Sound of the State

State Senator Lakesia Collins is leading the charge for birth justice in Illinois. In this episode of The Sound of the State, she explains how legislation she carried this year removes barriers for certified nurse midwives and expands access to care, particularly in underserved communities.

Legislation led by State Senators Laura Ellman and Bill Cunningham to address gun violence in Illinois have been signed into law. Learn more about those new laws, plus the dedication of the Secretary of State's flagship building in honor of former Secretary of State Jesse White, in this edition of the News Brief.

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.

In this episode of Sound of the State, State Senator Dave Koehler discusses the Freedom Trails Commission — a statewide effort to map and connect Underground Railroad sites throughout Illinois. Building on the work of the Underground Railroad Task Force, the commission will help communities share their unique histories and preserve the legacy of freedom seekers. From local efforts in Peoria to bro...

Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus celebrate investments in all-electric school buses, as well as the unveiling of the Children's Adversity Index to measure - and help develop appropriate responses for - childhood trauma. Learn more about those stories and more, in this edition of the The Majority Report.

In this edition of the News Brief, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford unveils the new Children’s Adversity Index — a data-driven tool to help address childhood trauma across the state - while members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus voice their support for $13M in Illinois EPA funding for electric school buses to reduce emissions and improve student health. Plus, Senator Michael Has...

This week's Majority Report spotlights wins for working families and vulnerable communities in Illinois. Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus passed new laws to strengthen equal pay protections, ensure safe drinking water, and expand long-term efforts to prevent and end homelessness. 

In this episode,State Senator Graciela Guzmán discusses her proposal to expand SNAP eligibility for college students and address food insecurity on college campuses in Illinois. Senator Guzmán goes into detail about her personal connection to the cause, and how this legislation could help over 100,000 students access basic nutrition while pursuing their education.

From expanding mental health care access and strengthening safe drinking water standards, to lowering prescription drug costs and offering permanent traffic fine relief for low-income residents, these new laws led by members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus aim to build a more compassionate, affordable, and healthier Illinois for everyone.

From expanding college credit opportunities for high schoolers to streamlining the college admissions process and cracking down on human trafficking, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are leading the effort to improve the lives of the state's residents. In this episode, we cover new laws led by State Senators Cristina Castro, Christopher Belt, and Laura Murphy that aim to improve ed...

This edition of the News Brief highlights reforms to the state's Prisoner Review Board, thanks to a new law led by State Senator Laura Murphy, as well as efforts to protect safety net hospitals and expedite FOID card proceedings.

State Senator Christopher Belt joins the Sound of the State to share his powerful personal story as a kidney transplant recipient and efforts he has championed to advocate for organ donation in Illinois. 

From honoring Juneteenth and advancing the fight for equity, to boosting funding for safety net hospitals that serve our most vulnerable to creating a more efficient appeals process for FOID card hearings, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus highlight important steps forward in this edition of the Majority Report. 

In this episode, we’re covering big changes and bold investments in Illinois. We break down a major overhaul of the state’s public transit system aimed at improving safety, service, and accountability for riders. Plus, we explore new protections for local pharmacies, patients, and consumers, as well as updated workplace laws that give harassment victims and witnesses a stronger voice. Finally, we...

Building upon the responsible spending decisions the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus made and balanced budgets they’ve passed in recent years, they passed a smart spending plan Saturday to make Illinois a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus passed a number of bills relating to justice, safety, and fairness as the spring session came to a close. In this episode, learn about three of them - measure from State Senators Robert Peters, Christopher Belt, and Meg Loughran Cappel.

The final scheduled day of the spring legislative session saw a flurry of action in Springfield, including the passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget and Senate passage of a plan to address public transit in and around Chicago. Learn more, in this edition of the News Brief.

Supporting students and securing retirements, legislation from State Senators Karina Villa, Cristina Castro, and Robert Martwick are highlighted in this edition of the News Brief from the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.

State Senators Laura Murphy, Christopher Belt, and Robert Peters have advanced measures aimed at protecting crime victims, upholding justice, and encouraging more individuals to consider organ donation. Learn more about these stories in this edition of the News Brief.

From renters facing hidden housing costs to families looking for afforadble libary access and diners unknowingly paying inflated reservation fees, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are taking action to protect everyday Illinoisans. In this edition of the News Brief, learn more about legislative efforts from State Senators Mike Simmons, Laura Ellman, and Sara Feigenholtz.

In this edition of the News Brief, State Senator Laura Fine stands against antisemitism, Senator Adriane Johnson fights insurance discrimination for people with past convictions, and Senator Mary Edly-Allen advances a bill to better connect unhoused individuals to critical shelter services.

Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are taking action to ensure access to reproductive health care for college students, assist in securing financial aid to pursue higher education, and more. Learn about legislation from State Senators Celina Villanueva, Javier Cervantes, Michael E. Hastings, and Mattie Hunter in this edition of the Majority Report.

Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus continue efforts to protect the most vulnerable and uphold core rights. In this edition of the News Brief, learn more about measures sponsored by State Senators Michael E. Hastings, Cristina Castro, and Karina Villa addressing missing persons investigations, essential public services and those who deliver them to residents, and reproductive rights.

In this edition of The Majority Report, Illinois Senate Democrats outline continued efforts to tackle the state's teacher shortage, plus State Senator Bill Cunningham advances a measure to relieve a burden from parents of newborns requiring intensive care, and State Senator Mark Walker moves to increase consumer confidence in crypto.

Illinois Senate Democrats are advancing legislative efforts to support youth, families, and educators across the state, creating healthier, safer, and more equitable futures for all Illinoisans. Learn more about measures from State Senators Adriane Johnson, Mike Porfirio, and Robert Peters in this edition of the News Brief.