SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Working to protect access to objective news, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, passed a bill ensuring that media outlets affiliated with colleges and universities are not subject to editorial control by administration.

“All journalists are afforded the freedom of press, and that includes journalists at public universities,” said Stuart. “Full-time journalists at our universities aren’t subject to invasive oversight, and this bill clarifies that.”

Many National Public Radio and public television affiliates across Illinois broadcast from college campuses, and their reporters and editorial staff often work as school employees. In order to ensure these partnerships don’t stifle journalists’ ability to report fairly and accurately, Stuart supported House Bill 4420, which affirms free press and speech protection including all full time employees working in public media at state-funded institutions of higher education. 

The Stuart-backed measure makes free speech and press coverage explicit, to ensure that all employees in public media at college and universities can express themselves without the burden of needing prior university review or approval. 

The bill also grants immunity to public media employees from lawsuits over expressive content, allowing these employees to have the same rights as any other journalist. 

“The freedoms of speech and press are clear in the First Amendment, as press evolves we need to make sure everyone working in public media is protected,” said Stuart. “The full-time and student journalists at SIUE, for example, are super involved in our local press. We’re just codifying that those full-time journalists have protections, too.”

The bill passed the House floor and now advances to the Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill requiring the Illinois Department of Transportation to post human trafficking resources in rest area bathrooms. 

“Working to end exploitation and crime is something both sides of the aisle can agree on,” said Stuart. “We have to do everything in our legislative power to prevent human trafficking and provide help and support to victims of such a heinous crime.”

House Bill 4654 expands existing legislation requiring human trafficking resources to be posted. In many cases of human trafficking, victims are often closely watched and may only find themselves alone in a bathroom in or around a roadside stop for a few short minutes. This legislation hopes to ensure these victims of human trafficking can access help and resources without risking jeopardizing their safety. 

Currently in Illinois, human trafficking notices in rest stops are posted with all other required notices, often on a public bulletin board. House Bill 4654 seeks to make these notices more private and accessible to possible victims by requiring human trafficking resources to explicitly be posted in bathrooms.

“Human trafficking is a disgusting crime and perpetrators must be held accountable for the safety of our communities,” said Stuart. “By providing more resources on reporting human trafficking, we can ensure that human traffickers face a fair trial in a court of law.”

House Bill 4654 passed unanimously in the House and heads to the Senate.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is working to help patients manage menopause symptoms, certain types of cancer, and other conditions by sponsoring and passing legislation requiring insurance companies to cover up to 12 months of hormone replacement therapy medication.

“People across gender and age may benefit from hormone replacement therapy, from menopause to cancer-related hormone changes,” said Stuart. “Allowing these populations to access treatment to ease or totally eliminate symptoms could be life changing for many Illinoisans.”

Hormone replacement therapy is a common treatment for severe menopause symptoms, endometriosis, and certain cancers, as well as a valuable prescription for patients seeking to prevent osteoporosis. Stuart’s House Bill 5492 will require insurance companies to provide coverage for hormone replacement therapy and any required supplies for treatment over a period of 12 months. This will allow prescription refill-oriented appointments to be held annually, and for medication to be dispensed in longer periods where a patient may be away from their pharmacy.

“Longer prescription periods will allow so many in our rural community to have easy access to their therapy without travelling repeatedly to pharmacies and doctors appointments,” said Stuart. “So long as a medical professional deems it reasonable or necessary to provide a 12 month prescription, insurance coverage should cover the prescription.”

The bill passed in the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, helped pass a bill allowing state entities to prohibit the use of low-speed electronic bicycles on any path within state jurisdiction, prioritizing the safety of both pedestrians and manual cyclists.

“On a nice spring day, I love to go for a walk around our community. It’s good for the soul to be outside and move around,” said Stuart. “That peace can easily be interrupted for pedestrians by low-speed cyclists riding by, or for cyclists when they don’t have a clear path to ride on.”

House Bill 4768 allows the state to regulate the use of low-speed e-bikes on paths within the state’s jurisdiction. Under the current law, e-bike regulations are decided by local authorities and municipalities. This bill expands that control to include the state, so that they may be able to respond accordingly to low-speed e-bike related pedestrian safety concerns—or in serious cases, e-bike related accidents or injuries. Specifically, state entities are given the right to prohibit the use of e-bikes on walking and biking paths for the protection of those on a walk or riding a manual bicycle. 

“This bill will ensure that both walkers and bikers are safe on our trails as we head into the spring and summer months and beyond,” said Stuart. “We’re simply preventing injuries or mishaps and ensuring everyone can enjoy their time walking or riding safely.”

