August 20, 2025 • 6 mins
From protecting our most vulnerable seniors to giving sexual assault survivors real support, addressing mental health for first responders, and ensuring workers’ rights are respected, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are taking action. This episode of the News Brief features newly signed laws from Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, as well as Senators Suzy Glowiak Hilton, Mike Porfirio, and Graciela Guzmán.
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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.
Sendate to Majority Leader Kimberley A. Lightford led the charge
to put an end to so called resident dumping and
inhumane practice in which a nursing facility discharges a resident
and refuses to readmit them after a hospital stay.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Resident dumping is a betrayal of trust. At life's most
vulnerable moment. Seniors have made their places, their sanctuaries, their communities,
and their final homes. To deny them return is to
strip away their belonging, security and dignity when they need
(00:44):
it most.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
To strengthen resident rights in nursing homes and assisted living facilities,
Leader Lightford's law will enhance the involuntary discharge process within
these communities. If a resident leaves the facility for a
medical reason and would not create imminent danger to themselves
or other the facility will be required to let them
come back. Under House Bill fifteen ninety seven, Resident dumping
affects thousands of nursing facility. Residents who are uninsured or underinsured,
(01:10):
have a mental health condition, or have had to spend
time in a hospital or rehab facility and find they're
not allowed back into their nursing facility.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
The true mark of a compassionate society is not how
we care for the healthy, but how we protect those
who depend on us.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
The most House Bill fifteen ninety seven was recently signed
into law by Governor Pritzker. Thanks to a new law
from State Senator Susie Gloiac Kilton, Illinois joins a growing
list of states banning the sale of at home sexual
assault evidence collection kits, which experts say raise concerns about
reliability and privacy. Senator Gloiak Kilton of Western Springs set
(01:47):
in part no one should be misled into thinking an
at home kit can replace the expert care of a
medical professional. These kits give the illusion of privacy and control,
but they can ultimately undermine a survivor's ability to press charges.
In Illinois, medical forensic exams are offered at no cost,
and in addition to addressing physical trauma, a trained crisis
advocate provides emotional supports and explains the survivor's rights and options.
(02:11):
Sexual assault nurse examiners conduct the exams, collect evidence according
to established protocols, and can testify in court if necessary.
At home sexual assault evidence collection kits are marketed online
as an alternative to medical forensic exams, but they lack
the oversight and expertise needed for reliable evidence collection. The
Illinois Attorney General has raised concerns that these at home
(02:32):
kits are unreliable and unlikely to hold up in criminal
court proceedings due to issues with evidence handling. To address
these risks, the new law makes it illegal for anyone
other than a medical professional to sell, advertise, or distribute
sexual assault evidence collection kits. Under Senator Gloiac Kilton's law,
survivors who have been misled into purchasing a kit can
seek compensation for any harm caused by false claims about
(02:53):
the kit's effectiveness in pursuing criminal charges. Senator Gloiac Kilton
continues survivors deserve comprehends of support after a traumatic incident.
This law reinforces Illinois's commitment to survivor centered and trauma
informed care in response to the disproportionate risks of suicide
faced by first responders. State Senator Mike Porfirio of Lyons
(03:14):
Township is reinstating a task force to study methods to
improve their mental health. We must confront the harsh and
dangerous experiences that first responders deal with and the mental
toll that it takes on them, said Senator Porphyrio. This
task force is a commitment to supporting those who shield
Illinois from danger. House built twenty two fifty one will
reinstate the first Responder's Task Force to study methods to
(03:35):
reduce the risk of suicide among first responders. Additionally, it
will add new members to the task Force, appointed by
the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
The force will be made up of representatives from police
and fire departments, mental health specialists, and several members of
the General Assembly. Before dissolving in twenty twenty one, The
First Responder Task Force found that the most common barrier
(03:56):
to mental health support for first responders is stigma surrounding
those who speak up about their own mental health troubles.
The task force recommended that organizations build peer support groups
and train their members on psychological fitness and depressive disorders,
emphasizing that early detections of symptoms of PTSD or depression
can help to save lives. House Built twenty five p.
Fifty one was recently signed into law and takes effect
(04:18):
on January first. State Senator GARCILA. Guzman's initiative to protect
employees from employers backing out of good faith negotiations was
recently signed into law. Senator Guzman of Chicago said, in part,
the right to collectively bargain has been established in Illinois
for decades. This measure simply expands this protection to ensure
employers who withdraw from good faith negotiations face consequences for
(04:40):
these unjust actions. The Public Labor Relations Act, which went
into effect in nineteen eighty four, established many protections for
Illinois workers, including the right for employees to approach their
employer to negotiate their contracts, health and safety policies, hours,
and more. According to the law, employers must meet with
them in good faith before working on an agreement. Built
four fifty three expands on these rights by establishing consequences
(05:03):
for employers who refuse to meet with their employees in
good faith to bargain. The law requires the Public Labor
Relations Board to investigate if an employer truly refused to
bargain in good faith and if so, offer interest arbitration
and allow parties to enter into impasse arbitration procedures normally
reserved for security or public safety employees. These measures will
further protect working Illinoisans attempting to unionize and fearing retaliation
(05:25):
from their leadership. ROBERTA. Lynch, the executive director of the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council thirty one, adds,
it's the right of all public service workers to come
together in a union to improve their wages, benefits, and
working conditions. With the signing of this bill, these workers
have much greater assurance that this right will be protected.
Senate Built for fifty three took effect immediately upon the
(05:47):
signature of Governor Pritzker. For more on the stories you
just heard and others, visit Illinois Senate 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 dell Astado with Carlos Mendez,
featuring regular updates and in depth conversations with our senators
(06:11):
on your choice of platforms, including the iHeartRadio app, Spotify,
Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. From the Springfield
Office of Senate to President Don Harmon, I'm coldy 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.
