Latest news with #HomeschoolAct
Axios
3 days ago
- Health
- Axios
Illinois passes budget, but leaves some legislation unfinished
In addition to passing a $55 billion state budget, the Illinois General Assembly passed and punted on various legislation during the session that wrapped Saturday. The big picture: The budget headed to Gov. Pritzker's desk has so-called "sin tax" increases. Pritzker used his budget press conference to take aim at President Trump for slashing federal funding, affecting Illinois and other states. Zoom out: Questions remain on how Chicago-area transit is going to move forward without the funding needed to avoid service cuts and layoffs, but lawmakers will likely work over the summer. Here are some other high-profile bills that did and didn't make it to Pritzker's desk. Medical aid and dying law Catch up quick: Democratic State Sen. Linda Holmes told Axios she pushed for this legislation after watching her mother die of cancer. The bill authorized a qualified patient with a terminal disease to request that a physician prescribe aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to die peacefully. The other side: Archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich voiced opposition to the legislation after the bill passed the House, saying the end-of-life medical assistance was against Catholic beliefs. "There is a way to both honor the dignity of human life and provide compassionate care to those experiencing life-ending illness," Cupich said. State of play: The bill passed the House but didn't pass the Senate before Saturday's deadline. Home schooling Context: The bill required parents and guardians who choose to homeschool to notify the school district and set requirements for reporting the progress of home-schooled students. The chief sponsor also maintained that it would save kids who slip through the cracks, who would otherwise have a school support system looking out for their well-being. State of play: Several active members of the homeschool movement rallied in Springfield, calling on lawmakers to kill the legislation, saying it created too much regulation and blamed a "failing" public school system. The Homeschool Act did not get a vote in either chamber. What they're saying: " We haven't given up on fighting for every Illinois homeschooled kid, and we're hopeful the bill will make it across the finish line when the next session starts," The Coalition for Responsible Home Education said in a statement. What we're watching: In other education news, a bill that would have banned cell phones during instructional time didn't make it to the floor for a vote. A bill to allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees made it to assignments but was never called. AI as therapy The big picture: As experts warn about AI taking jobs, mental health professionals in Illinois can rest assured that their jobs are safe for the near future. State of play: Legislation declaring that only licensed therapists, aka humans, can provide psychotherapy services in Illinois passed the legislature. Between the lines: No lawmaker in either the House or Senate voted against in the bill. What we're watching: The House passed legislation that would increase reimbursement rates for mental health care providers and make care more affordable for patients, but it didn't make it to a full Senate vote. Reproductive health The big picture: Pritzker and the Democrat majority legislature have been instrumental in protecting access to reproductive health care in the state, and that continued with two pieces of legislation that passed. One will require all public colleges and universities to ensure students have access to contraception and abortion medication, and the other protects providers who prescribe abortion medication, even if the FDA revokes it.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois Department of Public Health updates vaccine dashboard
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Illinois residents are now able to view updated vaccination records for schools — including data statewide, county, and school district vaccination trends. The Illinois Department of Public Health has added data from the 2024-2025 school year to their School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard. It uses publicly available data collected by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to track the vaccination trends. RELATED: IDPH offering new measles simulator amid national outbreaks 'Providing Illinois residents with access to real-time data to guide their medical decision-makingis a critical IDPH priority,' IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said. 'The updated schoolvaccination dashboard now allows parents and caregivers to review the latest vaccinationtrends in their local school districts. As a pediatrician, I know how important vaccinations arefor protective children from preventable illnesses. As measles outbreaks spread throughvarious parts of the United States, it is now more important than ever to make sure you andyour family members are up to date with all age-appropriate immunizations.' Illinois State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders said that vaccinations can help protect kids from preventable diseases and keep them in school. And, that the measles outbreaks in other parts of the country should serve as a 'call to action' for Illinoisians to protect their communities. Measure removing cannabis odor as probable cause for warrantless vehicle search passes Senate 'We're proud to partner with the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide this powerful tool to families, educators, and community leaders,' Sanders said. The IDPH said the dashboard helps public health officials, educators, policymakers, and Illinois residents make informed decisions about school immunization policies and public health initiatives. Key takeaways from the current data include: Overall measles vaccination rate for school children remains above 95% in Illinois in the 2024-2025 school year Over 70% of schools in the state have more than 95% of their students vaccinated for measles 10% of Illinois schools have less than 91% of their students vaccinated for measles Traditional public schools across the state have demonstrated higher coverage rates across all vaccine types, compared to public charter and nonpublic schools Homeschool Act stalls in House ahead of April 11th deadline The dashboard allows viewers to filter data by school year, types of immunizations, county, population of the school district and more. It also shows what percentage of a community needs to be immunized against a specific illness to protect those who are not immunized. You can find the dashboard here. A training tutorial for the dashboard can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Measure removing cannabis odor as probable cause for warrantless vehicle search passes Senate
