SPRINGFIELD – Standing alongside advocates from Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy at a press conference Wednesday, State Senator Julie Morrison outlined her initiative to require each newborn to be screened for duchenne muscular dystrophy.  

“DMD is a devastating disease – tragically taking young children from their parents,” said Morrison. “Requiring every newborn to be screened for duchenne muscular dystrophy will save precious lives and restore hope.”

Senate Bill 2658 would require each newborn to be screened for the disease. This would increase the rates of early detection, giving those diagnosed the ability to receive affective treatment, far earlier than they would have otherwise.

SPRINGFIELD – When a logistics company proposed a busy trucking facility across the street from a residential neighborhood, the Lake County community strongly opposed the planned development.

Compounding the issue was that the property for the development and the residential subdivision were under the jurisdiction of different governing bodies. In response to the community’s uprising, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a bill to prevent this in the future.

“We are developing a task force to give us direction and resolution on what to do when future development plans are presented,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We want to look at giving communities input on industrial developments occurring near their place of residence.”

SPRINGFIELD – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – also known as DMD – is a rare disorder, but severe if not caught early enough to be treated. State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure through the Senate to require all newborns to be screened for DMD.

“Although rare, DMD is a devastating disease –tragically taking young children from their parents,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Early diagnoses of DMD will save precious lives and restore hope.”

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder caused by a change in the dystrophin gene affecting 1 in 3,500 boys each year worldwide. It’s characterized by the progressive loss of muscle, which results in deterioration of the skeletal heart, and lung muscles. Because the dystrophin gene is found on the X-chromosome, it primarily affects males, while females are typically carriers.

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure through the Senate to help individuals with substance use disorders by requiring insurance companies to cover the medication needed to curb the addiction.

“People suffering from a substance use disorder deserve access medication that could save their life,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “I am committed to removing barriers to treatment that insurance companies put in place.”

Recent studies have shown that most people who could benefit from medications for substance use disorders don’t receive treatment. In 2022, there were 3,261 opioid overdose fatalities in the state – more than twice the number of fatal vehicle accidents and homicides. Senate Bill 3741 would improve these statistics by increasing coverage of and access to treatment by prohibiting insurance from requiring prior authorization for the treatment of substance use disorders.