Sound of the State

This edition of the News Brief features news about State Senators Doris Turner, Steve Stadelman, Patrick Joyce, and Meg Loughran Cappel.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford discusses progress made in education in Illinois during her time in the Senate and why the subject is a high priority for her, as we recognize International Education Day.

This episode of The Majority Report features news from State Senators Cristina Castro, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, and Patrick Joyce, as well as highlights from our featured podcast of the week with State Senators Celina Villanueva and Sara Feigenholtz on the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

As we celebrate Illinois upholding reproductive rights on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz and Senator Celina Villanueva discuss the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and other states’ efforts to roll back these protections in this episode of the Sound of the State.

This episode of The Majority Report wraps up the January session of the Illinois Senate and inaugurates the 103rd General Assembly. Featured members in this episode include Senate President Don Harmon, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, and State Senators Julie Morrison, Laura Fine, Christopher Belt, and Celina Villanueva.

In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, State Senator Doris Turner is joined by NAACP Springfield Branch President Teresa Haley for a discussion about civil rights and our state’s role in the ongoing pursuit of those rights.

In this episode, State Senator Celina Villanueva explains her initiative to provide menstrual products to people who are incarcerated in the Department of Corrections, addressing public health and gender-based discrimination issues.

The start of a new year brings new laws to Illinois. The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus highlights a few of those new laws in this episode of the Sound of the State.

For the first time in over two decades, the 1st Senate District has a new voice in Springfield after the retirement of State Senator Tony Munoz. Get to know the new senator from the 1st Senate District, State Senator Javier Cervantes, in this episode of the Sound of the State.

State Senator Karina Villa, vice-chair of the Behavioral and Mental Health Committee, joins the Sound of the State to discuss seasonal depression, a type of depression that is commonly associated with the fall and winter months. Senator Villa is joined by guest Bernie May, executive director for Family Service Association of the Greater Elgin, a non-for-profit community mental health center.

State Senator Celina Villanueva, Chair of the Senate Human Rights Committee, joins the Sound of the State to mark National Human Rights Month and discuss the advances Illinois has made in human rights in recent years.

With the final week of the 2022 Veto Session complete, catch up on the major events in Springfield this week in this edition of the News Brief. Featured stories include clarifying portions of the SAFE-T Act, filling the state's Unemployment Trust Fund deficit, protecting Illinois consumers, the dedication of a marker honoring President Barack Obama, and improving access to health care for rural Il...

As we recognize Rosa Parks Day, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford and Senator Adriane Johnson discuss the impact of Rosa Parks on the Civil Rights Movement, as well as their own lived experiences as Black women, community leaders, and their roles in the General Assembly.

In recognition of National Women Support Women Day, State Senators Laura Fine and Cristina Pacione-Zayas discuss how they support other women through their position as legislators.

In this episode, Senator Sara Feigenholtz discusses her experience as an adoptee, as well as work she has done in the General Assembly to improve access to information for adoptees and other positive changes to the adoption system in Illinois.

Senator Mike Simmons joins the Sound of the State to recognize Transgender Awareness Week, efforts he has led through the Senate to benefit the LGBTQIA+ community, and how allies can get involved.

State Senator Celina Villanueva discusses efforts led by Illinois Senate Democrats to ease burdens on families of young children by exempting breast pumps and related supplies from sales taxes, in this episode of the Sound of the State.

Senator Laura Fine and Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz discuss the importance of their recently passed Drug Take Back Act, which will help fight the opioid epidemic and preserve our environment.

State Senator Mattie Hunter and Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth discuss the importance of the CROWN Act in Illinois, efforts toward its adoption at the federal level, and their own experiences with discrimination based on their hairstyles over the course of their professional careers, in this episode of the Sound of the State.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford discusses legislative efforts she is leading to help ease the burdens of an increasing number of grandparents in Illinois who are raising their grandchildren.

In this episode of the Sound of the State, State Senator Robert Peters reflects on how his experiences have shaped his work in the disability advocacy arena prior to and since becoming a legislator, as we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.

State Senator Linda Holmes and The Humane Society of Illinois work together frequently in the interest of animal welfare. In this episode of the Sound of the State, Senator Holmes and Marc Ayers are talking about stopping pet stores from selling puppy mill pets who are often in poor health and vastly overpriced - plus a conversation about future animal legislation.

Get today's update from the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, including a reminder how Illinoisans can check the status of their tax rebate, in this edition of The News Brief.