Sendate to Majority Leader Kimberley A. Lightford led the charge
to put an end to so called resident dumping and
inhumane practice in which a nursing facility discharges a resident
and refuses to readmit them after a hospital stay.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Resident dumping is a betrayal of trust. At life's most
vulnerable moment. Seniors have made their places, their sanctuaries, their communities,
and their final homes. To deny them return is to
strip away their belonging, security and dignity when they need
(00:44):
it most.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
To strengthen resident rights in nursing homes and assisted living facilities,
Leader Lightford's law will enhance the involuntary discharge process within
these communities. If a resident leaves the facility for a
medical reason and would not create imminent danger to themselves
or other the facility will be required to let them
come back. Under House Bill fifteen ninety seven, Resident dumping
affects thousands of nursing facility. Residents who are uninsured or underinsured,
(01:10):
have a mental health condition, or have had to spend
time in a hospital or rehab facility and find they're
not allowed back into their nursing facility.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
The true mark of a compassionate society is not how
we care for the healthy, but how we protect those
who depend on us.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
The most House Bill fifteen ninety seven was recently signed
into law by Governor Pritzker. Thanks to a new law
from State Senator Susie Gloiac Kilton, Illinois joins a growing
list of states banning the sale of at home sexual
assault evidence collection kits, which experts say raise concerns about
reliability and privacy. Senator Gloiak Kilton of Western Springs set
(01:47):
in part no one should be misled into thinking an
at home kit can replace the expert care of a
medical professional. These kits give the illusion of privacy and control,
but they can ultimately undermine a survivor's ability to press charges.
In Illinois, medical forensic exams are offered at no cost,
and in addition to addressing physical trauma, a trained crisis
advocate provides emotional supports and explains the survivor's rights and options.
(02:11):
Sexual assault nurse examiners conduct the exams, collect evidence according
to established protocols, and can testify in court if necessary.
At home sexual assault evidence collection kits are marketed online
as an alternative to medical forensic exams, but they lack
the oversight and expertise needed for reliable evidence collection. The
Illinois Attorney General has raised concerns that these at home
(02:32):
kits are unreliable and unlikely to hold up in criminal
court proceedings due to issues with evidence handling. To address
these risks, the new law makes it illegal for anyone
other than a medical professional to sell, advertise, or distribute
sexual assault evidence collection kits. Under Senator Gloiac Kilton's law,
survivors who have been misled into purchasing a kit can
seek compensation for any harm caused by false claims about
(02:53):
the kit's effectiveness in pursuing criminal charges. Senator Gloiac Kilton
continues survivors deserve comprehends of support after a traumatic incident.
This law reinforces Illinois's commitment to survivor centered and trauma
informed care in response to the disproportionate risks of suicide
faced by first responders. State Senator Mike Porfirio of Lyons
(03:14):
Township is reinstating a task force to study methods to
improve their mental health. We must confront the harsh and
dangerous experiences that first responders deal with and the mental
toll that it takes on them, said Senator Porphyrio. This
task force is a commitment to supporting those who shield
Illinois from danger. House built twenty two fifty one will
reinstate the first Responder's Task Force to study methods to
(03:35):
reduce the risk of suicide among first responders. Additionally, it
will add new members to the task Force, appointed by
the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
The force will be made up of representatives from police
and fire departments, mental health specialists, and several members of
the General Assembly. Before dissolving in twenty twenty one, The
First Responder Task Force found that the most common barrier
(03:56):
to mental health support for first responders is stigma surrounding
those who speak up about their own mental health troubles.
The task force recommended that organizations build peer support groups
and train their members on psychological fitness and depressive disorders,
emphasizing that early detections of symptoms of PTSD or depression
can help to save lives. House Built twenty five p.
Fifty one was recently signed into law and takes effect
(04:18):
on January first. State Senator GARCILA. Guzman's initiative to protect
employees from employers backing out of good faith negotiations was
recently signed into law. Senator Guzman of Chicago said, in part,
the right to collectively bargain has been established in Illinois
for decades. This measure simply expands this protection to ensure
employers who withdraw from good faith negotiations face consequences for
(04:40):
these unjust actions. The Public Labor Relations Act, which went
into effect in nineteen eighty four, established many protections for
Illinois workers, including the right for employees to approach their
employer to negotiate their contracts, health and safety policies, hours,
and more. According to the law, employers must meet with
them in good faith before working on an agreement. Built
four fifty three expands on these rights by establishing consequences
(05:03):
for employers who refuse to meet with their employees in
good faith to bargain. The law requires the Public Labor
Relations Board to investigate if an employer truly refused to
bargain in good faith and if so, offer interest arbitration
and allow parties to enter into impasse arbitration procedures normally
reserved for security or public safety employees. These measures will
further protect working Illinoisans attempting to unionize and fearing retaliation
(05:25):
from their leadership. ROBERTA. Lynch, the executive director of the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council thirty one, adds,
it's the right of all public service workers to come
together in a union to improve their wages, benefits, and
working conditions. With the signing of this bill, these workers
have much greater assurance that this right will be protected.
Senate Built for fifty three took effect immediately upon the
(05:47):
signature of Governor Pritzker. For more on the stories you
just heard and others, visit Illinois Senate 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 dell Astado with Carlos Mendez,
featuring regular updates and in depth conversations with our senators
(06:11):
on your choice of platforms, including the iHeartRadio app, Spotify,
Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. From the Springfield
Office of Senate to President Don Harmon, I'm coldy Huff
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