SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, helped pass new reforms to strengthen statewide oversight of hemp products, improve consumer safety, and support equity in Illinois’s growing cannabis and hemp industries, which were codified into law today.

“It is time we protect Illinoisans from unsafe cannabis business practices, especially young people who shouldn’t have access to these items in the first place, and create equitable, thoughtful regulatory policies for hemp and cannabis distribution,” said Hernandez. “As part of the Cannabis Working Group in Springfield, I’m proud of my colleagues and I for passing legislation that protects consumers and creates pathways for the cannabis businesses to flourish in our state.”

Senate Bill 3222 creates new statewide policies for cannabis and hemp products, including licensing requirements, safety standards, testing, labeling and enforcement enhancements. This measure strengthens regulation, improves consumer protections and ensures hemp and cannabis products are sold safely and legally across Illinois. This legislation also creates a more transparent and accountable marketplace that supports equitable participation in the industry.

The legislation was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker today.

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — State Rep. Anne Stava, D- Downers Grove, held a hugely successful Book Drive on Tuesday, ultimately collecting over 2,500 books for area nonprofits during what was to be a four-hour event, but which had to be shortened due to the unexpectedly enthusiastic response.

“When a community comes together to give the gift of learning and personal enrichment to their neighbors, it’s really special,” Stava said. “The response from our community has been amazing. We couldn’t have imagined such an outpouring of kindness and generosity.”

Stava and her staff organized the drive to benefit area nonprofits, some of which donate books to schools and local libraries, or sell them to fund charitable programs. The event was scheduled to be held at Stava’s constituent service office in Downers Grove from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, but had to be ended at 1 p.m.

By 10:15 a.m., at least 100 books had been donated. By 11 a.m., that number was 300. By noon, 700. By 12:30, over a thousand books had been dropped off. So many books were donated by 1 p.m. that the event had to end an hour early, and the door to the office could not be closed due to the volume of books.

“We asked our neighbors for books, and they responded. In fact, they stuffed our office literally to overflowing!” Stava said. “My staff and I were stepping over and between boxes of books to get around the office—which is a wonderful ‘problem’ to have. Thank you to the community for helping us help others.”

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. —  State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, is hosting a Summer Reading Challenge open to all students grades kindergarten through eighth across the 91st district, running from Monday, June 15, through Monday, Aug. 17. 

“I want to invite all children in our community to participate in my Summer Reading Challenge, and win some awesome prizes,” said Chung. “If you need some suggestions, my kids and I really loved the Mindy Kim series. As Korean Americans, we love to find media that represents us.”

Participants who read ten books by the deadline will receive a $10 gift card to Carl’s Ice Cream, one pass to Miller Park Zoo and a signed certificate from Representative Chung. The program is open to all students in the 91st district from kindergarten to eighth grade.

“Reading is so important to our development as students and as people. We learn important lessons and morals from books, and despite being in a digital age, we need to keep encouraging our kids to read,” said Chung. “Enjoy your summer, but keep your brains stimulated with this fun challenge. Happy reading!”

Students can register to participate here, or pick up a physical application at Chung’s district office, located at 216 N. Center St. in Bloomington.

As a reminder, Chung’s district office serves her constituents seeking assistance in any state government-related case, unemployment, FOID cards, state licenses and more.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, advanced legislation to the governor’s desk that improves access to healthcare, expands education, and clarifies workplace protections for individuals experiencing menopause.

“For too long, menopause has been treated as a private struggle instead of a public health issue that deserves attention and support,” Morris said. “This legislation helps ensure people have access to accurate information, appropriate medical care, and fair treatment in the workplace.”

House Bill 5284, the Menopause Equity and Care Act, takes a comprehensive approach to addressing gaps in menopause education, healthcare access, and workplace understanding. The legislation provides accessible public educational materials to help individuals better understand menopause and available care options, ensures insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment based on established clinical guidelines, and offers optional resources for healthcare providers to support informed, evidence-based care. The measure also recognizes menopause- related conditions within the framework of the Illinois Human Rights Act, allowing for reasonable workplace accommodations where appropriate.

Menopause affects nearly all women, with approximately 80% experiencing symptoms that can significantly impact overall health, well-being, and workplace performance. Supporters of the legislation note that menopause is not only a healthcare issue, but also an economic and workforce issue that affects productivity, retention, and quality of life for a significant portion of the population.

“No one should feel dismissed or unsupported while navigating a major stage of their health journey,” Morris said. “By improving education and expanding protections, we are helping create healthier workplaces and stronger outcomes for women across Illinois.”

House Bill 5284 has passed both chambers of the General Assembly and now awaits the governor’s signature.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, advanced legislation to the governor’s desk that updates continuing education requirements for health care professionals by allowing training on perimenopause and menopause to count toward implicit bias education requirements.

“Far too often, conversations around perimenopause and menopause are overlooked in health care settings, leaving many patients feeling unheard or misunderstood,” Lilly said. “This legislation helps ensure providers receive education that improves awareness, strengthens communication, and leads to more compassionate, informed care for women across Illinois.”

Senate Bill 3325 changes Illinois rules for health care professionals. Starting January 1, 2027, doctors and other health care workers who must take continuing education can count a class about perimenopause and menopause toward their required one-hour training on implicit bias for each license renewal period. The measure also establishes official definitions for perimenopause and menopause.

