Gov. Pritzker Signs Five Rep. Rashid Bills Into Law Bills Enacted Protect Consumers from Cancer-Causing Forever Chemicals, Expand Education Opportunities, and Modernize Government

Berwyn, IL – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law five bills introduced by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Bridgeview) that would ban cancer-causing chemicals from consumer products, enrich educational opportunities, protect students’ access to counseling services, and modernize our state’s technology (see below).

Rep. Rashid released the following statement on the Governor signing these bills into law:

“I’m proud that Governor Pritzker is signing these important bills into law. With the Trump administration and his cronies escalating their war on the working class, Illinois is fighting back. 

“Trump gutted the EPA, while we’re banning cancer-causing chemicals to keep consumers safe. Republicans are trying to eliminate public education, while we’re expanding dual language courses and standing our ground against AI taking over classroom instruction. Trump wants to erase the rich contributions that immigrants have made in the US, while we’re making sure that all students, regardless of citizenship status, get counseling services in our schools.

“This is what real progress for the American people looks like.” – Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid

HB2516 would ban the sale of products that contain PFAS including cosmetics, dental floss, menstrual products, intimate apparel, and products for children. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, increase cancer risks and decrease fertility. They also break down slowly, and can contaminate water and soil, making them an ongoing risk to Illinois communities.

HB1859 requires all courses taught at community college districts to be led by a human instructor. They cannot be replaced by an artificial intelligence program. Rep. Rashid introduced the bill following the release of the Illinois Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force’s report on generative AI.

SB0405 amends the School Code to provide school counseling services in public schools, regardless of a student’s citizenship status. With this amendment, school counseling services are now required to support every student equally.

HB3026 enhances dual language education in Illinois. The bill instructs the State Board of Education to adopt comprehensive guidance for school districts on starting dual language programs, including teacher recruitment, curriculum support, and community engagement.

HB1631 modernizes the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) Act, streamlining state IT services and enhancing local government cybersecurity coordination across Illinois.