Stadelman legislation to increase highway construction safety

• Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman has introduced legislation to require driver’s education courses to include instruction on worker safety in highway construction zones.

“Ensuring the safety of both drivers and construction workers on our roadways is a shared responsibility,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “By equipping our future drivers with the knowledge and understanding necessary to navigate construction zones with caution and respect, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and tragedies.”

Senate Bill 3151 would require public school district driver education courses to include an instruction on worker safety in highway construction and maintenance zones.

The number of people who died in work zone crashes increased from 586 people in 2010 to 954 people in 2021, according to National Safety Council Injury Facts.

“By integrating this vital component into our educational curriculum, we can instill in our young drivers a heightened awareness of the potential hazards, and empower them to make safer decisions behind the wheel,” said Stadelman.

Senate Bill 3151 passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

Stadelman measure to protect consumers from adverse medical debt reporting

• Health
• Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is taking a significant step toward safeguarding consumers’ financial well-being by introducing legislation aimed at prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information related to medical debt in credit reports.

“Medical debt should not serve as a barrier to financial stability and opportunity,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “No one should have to endure the added stress of damaged credit due to medical expenses beyond their control. This legislation is about ensuring fairness and equity for consumers, regardless of their health status.”

Senate Bill 2933 would prohibit a consumer reporting agency from making a credit report containing any adverse information about the consumer related to medical debt.

Read more …

Stadelman proposes legislation to combat speculative ticket listing, ensure transparency in ticket pricing

• Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is taking decisive action to protect consumers and promote transparency in the ticketing industry by introducing legislation aimed at ending speculative ticket listing and regulating event ticket pricing.

“Speculative ticket listing and opaque pricing practices have long plagued the ticketing industry, leaving consumers frustrated and financially disadvantaged,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation aims to put an end to these deceptive practices and empower consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.”

In speculative ticket listing, sellers list tickets for events they do not yet possess in the hope of acquiring them later at a lower price. This practice often leads to inflated ticket prices, leaving consumers vulnerable to exploitation and price gouging.

Read more …

Stadelman moves to prohibit employers from microchipping employees

• Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – In response to microchipping technology becoming more readily available, State Senator Steve Stadelman introduced a measure to prohibit employers from requiring employees to implant RFID chips or other identification devices.

“As technology advances, it is crucial that we protect the rights and privacy of employees,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Microchipping individuals without their consent is a clear violation of their autonomy.”

Read more …