“Women deserve to have their health concerns taken seriously at every stage of life,” Lilly said. “By recognizing the importance of education around perimenopause and menopause, we are helping build a health care system that is more responsive, equitable, and better prepared to meet patients’ needs.”

Senate Bill 3325 has passed both chambers of the General Assembly and now awaits the governor’s signature.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, advanced legislation to the governor’s desk that expands access to scholarships for students pursuing careers in school social work.

“Students deserve access to the support and resources they need to pursue careers that strengthen our schools and communities,” Lilly said. “By expanding this scholarship program, we are helping remove financial barriers for future school social workers and investing in the mental health and well-being of our students.”

House Bill 5460 updates the Illinois’ school social work scholarship program by expanding eligibility to more social work students, including those pursuing social work licenses and those earning a master’s degree in social work before entering a school social work program. The measure also allows scholarships to be used at private nonprofit colleges in Illinois that prepare students to become licensed school social workers.

Supporters say the measure will help address workforce shortages in school social work and increase access to qualified mental health professionals in schools across Illinois.

“School social workers play an important role in supporting students’ academic success and emotional health,” Lilly said. “This legislation helps build a stronger pipeline of professionals who are prepared to meet the growing needs of students and families.”

The measure has passed both chambers of the General Assembly and now awaits the governor’s signature.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In her ongoing efforts to help constituents cut everyday costs, state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, advanced measures that improve consumer protections and prevent unexpected charges when visiting a medical professional, sending both bills to the governor’s desk.

“Right now, prices are simply too high for everyday life,” said Yang Rohr. “We need solutions that have a meaningful impact on our household budgets, and finding these solutions was a top priority for my legislative agenda. I’m proud to pass legislation that will help people at home and across the state and ease the anxiety that comes with the high cost of living.”

Yang Rohr’s House Bill 45 requires retail establishments to honor their digital promotions and make them more accessible in-store to eligible customers. Retail establishments may use several different redemption methods to comply, including automatic or point-of-sale discounts, barcodes or quick response codes. Certain groups, like those who are visually impaired or less technologically adept, often have trouble accessing digital coupons. With this legislation, they will now have more equitable access to discounts, giving them the same savings offered to all consumers.

To prevent surprise charges during routine medical visits, Yang Rohr’s House Bill 4698 requires medical offices to post notice of add-on charges. It also requires them to obtain written acknowledgement of the charges whenever possible. When visiting a medical provider, people should not have to face surprise expenses on an already expensive medical bill.

“While I am proud of the legislation I’ve passed, I know it doesn’t stop here,” said Yang Rohr. “I am going to continue working toward a better Illinois that supports everyday working families.”

Rep. Yang Rohr also supported legislation that cracks down on junk fees and hidden costs by requiring businesses to disclose all mandatory fees, strengthens consumer rights by banning no-return policies, and bans apps and online retailers from using a shopper’s personal data or demographic profile to raise prices.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Wanting to strengthen worker rights, state Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-Rock Island, has advanced legislation that would prohibit employers from requiring that applicants have a driver’s license unless it is necessary for the position.

“Whether or not someone has a driver’s license has no bearing on if they’ll be a good employee,” said Johnson. “There are a number of perfectly justifiable reasons why someone might not have a driver’s license, and employers should not be able to hold it against an employee or potential hire.”

Johnson’s House Bill 4758 states that a job posting can not require that an applicant has a valid driver’s license unless driving is an essential part of the job. This guarantees that applicants without a driver’s license have an equal opportunity to employment opportunities where they are not required. If a driver’s license is required for a posted position, the employer must provide a brief description on the job posting describing why it is considered necessary.

“People want to work, and we shouldn’t be putting up unnecessary barriers that make it more difficult for them,” said Johnson. “We’re helping create a clearer path for people to succeed in their work and personal lives.”

The legislation received bipartisan support, and it now heads to the governor’s office for his signature.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Representative Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is working to keep contaminants out of our water supply by passing a bill amending the Environmental Protection Act to control microplastic pollution due to waste from plastic manufacturing facilities.

“When polluted stormwater runs into our local lakes and rivers, it can result in a significant environmental impact. Especially when that water is polluted with plastic,” said Mason. “There is already so much concern around microplastics in our food and water. This bill adds extra protections to our water sources, greatly decreasing the risk of microplastic pollution and its harmful effects.”

House Bill 4418 expands the Environmental Protection Act to require the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. This plan directly targets small lentil-sized plastic pellets, also known as nurdles, that are often found in the plastic product manufacturing process. These small bits of plastic are melted and molded into everyday products, but have often found their way outside of the production process. Because of their small size, these pellets are regularly spilled during transport to manufacturing facilities, easily swept into drains or are thrown away when they fall on the manufacturing floor and become contaminated. When not properly disposed of, these pellets can pollute stormwater, which typically runs into larger bodies of water, causing an environmental threat to marine life and human health.

Over 40,000 nurdles have been recorded along coastal states, while nearly 10 trillion nurdles enter our oceans every year. Issues have arisen with marine life consuming these plastic pellets and plant life lacking water access due to nurdle blockages.

“This is a global issue. We are actively polluting our lakes, rivers, and oceans by not regulating plastic pellet filtering. For our own well-being, and the well-being of our children, it’s so important that we keep pushing legislation that betters the environment. These tiny plastic pellets are making a huge impact, from disrupting behavioral patterns of marine wildlife to impacting agriculture and water availability,” said Mason.

House Bill 4418 passed the House and the Senate, and is now headed to the governor.