SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, is making interactions between law enforcement and individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder safer and easier by sponsoring a bill to bring the Blue Envelope Program to Illinois.

“This is something extremely important for the neurodivergent community,” said Briel. “When an officer approaches you as a neurodivergent individual, it’s true that the outcome is not always perfect. I’ve been asked to personally perform field sobriety tests completely sober, simply due to how I naturally communicate and interact—but we can change that. This program is a way that can alleviate many neurodivergent people’s fears and help law enforcement understand the best approaches to effectively interacting with someone on the spectrum.”

Briel passed House Bill 4472, creating the Blue Envelope Program in partnership with the Secretary of State’s office. 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, individuals can locate documents easily in potentially high stress situations.

This measure will help both first responders and anyone in the neurodivergent community feel safe and prepared in their interactions. Additionally, first responders will be able to identify and aid neurodivergent individuals by their blue envelope and work to anticipate any communication barriers during law enforcement interactions.

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 is a bill that absolutely represents the autistic and neurodivergent community,” said Briel. “By opening this opportunity for neurodivergent drivers, individuals on the spectrum can count on a safe and confidential plan whenever they are at a traffic stop or other emergency situation.”

House Bill 4472 passed unanimously and now heads to the Senate for a vote.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, 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.

“In our state, registering to vote is often a simple, straightforward process, and now it will be even easier for high school students to register,” said Gordon-Booth. “With more resources, I hope more young people will continue to vote and ensure their voices are heard in our community and beyond.”

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.

“We only have this opportunity to encourage young voters because of the advocates who came before us, including Rev. Jackson, who risked their lives for the rights and freedoms we have today,” said Gordon-Booth. “I’m proud to support legislation that will work to expand voter registration efforts, and I hope to see our youth at polling places later this year.”

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. Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, passed legislation unanimously out of the House to improve care for individuals living with dementia by strengthening training requirements for home care workers.

“Caring for someone with dementia requires consistency, patience, and specialized knowledge,” Davis said. “This legislation ensures that caregivers are better prepared to meet the unique needs of these individuals and provide the structured support that is critical to their well-being.”

House Bill 4584 requires Home Services Program rehabilitation counselors and homemaker agency employees who provide direct care to participants to complete at least two hours of dementia training upon hire and annually thereafter. The training will cover key topics such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia-related safety risks, effective communication strategies, and approaches for responding to behavioral challenges.

“Families across Illinois rely on well-trained caregivers to support their loved ones,” Davis said. “By strengthening training standards, we are investing in a more capable workforce and better outcomes for those living with dementia. I’m encouraged by the unanimous support and eager to see this bill continue moving forward.”

House Bill 4584 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As prices of everyday essentials continue to rise across the country, state Rep. Matt Hanson, D-Montgomery, is working to provide some immediate relief to Illinois customers by passing a new measure to ensure discounts offered by businesses are honored or easily accessible.

“Right now, every penny counts,” said Hanson. “There is nothing more frustrating than having a coupon or discount and not being able to access it for whatever reason. A lot of people plan their budget around coupons and we need businesses advertising price reductions to follow through. That’s what this bill ensures.”

Grocery stores, drug stores, and other businesses increasingly entice customers with advertised savings that require apps and digital coupons, which are often unreliable and require smartphone access. In some cases, customers have faced difficulty “clipping” advertised deals on the app, connectivity issues, or technological barriers.

In order to reduce these barriers to savings, Hanson co-sponsored and passed House Bill 45, which requires retailers to honor all advertised savings, even if customers cannot access their app or operate their digital coupons.

House Bill 45 now moves to the Senate.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, has passed legislation out of committee aimed at improving the quality of food served in Illinois schools.

“Schools are more than just places to learn—they play a big role in shaping our kids’ daily lives,” Harper said. “For many students, the meal they get at school might be the only one they eat all day. That meal should not be full of high sodium and fat that can lead to obesity and other health issues.”

House Bill 5507 establishes the Food Reform to Ensure Student Health Act, which is designed to make school meals healthier by removing unhealthy foods. Starting in 2029, schools will begin taking these items off their menus, and by 2032, food companies will no longer be allowed to sell heavily processed or “junk” foods to schools. The law also holds food suppliers more accountable by requiring them to be transparent about what they sell and to report on their progress each year. Additionally, school staff will receive training so they know how to prepare and serve healthier meals, ensuring students have access to better food at school.

“This is a common-sense step to make sure our students have access to better food,” Harper said. “When students eat healthier meals, they are better prepared to focus, learn, and succeed.”

The bill is now headed to the House floor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As part of his efforts to support workers, state Rep. Gregg Johnson, D- Rock Island, has advanced legislation out of committee to require large employers to prefile unemployment insurance information with the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) when dealing with layoffs, furloughs or temporary shutdowns.

“This legislation is about putting working families first as they deal with a difficult situation,” said Johnson. “Nobody wants to lose their job, and it can send a person’s life into a tailspin as they try to figure out what to do next. This legislation will help with their next steps as it requires companies to lay the groundwork for their employees to receive unemployment insurance.”

