SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, helped pass a bill encouraging and expanding access to youth civic engagement by requiring high schools to provide voter registration opportunities and information, inspired by the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.

“As an educator, I saw first-hand what formative times the high school years are for young people,” said Stuart. “Registering to vote at a young age, embracing your role as a concerned citizen with a voice, is so crucial to empowering our next generations of leaders.”

House Bill 4339, establishing the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, ensures that all public high schools offer students of voting age the opportunity to register to vote. Registering to vote can be complicated, especially for first-time voters. This bill will give high schoolers a safe space to learn, ask questions, and take steps towards civic engagement.

This bill honors Rev. Jackson, Sr. and his dedication to equal rights and public service, who passed away earlier this year after a storied career marching alongside Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., developing the Rainbow Coalition based in Chicago, and so much more.

“Studies have shown that kids who get involved in civic engagement early, like going with their parents to vote or going to community events, are more likely to engage with their community as adults,” said Stuart. “Rev. Jesse Jackson fought for voting access right here in Illinois, and I’m proud to play a part in continuing his legacy.”

House Bill 4339 was passed unanimously by Democrats, with 24 Republicans voting against and nine not voting, and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- Working to reduce the spread of inaccurate health information, state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Romeoville, is backing new legislation that would establish an expert team under the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to monitor and counter the distribution of health misinformation damaging to Illinois residents and consumers. 

“We have seen time and time again how quickly misinformation can spread, putting families and communities at risk,” Avelar said. “By creating a dedicated team to identify and respond to harmful misinformation, we are taking a proactive step to protect public health, strengthen transparency and hold bad actors accountable when they deliberately mislead consumers.”

Avelar backed House Bill 4596, which would establish the Health Misinformation Response Unit under IDPH to monitor the spread of health misinformation on social media, community forums or other web or news sources, in order to develop effective countermeasures, like public health advisories. The legislation aims to protect Illinois’ credibility as a repository of reliable health information, during a time where health decisions out of Washington are increasingly politically aligned, rather than evidence-based.

By utilizing state grants to implement health literacy programs, House Bill 4596 seeks to recruit and train messengers within the new unit to assist with communicating accurate health information to the public, while providing accurate sources for residents. This ensures that the health information sent out to the public comes directly from reviewed sources and is strictly science-based. It also establishes that entities who violate this Act will be held accountable and punished under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. 

“We have a responsibility to meet this challenge head-on by investing in trusted voices and credible information,” said Avelar. “This legislation is about ensuring Illinois residents have access to accurate, science-based health information they can trust. We are not only correcting falsehoods, but also building a stronger foundation of health literacy so residents can make informed decisions for themselves and their families.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — On Wednesday, state Rep. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, D-Chicago, continued her work to promote civic engagement and participation by passing a bill that will require Illinois’ public high schools to provide eligible students with an opportunity to register to vote.

“For far too long, the voter registration process has been seen as something that young people are supposed to either figure out on their own or with their families,” said Du Buclet. “This reality makes navigating the electoral process particularly intimidating for first-time and young voters and is one of the leading factors in low voter turnout among young people.”

House Bill 4339, also known as the Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, passed out of the House with bipartisan support. The legislation will ensure that all public high schools offer students of eligible voting age the opportunity to register during the school day in a safe, accessible and nonpartisan environment.

Too often, voter registration efforts are tied to political campaigns or outside organizations that may seek to influence how someone exercises their fundamental right. This bill removes that pressure and ensures young people have a first-time voter experience rooted in trust, education and independence. This bill does not impose any penalties on schools that are unable to provide the opportunity.

“This legislation is deeply inspired by the vision of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who said that graduation should mark a young person’s full entry into civic life—leaving with a diploma in one hand and a voter registration card in the other. We are not telling anyone who to vote for. We are making sure they understand their voice matters and that they have a place in our democracy,” said Du Buclet. “At a time when many are losing faith in our institutions, we have a responsibility to meet young people in this moment and equip them with the tools they need to participate. This bill is about building civic habits, strengthening our communities and making sure that our young people understand the power of their voice and the responsibility that comes with it.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Lilian Jiménez, D-Chicago, is cracking down on junk fees that cost consumers an estimated $3,000 every year, with a new measure that holds businesses accountable for charges added on top of advertised purchase prices.

“Working families shouldn’t be blindsided by hidden fees that drive up the cost of everyday purchases and cost consumers thousands of dollars each year,” said Jiménez. “This bill creates transparency and accountability by requiring businesses to clearly disclose all mandatory fees upfront. In Illinois, we are empowering consumers to make informed decisions, putting an end to deceptive pricing practices and enforcing businesses to not continue to take advantage of people through ‘convenience’ or ‘processing’ fees.”

The Jiménez-backed House Bill 228 would require businesses to display all mandatory fees and charges they are adding on top of a purchase price. The bill also gives the attorney general’s office more authority to hold businesses accountable for not disclosing surprise fees — cracking down on these “convenience” or “processing” fees that many businesses use to charge more for everyday retail purchases and services including hotels and rental cars.

The bill was passed out of the House Consumer Protection Committee and now moves to consideration on the House floor.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, helped pass a bill encouraging and expanding access to youth civic engagement by requiring high schools to provide voter registration opportunities and information, inspired by the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.

