News Brief - July 24, 2025

Law enforcement will soon have additional clarity in the steps it can take to remove squatters from property in Illinois, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Lakesia Collins. Learn more about that, as well as steps taken to honor a longtime representative of Illinois in Congress, plus continued reaction to the recent State Farm rate hike, in this edition of the News Brief.

Episode Transcript

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.
State Senator Lakeisha Collins. New law will give clarity to
law enforcement so they can more easily remove criminal trespassers
from a person's home. Senator Collins of Chicago said, in part,

(00:22):
our intention is to make it easier for law enforcement
to enforce criminal trespassing and remove squatters from property. We
are responding to constituents who have had trouble with squatters
who could not be removed without an eviction, and this
will simplify the process. Senator Collins new law Senate Bill
fifteen sixty three clarifies the state's eviction law to ensure
nothing about the eviction process keeps law enforcement from enforcing

(00:43):
criminal laws. This change clarifies that squatters who are trespassers
can be removed without going through the eviction process. Senator
Collins continues, squatters are a problem and no one should
have to get an eviction noticed to remove squatters from
their home. Law enforcement need to be able to do
their job and return home to their rightful owners. This
law will bring back much needed security to residents. Senate

(01:04):
Bill fifteen sixty three was recently signed into law and
takes effect January first. To honor the life and public
service of former Congressman Lane Evans, State Senator Mike Halpin,
alongside Representative Greg Johnson, recently dedicated I seventy four in
the Quad Cities to his memory. Senator Halpin of Rock
Island said, in part, Lane Evans was committed to this
community and to this country. With this dedication, Illinois recognizes

(01:28):
Evans' service and accomplishments both as a mentor and a friend.
Lane served as a great inspiration to me and showed
what public service is all about, speaking your mind and
fighting for folks in your community. Senate Joint Resolution forty
eight designates I seventy four in the Quad Cities from
Fourth Avenue to Interstate two eighty as their Representative Lane
Evans Memorial Highway. This designation pays honor and respect to

(01:50):
former Congressman Evans service to this country. Representative Greg Johnson added,
in part, Lane Evans represented the best in US, humble, honest,
and deeply committed to the people he served. Lane brought
Rock Island values to the halls of Congress, never forgetting
where he came from, and in turn, this community never
forgot him. His name still carries weight here because the
people he fought for and knew he was one of

(02:10):
their own. His legacy is a lasting reminder that integrity
in public service still matters, and that Lane Evans never
stopped fighting for this community. A Rock Island native, Evans
served as a US representative from nineteen eighty three until
two thousand seven. His time in office was defined by
his progressive populist principles, service to his constituents, and work
fighting for veterans. Evans' most impactful legislative achievement was his

(02:32):
sponsorship and passage of the Agent Orange Act of nineteen
ninety one. This legislation created his study to understand the
negative effects of Agent Orange on service members during the
Vietnam War. Evans himself served in the Marine Corps during
the war, at the age of seventeen, stationed in Okinawa.
He was awarded the Silver Helmet Award from the American
Veterans Group in nineteen ninety five. State farm recently blindsided

(02:54):
nearly one and a half million Illinois homeowners with a
decision to increase annual home insurance premiums by twenty seven percent,
to the largest home insurance rate hike in state history,
charging consumers hundreds more per year. In response, State Senator
Robert Peters of Chicago released the following statement, condemning the
company's decision and pushing for increased transparency for homeowners across
the state. Quote. Hundreds of dollars a year may not

(03:16):
mean much to a large corporation like State Farm, but
for the hardworking families of Illinois its groceries, childcare, medicine,
and bill payments, a twenty seven percent rate hike on
homeowners without transparency is unacceptable. Illinois is one of the
only states in the country where insurance companies can raise
rates without having to justify them. When nearly one third
of our state is being asked to pay more for
their homes each year while getting less in return, we

(03:38):
have a responsibility to step in and change that. I
fully support Governor Pritzker's call for urgent regulatory and legislative
action to bring transparency, fairness, and accountability to this industry.
Illinois homeowners deserve protection from unchecked to decisions and rate
hikes that leave them footing the bill, and I remain
committed to standing without residents and fighting for legislative reform.

(04:02):
For more on these stories and others, visit Illinois Senate
Democrats dot com, where you can also sign up to
receive our weekly Majority Report email newsletter. Our Sound of
the State podcast, featuring news updates and in depth conversations
with members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus on a
variety of subjects, is available wherever you get your audio,
including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the iheartapp, Pandora, Spreaker, the Odyssey app,

(04:27):
and more. To find our podcasts, search Illinois Senate Democratic
Caucus on your platform of choice. From the Springfield Office
of Senate President Don Harmon, I'm Colby huff