control permits, especially communities that have already endured marginalization for generations.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced a measure that would ensure survivors of domestic violence are fully protected and current state law supporting victims is properly enforced.

“It has been proven time and time again that when an abuser has access to a firearm, it increases the likelihood of domestic violence lethality more than tenfold, which is exactly why I have fought to safeguard victims of domestic violence in Illinois by allowing for the confiscation of an abuser’s firearms,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “However, our work is far from over, and this measure is one more step we can take to ensure the safety of Illinoisans – especially women and children – is taken seriously by our state’s justice system.”

Senate Bill 3329 would solidify protections for victims of domestic violence under Karina’s Law. Signed into law in February 2025, Karina’s Law addresses the growing concern surrounding firearms and domestic violence by clarifying and strengthening the law around orders of protection, requiring law enforcement to remove firearms from individuals subject to emergency restraining orders within 96 hours of a judge issuing an order revoking the individual’s FOID card.

SPRINGFIELD – To combat climate change and environmental degradation as well as provide food for students, State Senator Laura Ellman is working to advance legislation aimed at helping schools reduce food waste and ensure more students have access to nutritious meals during the school day.

“In a state where one in eight people face food insecurity, we should be doing everything we can to make sure good food doesn’t go to waste,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This is a simple, practical solution that helps schools reduce waste while making sure more students have access to the food they need to learn and thrive.”

CHICAGO – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus celebrated the announcement of IBM’s new FutureNow Chicago delivery center, which will be part of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and create 750 full-time jobs, with a commitment to hiring from a new City Colleges apprenticeship program.

“This announcement is a win for City Colleges students, Illinois workers and our state’s economy,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). “By supporting forward-thinking partnerships that bring the next generation to the table, Illinois is solidifying its status as a global leader in the technologies of the future.”

SPRINGFIELD – Artificial light at night is estimated to contribute to the deaths of hundreds of millions of migratory birds each year in the U.S., while also disrupting nocturnal wildlife and ecosystems, according to the National Audubon Society. State Senator Laura Ellman is working to address these impacts with legislation through the Senate aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing harmful outdoor lighting across Illinois.

“Senate Bill 3037 is an important step in combating rising costs on energy bills. This legislation ensures Illinois is using smarter, more efficient lighting that protects both our environment and taxpayers,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Light pollution is more than just an inconvenience: it impacts our health, disrupts wildlife and wastes energy.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans are one step closer to knowing the cosmetics on their bathroom shelves won’t make them sick long term thanks to a measure led by State Senator Mattie Hunter to ban such items from containing polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals."

“For too long, the cosmetics industry has operated without the kind of oversight we apply to food, medicine and drinking water,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “We are working to close that gap and put Illinois at the forefront of a national movement to hold manufacturers accountable for what goes into their products and onto our skin.”