SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) voted on legislation today that would make daylight saving time the year-round standard.

The measure would eliminate the statewide practice of moving clocks forward in the spring and backward in the fall.

“Changing your clocks twice year is at best a hassle for most Illinoisans,” Stadelman said. “There are also many benefits that come with making this simple change to the way we keep our time in this state.”

Research has shown that switching to standard time in the fall is linked with a spike in diagnoses of depression as well as a mild spike in heart attacks.

“I have no doubt that in the past standard time served a purpose, but it’s simply no longer necessary for the world we live in today,” Stadelman said. “I hope federal lawmakers will come to a similar conclusion and do their part to remove this arbitrary system that burdens everyday people.”

Although the legislation would change state law to eliminate the time change, Illinois would still need approval from the federal government before implementing the measure. Until the federal government allows the change to occur, the current timekeeping standards will remain in effect.

The proposal passed the Illinois Senate 44-2-2. It will now be sent to the House of Representatives.

 SPRINGFIELD - Amid life-threatening increases in the cost of prescription insulin, Steve Stadelman, a State Senator and father to a diabetic son, voted with fellow lawmakers today to cap insulin copayments. The legislation will cap patients’ out-of-pocket costs for prescription insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply.

 “I have seen the struggle that diabetics face every day,” said Stadelman, a Rockford democrat. “Diabetes is a lifelong affliction for those who have it. It shouldn’t also be the cause of financial stress for their families.”

 There are currently over 30 million Americans who have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. An individual with Type 1 diabetes, a lifelong condition that often begins at birth, will spend an average of $5,705 per year on insulin alone.

 “Without adequate insurance, many people with diabetes can’t afford the insulin they need to survive,” Stadelman said. “Rationing insulin leads to further health problems and more expensive health care costs in the long term. This legislation will provide medical and financial relief for thousands in the Rockford area and across the state of Illinois.”

 The price of insulin has tripled between 2002 and 2013, which has led to many patients rationing their insulin and sacrificing other daily needs to pay for the medication.

 Senate Bill 667 passed with a vote of 48-7 and would make Illinois the second state in the nation to cap prescription insulin co-payments.

State releases $14.7 million owed to Rockford airport

Money was delayed for years during Rauner administration

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced last week the release of  $14.7 million that has been held up for years for improvements at the Rockford airport.Making good on the state's funding commitment had long been a priority for Stadelman, who worked to include the $14.7 in this year's budget. 

“Our airport is major driver of economic development in the region," Stadelman said. "It is important the state honor its commitment, as the airport continues to expand operations and grow in prominence."

The funding had been promised for the airport's Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility, but never materialized after Bruce Rauner became governor and Illinois endured a paralyzing two-year budget impasse. The airport took out commercial loans to finish construction of the MRO at a cost of up to $100,000 in monthly interest payments.

Stadelman commends Gov. JB Pritzker for helping resolve the issue and Comptroller Susana Mendoza for releasing the funds.

Sexual harassment reforms, minimum teacher salary signed into law 
Stadelman co-sponsored workplace protections
Private-sector workers who experience sexual harassment and discrimination will have greater protections under the law thanks to a major piece of legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman that recently was signed into law.

Stadelman called the legislation a "just and proactive" response to the many victims, advocates and members of the business community who offered testimony during the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention’s hearings last year.

Among the reforms: 

• Limiting the use of contract provisions intended to prevent an employee from reporting sexual harassment, such as non-disclosure agreements, arbitration clauses and non-disparagement clauses for cases involving harassment, discrimination and retaliation
• Clarifying that it is illegal to discriminate against an employee who is perceived to be part of a protected class (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity), even if they are not
• Allowing victims of gender-related violence to take unpaid leave from work to seek medical help, legal assistance, counseling, safety planning and other assistance
• Requiring hotels and casinos to provide employees who work in isolated spaces with panic buttons for use if they are sexually harassed or assaulted

Minimum salary increase first for teachers since 1980

Teachers will see an increase to their minimum salary under a new law supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman and signed last week by Gov. JB Pritzker, the first time Illinois has addressed base wages for educators since 1980. Stadelman said House Bill 2078 is one way to confront a serious statewide teacher shortage.

