News Brief - September 3, 2025

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.
Schools across the state will soon be incentivized to expanded
dual language programs in grade schools at no cost to
their school districts, thanks to a new law sponsored by
State Senator Graciela Guzman of Chicago. Senator Guzman set in

(00:24):
part research shows how impactful dual language instruction can be
to young people's future careers for developing interpersonal relationships and
forming deeper connections with other cultures. This measure will encourage
more schools to implement dual language programs, setting students up
for future success and creating a more welcoming multicultural space
for young people to learn. Recognizing the importance of dual

(00:45):
language education for young people, the Illinois Advisory Council for
Bilingual Education, formed in twenty twenty three, began to research
how to incentivize, improve, and expand dual language instruction in schools.
After extensive stakeholder engagement, expert consultation, and data collection. The
Council released a report to the General Assembly in October
of last year with their recommendations. Their proposals were divided

(01:07):
into three buckets, those with high costs to implement, those
with low costs, and those with no prospective costs. Housepill
thirty twenty six implements the proposals with no projected costs,
including adopting statewide guidance for dual language instruction to ensure
consistency and quality across the state, developing a recruitment and
retention platform to attract potential bilingual educators, and expanding the

(01:28):
Seal of bliteracy recognition pathways to promote bilingualism and enhance
students' future opportunities. It also enhances equity by integrating dual
language programming into the State Board of Education's broader framework
of student learning, and directs the agency to develop teaching
standards for dual language education. These changes aim to make
dual language instruction more common and consistent throughout the state.

(01:50):
Hearing from constituents who face barriers to accessing their medical
supplies from pharmacies even when they had a prescription, State
Senator Mike Simmons new law will help these individuals actus
necessary supplies from their pharmacy. Senator Simmons of Chicago set
in part, this law ensures that patients who have prescriptions
for injectable medications get the supplies they need and ensures

(02:11):
the supplies are clean and safe. This law will allow
pharmacists to make decisions to protect patients and safeguard public health.
Before the new law, pharmacists were allowed to sell up
to one hundred sterile hypodermic needles or syringes to a
person who is at least eighteen years of age. Under
Senator Simmons Law House built twenty five to eighty nine,
pharmacists will be required, based on their professional and clinical judgment,

(02:33):
to sell sterile hypodermic syringes or needles to any qualifying
individual who needs them to properly administer their medication. Senator
Simmons continues, this law increases access to sterile syringes and
we are reducing the need to re use needles and
saving lives in the process. I am proud that Illinois
will empower pharmacists and protect patients health. A new law

(02:53):
championed by State Senator Julie Morrison of Lake Forest strengthens
protections for roadside emergency workers, pedestrians, and others who step
into help during traffic incidents. Building on the state's existing
move over law, the measure insures people are safe at
active emergency scenes, not only when vehicles are stopped. Senator
Morrison set in part too many officers, highway workers, and

(03:13):
bystanders have been injured because drivers weren't paying attention. This
law makes it clear that if someone is out on
the road assisting at an emergency scene, you need to
slow down and give them space. The new law comes
in response to an accident in which a resident of
Senator Morrison's district who was working for the Illinois Tollway
was struck by a vehicle while assisting someone in an
emergency situation. While current Scott's Law provisions require drivers to

(03:36):
yield and move over for stationary emergency vehicles with flashing lights,
it does not extend the same protections to people in motion,
such as those placing cones, directing traffic, or assisting others
outside their vehicles. Send Bill nineteen twenty two updates Scott's
Law to reflect the realities of these dangerous situations. Drivers
will be required to yield the right of way to
emergency workers, pedestrians, and authorized vehicles involved in an apt

(04:00):
active emergency response, whether stopped or moving. Senator Morrison continues,
emergency scenes can be unpredictable, and we need to do
all we can to protect those who respond. This lag
closes a dangerous loophole and brings another layer of safety
to Illinois roadways. For more on the stories you just

(04:20):
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, estadodella Stado 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,

(04:41):
Apple Podcasts, Pandorra, and more. From the Springfield Office of
Senate to President Don Harmon, I'm Colby Huff