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bill clarifying that law enforcement cannot search a car based on the smell of marijuana alone has passed through the Senate. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in two cases last year whether the scent of cannabis is probable cause to perform a warrantless search. In People v. Redmond, the court ruled burnt cannabis odor is not enough evidence to search a vehicle. But in People v. Molina, law enforcement could search a car with the smell of raw cannabis because current state law requires odorless packaging. Homeschool Act stalls in House ahead of April 11th deadline 'A recent state Supreme Court ruling gave a conflicting directive between raw and burnt cannabis, shifting a huge burden to law enforcement to know the difference,' said Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet). 'This bill aims to bring clarity by directing law enforcement to consider all factors — not just odor — in deciding if the law has been broken.' The bill removes the requirement for odorless packaging, while still keeping the directives for secured, sealed or re-sealable child-resistant containers. Law enforcement would not be able to search, stop or detain vehicles solely with passengers 21 years old or older because of any cannabis odor. Advocates said this is another step forward in modernizing Illinois cannabis laws. 'Removing the odor-proof container rule will provide drivers the peace of mind of knowing they cannot be stopped solely for possessing a legal product,' said Peter Contos of Cannabis Equality Illinois. 'Senate Bill 42 will also relieve the burden on law enforcement to decipher the difference between raw and burnt cannabis.' The bill passed the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the House. Recreational marijuana has been legal in Illinois since 2020. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois House passes ‘Dillon's Law' to help more people carry Epi-Pens
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — An Illinois bill passing Dillon's Law could help save lives by making a medication more accessible. Under Dillon's Law, anyone could be trained to use, carry and administer epinephrine (commonly called Epi-Pens) to save someone who is experiencing anaphylaxis. It is commonly only prescribed for people with known allergies. Neoga superintendent speaks out against Illinois bill that would ban indigenous mascots The legislation is named after 18-year-old Dillon Mueller, who died from anaphylaxis after being stung by a bee. He had no knowledge he was allergic to bee stings. Despite someone with him having multiple first aid kits as well as first responders attempting to help, no epinephrine was available to save Mueller. The bill's sponsor said it will save lives for people with undiagnosed severe allergies. 'As the father of a daughter with a peanut allergy, I know how important it is to be prepared for allergic reactions,' State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) said. 'Dillon's Law will help keep people safe in unexpected emergency situations and help prevent unnecessary tragedies.' Homeschool Act stalls in House ahead of April 11th deadline Dillon's Law was first passed in Wisconsin in 2017, and has also been passed in nearby states like Minnesota, Indiana, and Michigan. The bill received unanimous support from both chambers, and heads to the State Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Neoga superintendent speaks out against Illinois bill that would ban indigenous mascots
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bill aiming to end the usage of mascots depicting Indigenous people and people with disabilities in K-12 public schools cleared one chamber of the Illinois legislature. The bills' House sponsor is Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford). He's worked on this proposal with the indigenous community and several school districts for several years to come up with a respectful yet fiscally responsible plan. Homeschool Act stalls in House ahead of April 11th deadline 'This bill honors all people and acknowledges the financial realities schools face when changing mascots,' West said. 'Ultimately, it's about showing respect for Native American Illinoisans, who have shaped our state into what it is today. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill across the finish line.' Superintendent of the Neoga School District Kevin Haarman took to Facebook to demand the community contacts senators, as he opposes the bill. 'Our Indian mascot is a symbol of pride, honor, and respect for the heritage and culture it represents,' Haarman said. 'We believe decisions regarding our school's identity, including our mascot, should remain under local control, reflecting the values and traditions of our community.' Haarman also said changing the mascot would be a 'significant financial burden' as they would need to replace athletic facilities, uniforms and signage. He argues that money could be better spent on students. Illinois bill requiring food handlers to undergo celiac disease training passes Senate If the bill is signed into law, schools like Neoga could use previously-purchased gear until 2030, but could not buy anything new with that mascot. Additionally, schools can use mascots of a tribe or a famous Indigenous person if they get the consent from that federally recognized tribe. They will need to have learning partnerships with the tribe as well as policies to cut down on offensive portrayals. Additionally, school districts need to renew the written permission with the tribe every five years. Other school districts in Central Illinois that would be affected include Mt. Zion, Tuscola, Watseka, Nokomis, and Sullivan. The bill passed along party lines 71-40. A similar bill also bans mascots based on people with disabilities also passed Thursday. A school in Freeburg in St. Clair County has a mascot based around a slur for people with dwarfism. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
