August 19, 2025 • 6 mins
From protecting organ donors at work to easing student debt, expanding e-waste recycling, and cracking down on crypto fraud, these newly signed laws from State Senators Christopher Belt, Omar Aquino, Linda Holmes, and Mark Walker put people and consumers first.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to this edition of the News Brief, part of
the Sound of the State podcast series from the Illinois
Senate Democratic Caucus, keeping you up to date with what's
happening in Springfield and around the state. I'm Colby Huff.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
State Senator Christopher Belt championed a newly signed law to
ensure taking time off work to donate an organ does
not put workers livelihoods at risk. Senator Belt of Swansea said,
in part, this is deeply personal to me. I received
a life saving kidney transplant, so I know firsthand that
donations save lives. This law removes barriers for people who
are willing to step forward and give that gift. The
(00:35):
law allows eligible part time workers to take up to
ten days of leave in a twelve month period to
serve as organ donors. For part time employees receiving compensation
for their donation, employers must pay them based on their
average daily pay over the previous two months of employment. Currently,
part time workers often do not receive the same workplace
protections as full time employees. Senator Belt's law ensures that
(00:56):
all eligible workers, no matter how many hours a week
they work, can take time to donate an organ without
risking their job or financial stability. Senator Belt continues, organ
donation has saved the lives of so many of our families, friends,
and neighbors. Simply put, this legislation will help save more lives.
Illinoians will soon have access to additional refinancing options for
(01:17):
their student loans thanks to a new law champion by
State Senator Omar Akino of Chicago. Senator Rakino set in part,
as the cost of living continues to sore, student loan
borrowers need access to meaningful economic relief tools in order
to build a secure future. Offering more loan options and
reducing interest rates will help borrowers hold on to more
of their income for other important expenses. The new law
(01:39):
allows the state Treasurer to invest in refinanced student loans
and work with financial institutions that provide refinancing for student loans.
Refinanced loans at lower rates will result in lower payments
for borrowers, freeing up spending power and supporting the local economy.
According to the Education Data Initiative, student debt now totals
over sixty two billion dollars in Illinois, impacting thirteen team
(02:00):
percent of the state's residents, or around one point six
million people. The average debt per borrower in the state
is just under forty thousand dollars. Senator Achino continues student
loan debt stands in the way of families reaching their
financial goals and holds back local economies by limiting spending
and investment. By offering borrowers greater flexibility through lower interest rates,
we can unlock dollars that would otherwise go toward debt,
(02:22):
money that can instead fuel economic growth and support stronger,
more resilient communities. State Senator lind The Holmes measure to
modernize Illinois's consumer electronic recycling practices was recently signed into law.
Senator Holmes of Aurora said, our existing electronics recycling law
was set to expire next year, but rather than simply
extending that date, we needed fundamental improvements to ensure these
(02:45):
devices are safely collected and recycled. Consumers need greater access
to recycle a wider range of products more easily. Without that,
they've often resorted to throwing them in the trash. Illinois's
Consumer Electronics Recycling Act was first enacted in two thousand
and eight and last update in twenty seventeen, The number
changing sizes and new components of electronic devices highlighted the
(03:05):
need to update the law again, with consumers needing more
access to recycle these devices. Senator Homes worked with the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Solid Waste Agency of
Northern Cook County to revamp the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act
through House Built thirty ninety eight. The new law expands
access to e waste collection sites and collection events to
ensure more entities, including businesses, schools, and nonprofits, are able
(03:29):
to utilize them. Previously, only households were eligible to participate
in collection events. Under the law, producers of covered electronics
are responsible for funding the cost of proper recycling of
their products. Further expands the list of recyclable electronics to
include home audio equipment and external computer hardware. By expanding
the list of covered materials, consumers will have access to
recycle additional devices at no cost, and the valuable metals
(03:52):
will be recovered for use in new products. Senator Homes continues,
I'm pleased do these updates include savings for our communities, nonprofits,
local governments, schools, and businesses, increased community access, and an
improved process for the collectors, manufacturers, and recyclers will lead
to fewer outdated and broken devices ending up in landfills,
further securing public health and safety. House Bill thirty ninety
(04:13):
eight takes effect January first. A new law from State
Senator Mark Walker of Arlington Heights to eliminate fraud in
the digital currency industry will help protect thousands of Illinois
consumers from predatory practices. Investment in cryptocurrency and digital coin,
said Senator Walker, has grown exponentially in recent years. This
law will allow that growth to continue while creating a
(04:34):
safer environment for consumers that invest in it. Crypto fraud
is not unique to Illinois, but state residents have faced
heavy losses from fraud and scams using digital coin. According
to the FBI, Illinois had the sixth most losses from
crypto fraud of any state in twenty twenty three, with
over nineteen hundred reports and one hundred sixty million dollars
in losses. The digital coin space attracts fraud because it
(04:56):
is anonymous, making it difficult to hold fraudsters accountable. Digital
Assets and Consumer Protection Act will limit fraud cases by
requiring digital currency companies to provide disclosures to consumers and
demonstrate financial fitness for payouts. Additionally, it requires companies to
register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
and create procedures to address risks of money laundering, fraud,
(05:17):
and cybersecurity. Senator Walker continues Illinoians lose hundreds of millions
to crypto fraud every year, while those who use digital
coin currencies should still be wary of scams, I am
confident that this will weed out some of the bad
actors and allow consumers to feel a stronger sense of confidence.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
For more on the stories you just heard and others,
visit Illinoisenate Democrats dot com and subscribe to our weekly
Majority Report newsletter. You can listen to the Sound of
the State podcast series, as well as our Spanish version,
Estado della Stato with Carlos Mendez, featuring regular updates and
in depth conversations with our senators on your choice of
platforms including the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,
(06:01):
and Dora and more. From the Springfield Office of Senate
to President Don Harmon, I'm Colby Huff
Welcome to this edition of the News Brief, part of
the Sound of the State podcast series from the Illinois
Senate Democratic Caucus, keeping you up to date with what's
happening in Springfield and around the state. I'm Colby Huff.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
State Senator Christopher Belt championed a newly signed law to
ensure taking time off work to donate an organ does
not put workers livelihoods at risk. Senator Belt of Swansea said,
in part, this is deeply personal to me. I received
a life saving kidney transplant, so I know firsthand that
donations save lives. This law removes barriers for people who
are willing to step forward and give that gift. The
(00:35):
law allows eligible part time workers to take up to
ten days of leave in a twelve month period to
serve as organ donors. For part time employees receiving compensation
for their donation, employers must pay them based on their
average daily pay over the previous two months of employment. Currently,
part time workers often do not receive the same workplace
protections as full time employees. Senator Belt's law ensures that
(00:56):
all eligible workers, no matter how many hours a week
they work, can take time to donate an organ without
risking their job or financial stability. Senator Belt continues, organ
donation has saved the lives of so many of our families, friends,
and neighbors. Simply put, this legislation will help save more lives.