House Bill 2078 will raise the minimum salary for teachers to $40,000 over a four-year period from the current $10,000 for entry-level educators with bachelor's degrees. Wage increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index and subject to annual review by the General Assembly review, beginning in 2020. Projected base salaries under the new law are: 

• $32,076 for the 2020-2021 school year;
• $34,576 for the 2021-2022 school year;
• $37,076 for the 2022-2023 school year; and
• $40,000 for the 2023-2024 school year.

Stadelman gets A+ on environment

Last call for basketball!

Legislation allowing Rockford to raise license fees for video gaming machines signed into law

Bill will help Rockford balance budget, hold line on property taxes 

The City of Rockford can raise license fees on video gaming machines thanks to legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman that has been signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Rockford should be allowed to raise a small fee to a modest one,” Stadelman said. “The extra revenue will help the city balance its budget and hold the line on property taxes.”

Senate Bill 1558 was brought to Senator Stadelman by Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara due to Rockford’s status as a non-home rule municipality, meaning the city needs state approval to raise the fees, unlike similar-sized cities like Peoria, Aurora or Springfield. Currently, non-home rule cities cannot charge more than $25 annually for a video gaming machine license. SB 1558 would raise that limit to $250 in Rockford only. 

"I'm pleased the governor has signed this bill of Senator Stadelman's, making this a reality," Mayor McNamara said. "This brings our fees in line with other municipalities and will provide the city with much needed revenue."

The legislation took effect immediately.

Stadelman bill to stop motorists from watching videos while driving signed by governor

Illinois motorists cannot watch videos while driving as a result of a road safety measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman and recently signed into law. Senate Bill 86, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2020, clarifies the state's existing hands-free law, which is often looked upon mostly as a ban on cell phones.

Stadelman's legislation emphasizes that drivers are prohibited from using any electronic device -- including laptops, tablets, video games and pagers -- while behind the wheel and that streaming video is expressly forbidden.

"As smart phones get smarter and streaming speeds get faster, more people watch video programming 'on the go' rather than in their living rooms," Stadelman said. "That's fine if you're waiting for a bus or standing in a grocery checkout, but not if you're operating a vehichle. A person driving 70 miles per hour who looks down at their phone for 5 seconds has traveled over 150 yards. The amount of damage you can cause in that distance is far too great for us to not do anything.”

Nine people are killed every day in the United States from distracted driving, according to the Center for Disease Control. Almost 40 percent of unsafe driving behavior monitored by the EverQuote’s EverDrive app was caused by phone use.  

HoopStars returns for 7^th year

Sports Factory again hosts free Labor Day youth tourney

Hundreds of boys and girls can spend Labor Day on the basketball court at Senator Stadelman’s HoopStars, a free 3-on-3 tournament taking place for the seventh time Sept. 2. Online registration is open now through game day at www.senatorstadelman.com, Stadelman announced today. 

The event has drawn as many as 400 players in 3^rd through 8^th grades. Since 2017, games have taken place on 16 courts at the UW Sports Factory in downtown Rockford.

“As summer ends and the school year begins, our tournament provides a positive, no-cost activity for young athletes,” Stadelman said. “We’ve become a Labor Day tradition for some families, thanks to the continued support of the Rockford Park District and faithful financial contributors like ComEd and Comcast.”  

NO FEES are charged to play in the single-elimination, two-game minimum competition. All players receive free commemorative event T-shirts, and winning teams take home medals. Doors open at 11 a.m. for teams registering late or wanting to warm up before the 1 p.m. start. Parking is free, and refreshments are available for purchase.

Stadelman launched the tournament in 2013, his first year in elected office. The inaugural games took place at Patriots Gateway before moving outdoors to Davis Park.