LAKE FORESET – State Senator Julie Morrison is hosting a mobile Secretary of State event in Lake Forest, which will give area residents the opportunity to access some Secretary of State services at a location in the community, rather than visiting a Secretary of State facility.

“The Mobile Unit makes it easier for some to receive necessary services at a convenient location,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Spots are very limited, so make an appointment today.”

The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Lake Forest City Hall – located at 220 E. Deerpath Rd. – in the City Council Chambers.  Appointments are required and limited to 48 and must be made by calling Senator Morrison’s office at 847-945-5200. Walk-ins are not guaranteed service.

The ability to apply for a first-time Real ID at mobile events was recently added to the list of services available through the Mobile Unit. Other services that will be available are

• Driver’s Licenses (Renewal, Duplicate, Corrected)
• State ID Cards (First Time, Renewal, Duplicate, Corrected) (no fee for ages 65 and older.)
• Vehicle Registration Stickers (expiring within the current year)
• Organ and Tissue Donor/Voter Registration with License or ID Application. (Not available as a standalone service)

Proper documentation must be provided in order for Mobile Unit staff to accept license and ID applications for processing. A chart of acceptable documents may be found at https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_x173.pdf

Accepted forms of payment are Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover Credit, and Debit cards. Personal check or money order for the exact amount due for services dated on the date of the transaction.

No written or road exams will be administered. Drivers aged 78 and older will need to visit a Secretary of State facility to renew their driver’s license.

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly a year after State Senator Julie Morrison, her family and hundreds of people in the Highland Park community ran for their lives as a gunman opened fire on the town from a rooftop, she championed a new law to enhance public safety at large outdoor gatherings through the use of drones.

“As we enter parade and festival season, it’s more pertinent than ever that law enforcement are equipped with the most  modern tools and training to keep communities safe,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It’s simple: drones will save lives. We can’t let another community feel the sheer terror and heartbreak that Highland Park still feels a year later. Today we’ve taken a positive and commonsense step toward a safer Illinois.”

Tragically last year, a sniper fired into the Highland Park Fourth of July parade, killing seven and injuring 48. Morrison was walking in the parade with her family at the time.

She filed legislation last fall, and teamed up with her colleague State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) – who had a separate mass shooting tragedy in her district in 2019 – to bring their efforts together this spring.

The two tragedies led Morrison and Holmes to work in tandem with their local police departments to enhance public safety for future events. Together, they passed House Bill 3902. It allows law enforcement to use drones to monitor special events, like parades and festivals, to detect breaches and identify public safety issues.

“The City of Highland Park appreciates the work of Senators Morrison and Holmes leading on legislation that will broaden the use of drones by public safety in certain situations, specifically for preventative use against public safety threats towards public gatherings,” said Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. “Allowing our public safety personnel the use of drones to monitor large scale public events will increase their ability to secure an area, and save time while improving the delivery of life-saving services.”

Addressing concerns about drone surveillance and privacy, the law sets specific limits on where and how drones can be used, restricts photography, prohibits facial recognition or onboard weapons, and adds reporting and retention constraints. Only events held in public outdoor spaces owned by the state, county or municipality can be monitored.

House Bill 3902 was signed into law Friday and takes immediate effect.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after the nation’s top court refused to block two Illinois laws prohibiting the sale of high-powered guns and high-capacity magazines:

“The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a positive step toward further ensuring military-style weapons – designed for war and not for sport – do not decimate our communities.

“I remain hopeful that this is a positive sign for the Protect Illinois Communities Act and trust in Attorney General Kwame Raoul to work diligently to defend its constitutionality.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison is helping more people enjoy the great outdoors by lowering the price of fishing licenses.

“Growing up near a river in Illinois, one of my favorite memories is fishing with my family in the summer,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Over the past few years, we have grown a greater appreciation for the outdoors, and I want to make sure people have easy access to grow that appreciation and love even more.”

To encourage more people to take up the hobby of fishing, Morrison’s measure would lower the annual fee for fishing licenses to $5 for Illinois residents who have not purchased a license in 10 or more years. Non-residents would pay $10.

“There’s nothing better than the bond families can make grabbing a rod and reel and enjoying quality time together,” said Morrison. “From young children to grandparents, fishing is an activity all can grow to love.”

House Bill 2317 passed the Senate Wednesday.