Illinoians will soon have access to additional refinancing options for
(01:17):
their student loans thanks to a new law champion by
State Senator Omar Akino of Chicago. Senator Rakino set in part,
as the cost of living continues to sore, student loan
borrowers need access to meaningful economic relief tools in order
to build a secure future. Offering more loan options and
reducing interest rates will help borrowers hold on to more
of their income for other important expenses. The new law
(01:39):
allows the state Treasurer to invest in refinanced student loans
and work with financial institutions that provide refinancing for student loans.
Refinanced loans at lower rates will result in lower payments
for borrowers, freeing up spending power and supporting the local economy.
According to the Education Data Initiative, student debt now totals
over sixty two billion dollars in Illinois, impacting thirteen team
(02:00):
percent of the state's residents, or around one point six
million people. The average debt per borrower in the state
is just under forty thousand dollars. Senator Achino continues student
loan debt stands in the way of families reaching their
financial goals and holds back local economies by limiting spending
and investment. By offering borrowers greater flexibility through lower interest rates,
we can unlock dollars that would otherwise go toward debt,
(02:22):
money that can instead fuel economic growth and support stronger,
more resilient communities. State Senator lind The Holmes measure to
modernize Illinois's consumer electronic recycling practices was recently signed into law.
Senator Holmes of Aurora said, our existing electronics recycling law
was set to expire next year, but rather than simply
extending that date, we needed fundamental improvements to ensure these
(02:45):
devices are safely collected and recycled. Consumers need greater access
to recycle a wider range of products more easily. Without that,
they've often resorted to throwing them in the trash. Illinois's
Consumer Electronics Recycling Act was first enacted in two thousand
and eight and last update in twenty seventeen, The number
changing sizes and new components of electronic devices highlighted the
(03:05):
need to update the law again, with consumers needing more
access to recycle these devices. Senator Homes worked with the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Solid Waste Agency of
Northern Cook County to revamp the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act
through House Built thirty ninety eight. The new law expands
access to e waste collection sites and collection events to
ensure more entities, including businesses, schools, and nonprofits, are able
(03:29):
to utilize them. Previously, only households were eligible to participate
in collection events. Under the law, producers of covered electronics
are responsible for funding the cost of proper recycling of
their products. Further expands the list of recyclable electronics to
include home audio equipment and external computer hardware. By expanding
the list of covered materials, consumers will have access to
recycle additional devices at no cost, and the valuable metals
(03:52):
will be recovered for use in new products. Senator Homes continues,
I'm pleased do these updates include savings for our communities, nonprofits,
local governments, schools, and businesses, increased community access, and an
improved process for the collectors, manufacturers, and recyclers will lead
to fewer outdated and broken devices ending up in landfills,
further securing public health and safety. House Bill thirty ninety
(04:13):
eight takes effect January first. A new law from State
Senator Mark Walker of Arlington Heights to eliminate fraud in
the digital currency industry will help protect thousands of Illinois
consumers from predatory practices. Investment in cryptocurrency and digital coin,
said Senator Walker, has grown exponentially in recent years. This
law will allow that growth to continue while creating a
(04:34):
safer environment for consumers that invest in it. Crypto fraud
is not unique to Illinois, but state residents have faced
heavy losses from fraud and scams using digital coin. According
to the FBI, Illinois had the sixth most losses from
crypto fraud of any state in twenty twenty three, with
over nineteen hundred reports and one hundred sixty million dollars
in losses. The digital coin space attracts fraud because it
(04:56):
is anonymous, making it difficult to hold fraudsters accountable. Digital
Assets and Consumer Protection Act will limit fraud cases by
requiring digital currency companies to provide disclosures to consumers and
demonstrate financial fitness for payouts. Additionally, it requires companies to
register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
and create procedures to address risks of money laundering, fraud,
(05:17):
and cybersecurity. Senator Walker continues Illinoians lose hundreds of millions
to crypto fraud every year, while those who use digital
coin currencies should still be wary of scams, I am
confident that this will weed out some of the bad
actors and allow consumers to feel a stronger sense of confidence.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
For more on the stories you just heard and others,
visit Illinoisenate Democrats dot com and subscribe to our weekly
Majority Report newsletter. You can listen to the Sound of
the State podcast series, as well as our Spanish version,
Estado della Stato with Carlos Mendez, featuring regular updates and
in depth conversations with our senators on your choice of
platforms including the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,
(06:01):
and Dora and more. From the Springfield Office of Senate
to President Don Harmon, I'm Colby Huff
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