SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2025 budget with continued investments in K-12 education and mental health care services:

“We continue to fulfill our commitments, such as evidence based K-12 funding and pension payments, and I'm glad we’ve passed a balanced budget, and even added to our Rainy Day Fund,” said Ellman, “yet there are areas that concern me about sustaining a narrow surplus like this long term, or resiliency through an economic downturn.”

SPRINGFIELD – At the start of the 2025-2026 school year, all students in grades six through 12 would be required to learn about the dangers of fentanyl under a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman.

“Our youth represent our future, but also make up one of our most vulnerable populations,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “We need to educate students sooner rather than later on the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities and the severe, long-term detriment it has on perpetuating the ongoing opioid epidemic.”

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, a lethal dose of fentanyl is smaller than a drop of water. Opioids, including fentanyl, heroin and other drugs, are involved in 70% of fatal drug overdoses.

SPRINGFIELD — Continuing protections against consumer fraud and scams for cryptocurrency customers, State Senator Laura Ellman presented legislation that would establish crypto regulations to the Senate Executive Committee during a subject matter hearing Wednesday.

“Illinoisans have lost out on their time, earnings and sense of financial security because of an unregulated financial industry — cryptocurrency,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “From unregulated crypto ATMs to mobile applications, victims of fraud deserve answers and action. It is time we join other states in protecting consumers with a transparent set of regulations that brings us into the 21^st century.”

Following the rise in bankruptcies by digital asset transactions, other states have taken action to regulate crypto currency in their money transmission laws, including New York, California and Louisiana. Most states have a clear regulatory system specifically for digital asset businesses and regulate cryptocurrency under their money transmission laws, but Illinois currently does not have such protections in place.

SPRINGFIELD – To encourage a statewide effort to adopt environmentally conscious infrastructure practices, State Senator Laura Ellman passed a resolution establishing the week of April 21 through April 27 as Green Infrastructure Week.

“This resolution reminds us all that we can help reduce flooding in our neighborhoods and communities,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs and rain barrels all slow down water as it moves to and through our storm water systems.”

Senate Resolution 705 is the first measure to encourage construction of green infrastructure in Illinois. The resolution designates the week of April 21-27, 2024 as Green Infrastructure Week to promote an eco-friendly framework in the state to enhance natural areas and biodiversity.