House Bill 4805 would require employers with 75 or more employees in Illinois to prefile unemployment information with IDES when conducting layoffs, furloughs or temporary shutdowns. Currently, employers are only required to provide information packets from IDES with information on how to apply for unemployment insurance benefits to employees who are laid off or furloughed.

“In an ideal world, quality workers wouldn’t have to deal with losing their jobs, but that’s just not the reality we live in today,” said Johnson. “With this legislation, employees will be better positioned to receive the support they need to keep moving forward. When working families are going through difficult times, it’s our responsibility to provide them with care and assistance.”

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, will begin holding monthly Community Women’s Caucus meetings across Metro East communities. The Caucus was born from conversations at a Women’s Community Advisory Committee held in Stuart’s district last month, with attendees advocating for more spaces for women-led community advocacy and engagement.

“My district and I run a series of recurring events in our district and online—from Primetime with Katie, where I can keep my constituents informed, to mobile office hours so we can be accessible to constituents all throughout our district,” said Staurt. “Developing a committee of women committed to action and active conversation was a no-brainer.”

The 18-member Community Women’s Caucus will meet monthly to discuss legislation, community concerns, proposals and any other timely topics. Though Stuart hosts recurring Community Advisory Committee meetings, community members voiced a desire for recurring meetings specific to women to create both a safe space for discussion and the opportunity to meet regularly to track the progress of any caucus initiatives.

“I’m so excited to get this caucus started and to see all that we can accomplish together,” said Stuart. “Announcing this caucus during Women’s History Month is kismet. Women are crucial to so many movements and initiatives across the country and across Illinois, but rarely do they get the recognition they deserve. I’m honored to join the women in my district to be the change we want to see in our communities.”

Caucus meetings will be by invite only. Please reach out to newsletter.repstuart@gmail.com for more information on the caucus and for upcoming meeting details.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, is taking steps to cut home and auto insurance costs through a bill that ensures Illinois customers are not paying to pad the profits of big corporations or cover corporate losses in high-risk states like Florida or Texas.

“It is unfair that, while Illinoisans are forced to overcome the challenges of an affordability crisis, policyholders in Illinois are expected to cover the financial risk of doing business in high-risk states,” said Jones. “No one should have to endure excessive premiums so companies can report record profits and make life even tougher for everyday people who already struggling to get by.”

Homeowners across Illinois have seen insurance plans rise by nearly 30% in the last year, raising concerns that Illinois residents are footing the bill for other states at high risk of natural disasters. In an effort to reduce costs for Illinois customers, Jones passed Senate Bill 1486, which takes several steps to rein in rising insurance costs by:

• Empowering IDOI to reject unfair rate increases by subjecting all Illinois homeowners insurance, fire insurance and auto insurance policies to a comprehensive rate review process.
• Requiring insurance companies give customers 60 days’ notice before double-digit rate increases, giving customers more time to make informed decisions.
• Shrinking auto insurance premiums for drivers over the age of 55 who complete a 4-hour defensive driving program or e-learning course.

“As chairman of the House Insurance Committee, I am prioritizing reforms and legislation that cut costs and make coverage more accessible,” said Jones. “Costs are rising faster than paychecks, and it’s up to us to provide real relief for our working families.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Marti Deuter, D-Elmhurst, is working to make roadways across the state safer by changing how law enforcement responds to extreme cases of reckless driving.

Drivers who repeatedly exceed the speed limit at dangerously high speeds, known as ‘super speeders,’ make up a disproportionate number of fatal crashes. However, research shows that standard enforcement measures, such as the revocation of a driver’s license, does not stop people from driving or from speeding at dangerous levels.

Deuter’s House Bill 4948 would create the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program, which aims to offer a more equitable and responsive solution to excessive speeding. Drivers with two or more convictions of excessive speeding within a 12-month period—such as driving 60 miles per hour on a residential street with a 30 mile per hour limit, or driving more than 100 miles per hour on an interstate with a 70 mile per hour limit—would be required to install Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) in their vehicles as part of the program.

Intelligent Speed Assistance is a dynamic system similar to a speed governor that limits a driver’s speed relative to the posted limits, with the system automatically adjusting the limit as the posted limit changes.

“In the United States, a car isn’t just a way to get around, it’s the key to economic mobility,” Deuter said. “By switching our enforcement mechanisms to be proactive rather than reactive, we’re able to build a more equitable system that holds super speeders accountable while still allowing them to go to work, visit their families and be part of their communities.”

Similar programs have been implemented across the country, including in New York City’s municipal fleet, where officials have seen speeding rates drop by 64%.

“Driving at high speeds is dangerous, plain and simple,” Deuter said. “By cracking down on the worst offenders, those who frequently speed at dangerous levels, we’re making roads safer for everyone. Whether you drive, take the bus, ride your bike or walk, you deserve to feel safe on the road.”