Stadelman legislation requiring Illinois to purchase American-made flags passes on Memorial Day

• American made flags
• Illinois Jobs
• Memorial day
• HB605

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) requiring state agencies and institutions to only purchase American and Illinois flags manufactured in the United States passed the State Senate on Memorial Day.

“There’s no reason for us to be flying our state and nation’s flags if they’re not made in this country,” Stadelman said. “This legislation rights a wrong while supporting our local businesses and economies at the same time.”

The legislation would change the Flag Display Act to no longer allow state institutions and agencies to purchase American and Illinois flags from manufacturers outside of the U.S.

Read more …

Stadelman moves Illinois one step closer to a high-speed rail network

• Transportation
• HB 399
• High-Speed Rail

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would create a commission to help make a statewide network of new and existing high-speed passenger rail lines a reality passes the Senate.

“Creating a high-speed rail network would provide a fast, safe and reliable way to travel across the state,” Stadelman said.

The measure would create the High-Speed Railway Commission to assist the state and organizations like the High-Speed Rail Alliance, which produced a plan to create a high-speed rail line from Chicago to St. Louis within the next 10 years, coordinate.

Read more …

Stadelman legislation teaches students the consequences of sexting

• HB 24
• Sex Education
• Public Schools

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that passed the General Assembly on Thursday would require public schools that offer sex education curricula to include a lesson about the risks of sexting.

“Technology has evolved a significant amount in the last decade,” Stadelman said. “This legislation would update Illinois’ sex education curriculum to include a lesson on sexting, so students can learn about the real-life consequences of the virtual act.”

The legislation would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to revise their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.

Read more …

Stadelman measure protecting sexual assault survivors passes Illinois General Assembly

• Criminal Law
• HB 734
• Sexual Assult

 SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would make civil no contact orders permanent for sexual assault survivors whose assailants are criminally convicted of sexual assault passed the Illinois General Assembly on Monday.

“People who’ve been through a sexual assault will live with that trauma for the rest of their lives,” Stadelman said. “I believe  it’s our responsibly to help ease their burdens and not make them relive that trauma by forcing them to return to court year after year.”

Currently, under Illinois state law, sexual assault survivors are forced to see their assailants in court every two years to renew their no contact orders.

Read more …