SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that pushes to ensure local journalism survives in Illinois’ small towns and mid-sized cities was signed into law by the governor on Monday.

“I’ve dedicated years of my life to journalism, so I understand the importance of having access to local news,” Stadelman said. “People deserve to know what’s going on in their community, regardless of where they live.”

The measure would create the Local Journalism Task Force, which would be made up of 13 individuals representing print and broadcast media, journalism schools, and state and local government. They would be charged with conducting a study on communities underserved by local journalism and making recommendations on how to preserve and restore news coverage in these areas.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was signed by the governor on Friday, creating a requirement that public schools that offer sex education curricula include a lesson about the risks of sexting.

“Technology has grown a lot in the last decade, and our education needs to adapt as well,” Stadelman said. “This new law requires those schools that teach sex education 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.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would help cities and counties address blighted properties was signed into law on Friday.

“Blighted properties don’t just affect the lots next door. They damage the value of all homes on the block,” Stadelman said. “Giving our local governments the tools to fight against these properties will help revitalize our communities.”

The measure would:

• reduce abandoned and neglected homes by helping municipalities intervene earlier through the court system to save these properties,
• allow municipalities and counties to partner with land banks to maintain and manage vacant buildings so they can be saved, and
• help people stay in their homes by reducing the cap on interest rates on unpaid property taxes.

SPRINGFIELD – The governor has signed legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that will ensure local sales tax revenue approved by Winnebago county voters is used for mental health and substance abuse resources.

“The voters spoke. They said they want this money to go towards mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. I want to ensure it does,” Stadelman said.

In March of 2020, the residents of Winnebago County passed a referendum that increased the county’s sales tax rate. The additional revenue from the increase is meant to go to community-based mental health and substance abuse resources and support. This law requires counties that have approved this sales tax referendum to create seven-member boards made up of health advocates and professionals to help administer the funding produced by the referendum, as the taxpayers intended.