House Bill 4768 passed the House with bipartisan support and now heads to the Senate.

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.

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is celebrating a new working group launched by Governor Pritzker to identify workforce needs throughout Illinois and establish a plan to collaborate with educational institutions, local workforce boards, labor unions, industry leaders and more. The working group hopes to increase both job creation and increase employee preparedness and education for in-need careers.

“The importance of education, from trade schools to masters degrees, can’t be understated. A diverse set of knowledge and skills is what makes a community thrive,” said Stuart. “Research into our projected labor needs allows us to invest in education at all levels with more precision, ensuring the next generation of teachers and nurses and plumbers have the educational support they need.”

The State Attainment Working Group will be tasked with reviewing existing state educational and workforce plans, projecting workforce needs into 2040 and creating a program that will work to meet projected employment needs. 

The working group will be composed of education and workforce members from Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Employment Security, Representatives of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board and more. Advisory members of the group will hail from the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department of Corrections, and more.

Additionally, the State Attainment Working Group seeks to create more jobs where possible, offsetting decreases in employment opportunities with companies relying more heavily on artificial intelligence (AI).

“I’m a proud chair of the Midwest Higher Ed Compact, which does similar work to align our labor and education needs while supporting students through their education,” said Stuart. “I look forward to seeing what this group finds, and learning how we can continue to make smart, effective investments in education across the board. Meeting our labor needs is important, but ensuring the educational and career success of our future workforce is vital.”

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. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, helped pass a formal resolution Wednesday demanding the Trump administration end its illegal censoring of the Epstein files and calling for an independent investigation into the file’s significant, potentially politically-aligned, redactions. 

“I was proud to speak on the floor calling for the release of the Epstein files, as demanded by U.S. Congress months ago and promised by the president himself on the campaign trail,” said Stuart. “My colleges claim to be the party of family values and the party of law in order. Meanwhile, they ignore the hundreds of children who were sexually abused and trafficked, and allow pedophiles and abusers to get away with these horrifying crimes.”

House Resolution 697 demands that the Trump administration abide by the requirements included in the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act and make redactions explicitly to shield the identities of survivors, as well as releasing all files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices. 

The resolution comes after months-long concerns have been raised over how the U.S. Department of Justice has handled and responded to the act’s disclosure requirements, and whether politically-motivated redactions, or other politically-favored changes, have occurred.

House Resolution 697 passed the House floor partisanly, with zero Republican members voting in favor.

You can watch Stuart’s remarks on the floor here.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, helped pass a formal resolution opposing a Republican bill introduced last week to the Illinois State Senate, seeking to classify reproductive healthcare services—including in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments—as capital murder. 

“Every single step of this bill is illogical and reprehensible,” said Stuart. “Criminalizing a conception method is nonsensical, and taking things a step further to make the punishment for that crime death is unimaginable. I will continue to work to pass legislation that protects women and their right to choose—not sentence women to death for seeking healthcare.” 

Senate Bill 3572 severely punishes women seeking reproductive healthcare, specifically abortion services, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The legislation states that all embryos and fertilized eggs are considered human beings in the eyes of the law. Thus, under this bill, abortion and IVF treatments would be labeled as murder, and the subsequent penalties for women and medical professionals would be harsher than the penalties for rapists and abusers. 

House Resolution 695 vehemently opposes Senate Bill 3572, reaffirming support for survivors of rape and incest, parents trying to start a family, and any and all women seeking legal reproductive healthcare, for any reason, in Illinois. The resolution also highlights similar legislation made legal in Alabama in 2024, where anti-choice Republicans nationwide remarked that IVF would be protected—indicating that extremist bills like Senate Bill 3572 would never be supported within their party. 

“While Republicans claim to represent family values, this legislation does the opposite,” said Stuart. “It’s oxymoronic that the proposed consequence for terminating a pregnancy—or, according to this bill, receiving any kind of reproductive care—is death. Unlike my colleagues across the aisle, I will continue to protect our women and families.” 

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is hosting a Women’s Health Promotional Event on March 2. The event will highlight some of her legislation and will feature a women’s health-centered presentation from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

“So many women have questions about their health but aren’t sure where to get accurate, helpful information—I can relate!” said Stuart. “February is American Heart Month, which highlights the differences between male and female heart attack symptoms, for example. Women’s health is understudied and sometimes ignored, so I’m glad I can host an event in hopes to clarify some of the unknowns.”

“I’m proud to host an event for women of all ages to find community and resources as we navigate various important health issues, resources, and programs,” said Stuart. “I’m excited to have IDPH with us to share all their resources; I hope everyone walks away having learned about a new resource they could use. I hope to see you all soon for community and conversation!”