Morrison: New election law will encourage more voters to participate

SPRINGFIELD – Following the success of State Senator Julie Morrison’s law to provide more efficient ways for people to cast their ballot from home during the peak of the pandemic, a new proposal to make voting by mail permanently more accessible was signed into law.

“The COVID-19 demonstrated the interest and efficiency of voting by mail,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This becomes a permanent change that will encourage more voters to participate in the election process.” 

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morrison successfully championed a law to mail a 2020 General Election vote-by-mail application to every person who voted during the previous two years. In response, one of every three votes cast during the election was cast via a mail ballot. 

The law expands upon Morrison’s previous voting rights progress by allowing voters to request to be added to a list to permanently receive vote-by-mail ballots for all future elections. Voters who are added to the permanent vote-by-mail list will remain on the list unless requested to be removed or the election authority receives confirmation the voter has registered in another county. 

Additionally under the newly signed law, people with disabilities would be able to independently and privately fill out ballots using assistive technology – a provision originally led by Morrison.

“Voting disparities among people with disabilities is a very real issues,” Morrison said.

Senate Bill 825 was signed by the governor Thursday. It takes effect immediately.

Senator Morrison vows to keep fighting for clean energy plan

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after the Illinois Senate left Springfield without voting on a clean energy plan Wednesday:

“I’m disappointed the Senate didn’t come together to pass a clear, comprehensive clean energy measure that will help fight climate change. I have talked to so many people across the community who share my concerns regarding the future of our environment. I hear you and see you.

“I have fought for a just and equitable transition to clean energy for years – and yesterday was simply just another obstacle to overcome. We must pass a measure that transitions Illinois to 100% renewable energy — and we must plot that timeline now.”

Morrison champions measure for more restrictions on pesticide use near school

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) to protect children from the harmful effects of pesticides is on its way to the governor.

“Children are at higher risk for health effects from exposure to pesticides than adults because their nervous, immune, digestive and other systems are still developing, making them far less able to purge these pollutants compared to adults,” Morrison said.

The legislation would make it illegal to use restricted pesticides within 500 feet of a school during normal school hours when children are present. It comes following complaints that pesticides such as Dicamba and Chlorpyrifos can be harmful to both the environment and public health.

Half of the 2 million pesticide poisoning incidents each year involve children younger than six years old, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Children are at higher risk for health effects from exposure to pesticides than adults because their nervous, immune, digestive and other systems are still developing, making them far less able to purge these pollutants compared to adults.

“It’s clear that pesticide exposure is bad for children’s health,” Morrison said. “We can prevent that unintended exposure by moving this measure forward.”

Senate Bill 2245 has passed both chambers.

Morrison: Ethics measure to reform glaring corruption in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – Following a number of ethics violations under the dome over the years, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) helped pass a measure to hold lawmakers, lobbyists and other insiders to the highest ethical standards.

“We must continue to strive for more transparency, greater disclosure and a higher standard of conduct,” Morrison said. “This commonsense legislation will call for lawmakers to work in the best interest of the people of Illinois – not in the best interest of themselves or their wallets.”

The ethics overhaul measure – found within Senate Bill 539 – makes a number of changes to current ethics law, including instituting a revolving door for executive branch elected officials and legislators becoming lobbyists, enacting a more clear statement of economic interest form and creating a statewide lobbying database.

Many of the items found within the measure were originally part of an ethics package filed by Morrison in January 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that measure was not able to make it across the finish line. However, Morrison is pleased to pledge her support for this bill that will help end corruption in Illinois government.

“This is another step toward ending the glaring corruption taking place in Springfield,” Morrison said. “I applaud my colleagues in both chambers for passing real, lasting ethics reform.”

The measure passed both chambers.