SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to address critical water issues across the state and enhance current protections to fulfill existing water needs, State Senator Laura Ellman championed a law to create the State Water Plan Task Force.

“Over time, contaminants in our waterways pose serious health risks to communities and wildlife,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “We need to ensure existing and future water concerns are addressed consequentially without any delays.”

This law requires the State Water Plan Task Force to address water issues and reevaluate environmental needs by assisting state and local authorities in the implementation of recommended plans. Further, it requires the task force to publish a State Water Plan at least once every 10 years and meet once per quarter each calendar year.

SPRINGFIELD – Enhancing mitigation efforts for the opioid crisis, State Senator Laura Ellman spearheaded a law to expand access to free fentanyl test strips.

“Opioids, including fentanyl, are responsible for a majority of overdose-related deaths across the state, and it is our responsibility to ensure residents have resources to protect themselves,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This law will help prevent unexpected overdoses due to fentanyl-laced substances.”

The new law establishes and authorizes programs to distribute fentanyl test strips to promote harm reduction efforts and prevent overdoses. Fentanyl test strips can be used to detect the presence of fentanyl in a variety of substances, as fentanyl can be easily disguised and difficult to see with the naked eye.

SPRINGFIELD – To reduce light pollution in Illinois’ dark skies, State Senator Laura Ellman sponsored a law to advance responsible outdoor lighting standards.

“Light pollution is not as often discussed as other forms of environmental contamination, but excess artificial light poses serious health threats to animals, insects and humans,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources brings us closer to making Illinois dark sky compliant, and I look forward to expanding these standards.”

Light pollution refers to the brightening of the night sky by man-made light sources, including street lights and buildings. Excessive light in our night sky causes a variety of issues, such as interfering with bird migration, nocturnal insects and our optical health.

SPRINGFIELD – To extend privacy to families with adult children with disabilities, State Senator Laura Ellman led a law that provides new occupancy standards for elderly parents with a disabled adult child of the opposite sex.

“I was contacted by an elderly mother living in public housing who shares a single bedroom with her disabled adult son, and I received earlier reports of residents concerned about family members of the opposite sex in this living situation,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Individuals should feel safe and have dignity living in their homes. This law ensures these families are able to live in a space that meets their unique circumstances.”

This law provides that an elderly parent and an adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex are not required to occupy subsidized housing with only one bedroom. The law also requires the local housing authority to make exceptions to their occupancy standards in these situations, as long as all other eligibility requirements are met.