“This bill continues the important work that some schools have already started, encouraging civic engagement at a time when democracy is being tested,” said Chung. “Our civic duty as legislators is to ensure our young people are aware of their civic duties and have the ability to register to vote before they graduate from high school.”

House Bill 4339, establishing the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, ensures that all public high schools offer students of voting age the opportunity to register to vote. Registering to vote can be complicated, especially for first-time voters. This bill will give high schoolers a safe space to learn, ask questions, and take steps towards civic engagement.

This bill honors Rev. Jackson, Sr. and his dedication to equal rights and public service, who passed away earlier this year after a storied career marching alongside Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., developing the Rainbow Coalition based in Chicago, among other significant accomplishments.

“I am a staunch supporter of the young people of our state being civically engaged and am proud to support legislation supported by civil rights giant Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.” said Chung. “Giving the next generation the opportunity to register to vote is crucial because every voice matters, and every Illinoisan’s voice should be heard at the ballot box.”

House Bill 4339 was passed unanimously by Democrats, with 24 Republicans voting against and nine not voting, and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is making interactions between law enforcement and individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder safer and easier. The Blue Envelope Program intends to support safe and effective communication for all involved parties.

Mussman passed House Bill 4472, which creates the Blue Envelope Program, in partnership with the Secretary of State’s office and the Autism Hero Project non-profit. Those diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum can use the envelopes to hold documents required to operate a motor vehicle. With all necessary information in one location, neurodivergent individuals can locate documents easily and choose to self-disclose they are on the spectrum.

This measure will ensure that interactions are orderly and effective for both first responders and drivers in the neurodivergent community, helping to reduce anxiety and miscommunication for both parties, during a potentially stressful situation. The program is voluntary– individuals with neurodivergency or autism are not required to participate in this program, but the resources must be available at various locations operated by the Secretary of State.

“This legislation is a huge win for anyone with Autism or neurodivergencies, which is especially timely during Autism Acceptance Month,” said Mussman. “I’m looking forward to my colleagues in the Senate passing this bill, and then signed into law by the governor.”

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – State Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Carpentersville, met with local leaders and elected officials Monday to unveil a new Salvation Army Canteen, a critical addition to the organization’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) unit at The Salvation Army Crystal Lake Corps Community Center.

“I’m excited for our local Salvation Army center and their renewed ability to aid and assist hundreds of people facing emergency situations like natural disasters with this new and improved canteen,” said Ness. “This simply couldn’t be possible without the help of some amazing EDS Canteen volunteers, many of whom are retired firefighters from right here in our community.”

Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) units, established around the state, rely on a team of local volunteers to support first responders and survivors during Illinois disasters, which
frequently include tornadoes, floods and house fires. The new canteen, to be stationed at The Salvation Army Crystal Lake Corps Community Center, will replace a retired 1998 model and act as a mobile ‘food truck’ equipped with ovens, refrigerators, power and water to prepare and provide hundreds to thousands of meals to distressed communities.

“This new canteen is so important to not only help local families, but also to travel miles beyond our immediate borders to assist other communities hit by disaster. Clean water, hot food and a neighbor’s helping hand is truly irreplaceable in these times of need. As a community, we are beyond thankful for these wonderful volunteers,” said Ness.

JOLIET, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, joined with 4 Kids Sake Food Pantry to deliver new coats, hats and gloves to students at Cunningham School in Joliet.

Because the cold weather continued late into the spring, many kids needed something warm. 4 Kids Sake donated 100 coats, as well as bundles of hats and gloves, which Rep. Manley delivered to the school. Rep. Manley also stayed to help each child find the right color and fit that they wanted.

“Bringing groups together like 4 Kids Sake and schools is a solid example of how we can all help one another,” Rep. Manley said. “The best part of my job is when I can be with children.”
Rep. Manley was met by District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse, who also helped unload and unpack boxes. They, along with Cunningham staff, sorted and stacked, creating stations for kids to find what they wanted.

“Thanks goes to 4 Kids Sake Food Pantry, as well as to Dr. Theresa Rouse and the Cunningham staff who created an organized effort to help these kids,” Rep. Manley said. “Everyone left that day smiling.”

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Following a series of winning seasons for Illinois State University (ISU) Athletics teams, state Rep. Chung, D-Bloomington issued the following statement:

“I’ve been outspoken about my pride in our ISU athletics program, and as a fan I’ve enjoyed watching these teams compete. Our football and basketball teams have found such success this season through hard work, togetherness, and grit. I’m so proud of all our student athletes.

“Redbirds football ended their 12-5 season placing second in the FCS National Championship, in what was probably the best football game I’ve ever seen.

“Our Men’s basketball team went 23-13 over the season, making it to the Final Four in the National Invitational Tournament.

“The Women’s basketball team placed second in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament to close out their 20-13 season.

“I want to give a special shout out to the Big Red Marching Machine, ISU’s outstanding marching band, for being the true embodiment of Redbird pride! As a musician I am so impressed by you all– you’re the unsung hero of Redbird Athletics!

“I’m so proud of what our Redbirds have accomplished so far, and can’t wait to see our baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s track and field teams follow in their footsteps!”