SPRINGFIELD – To make sure students know the potentially life-threatening risks of vaping, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced an initiative to teach the dangers of e-cigarettes in school.

“Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., but corporations market e-cigarettes and vaping to children as a safer, trendier alternative to smoking,” Glowiak Hilton said. “In order to keep kids from developing harmful nicotine addictions, it’s critical to educate students on the dangerous side effects of using all forms of tobacco.”

Glowiak Hilton’s proposal expands Illinois’ current tobacco health curricula taught in elementary and secondary schools to include health concerns associated with e-cigarettes and other vapor devices.

“Vaping can be detrimental to development for young children, teens and young adults,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Adolescents are vulnerable to tobacco companies’ deceitful marketing ploys, and it’s our responsibility to give them the facts.”

House Bill 3202 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday and moves for further consideration before the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – To improve student access to mental health education and resources, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced legislation to allow partnerships between state agencies to more fully and effectively foster students’ well-being.

“Although highlighted by school disruptions over the last year and a half, many students experienced mental health distress long before the pandemic,” Glowiak Hilton said. “To ensure children are receiving the best mental health services in school, this proposal allows state agencies to work together to improve prevention and treatment resources.”

An initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education, Glowiak Hilton’s proposal allows board officials to collaborate with the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) to give students access to a wider range of mental health resources at school.

In 2003, Illinois passed the Children’s Mental Health Act to create the ICMHP. The agency advocates for children and their mental health by promoting and ensuring access to services.

“The ICMHP develops short- and long-term recommendations for Illinois to provide coordinated mental health services for students,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By allowing this collaboration, we’re strengthening our state’s mental health care system and helping connect students with the best prevention and treatment services.”

House Bill 212 passed the Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee Tuesday and moves for further debate before the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure cost is not the deciding factor for residents thinking about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) introduced legislation requiring insurance companies to cover the full cost of the vaccination.

“Getting vaccinated is the right thing to do for the safety of your loved ones and neighbors,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Not being able to afford the COVID-19 vaccine should not stop anyone from receiving it.”

Under the proposal, the coverage requirement would apply to individual and group health insurance policies and managed care plans under Medicaid in effect since March 9, 2020. Companies would not be allowed to impose cost-sharing measures on patients.

“Some residents have chosen not to get the vaccine for health or personal reasons, but the cost should not be a deciding factor,” Glowiak Hilton said. “The sooner our state’s population is vaccinated, the sooner we can get our economy moving, build up our damaged industries and regain some sense of normalcy.”

House Bill 2406 awaits action by the Senate Insurance Committee.

SPRINGFIELD – To encourage support of affordable housing projects, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced legislation to renew the state’s tax credit program and steadily increase benefits over time.

“The Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit has been instrumental in the development and preservation of affordable housing across the state over the last two decades,” Glowiak Hilton. “With its renewal, Illinois stays committed to the public and private partnerships needed to provide ongoing economic activity in communities.”

Each fiscal year, the state caps the amount for the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit (IAHTC) program, which is scheduled to sunset Dec. 31, 2021. Glowiak Hilton’s proposal would extend the sunset for five years and cap the credit amount at $32.85 million for the next two fiscal years. The cap would steadily increase by 5% each year after.

The IAHTC gives a 50-cent state income tax credit for every dollar contributed to a qualified affordable housing project. Donations must total at least $10,000, and project sponsors must be nonprofit organizations with a mission to construct or rehabilitate affordable housing.

“By renewing the IAHTC program, our state is working to ensure nonprofit sponsors have access to resources to rehabilitate buildings and construct affordable homes for renters and homebuyers,” Glowiak Hilton. “This credit supports a more flexible affordable housing approach that allows donors to support projects that meet community needs.”

House Bill 3107 passed the Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday and moves for further consideration before the full Senate.