Senator Morrison commends Illinois Supreme Court’s assault weapons ban decision

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the General Assembly’s assault weapons ban:

“I commend the Illinois Supreme Court for taking appropriate action to ensure our state becomes safer. Military-style weapons designed for war have no use on our streets and in our neighborhoods.”

Senator Morrison first led an assault weapons ban bill in 2017. She was instrumental in the passage of the measure passed in January, which came just six months after she and her family ran for their lives during the 2022 Fourth of July mass shooting in Highland Park.

Morrison to keep children safe from harmful pesticides on school grounds

SPRINGFIELD – Expanding upon her previously passed legislation, State Senator Julie Morrison led a new law to prohibit pesticides on school grounds within 24 hours of students being present.

“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 more susceptible to these pollutants compared to adults,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Keeping harmful chemicals away from children will protect them from a plethora of potential health problems.”

Morrison spearheaded a measure passed in 2021 that makes it illegal to use restricted pesticides within 500 feet of a school during normal school hours when children are present.

The law signed Friday – Senate Bill 1772 – prohibits the spraying of pesticides on K-8 school grounds in areas where children may be present during a school day, starting July 1, 2024.

“It’s clear that pesticide exposure is bad for children’s health,” Morrison said. “Today is the first step toward ending that unnecessary exposure.”

The measure was signed into law Friday.

Victims of doxing to receive justice under Morrison law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure – which was signed by the governor Friday – to fill a significant gap in current Illinois law by giving victims of doxing a voice in deterring bad actors looking to take advantage of the evolving cyber landscape.

“As technology evolves, so must our laws,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “The measure signed into law today is a positive step toward providing a necessary solution to the dangerous practice of doxing, both by helping victims and deterring future bad actors.”

To give victims of doxing the justice they deserve, Morrison passed House Bill 2954. The law allows people a civil private right of action against the individual who committed the offense. The victim will be able to recover damages and any other appropriate relief, including attorney’s fees.

Doxing is the act of sharing an individual’s personal information without that person’s consent and with the intent to cause harm to the individual whose personal information is shared.

“Today marks a critical step forward in the fight against online hate in Illinois. Doxing victims will now have a critical ability to hold their attackers accountable in the aftermath of unspeakable pain,” said David Goldenberg, ADL Midwest Regional Director. “Thank you to Representative Gong-Gershowitz and Senator Morrison for their tremendous leadership in pushing this bill through the legislature, to Governor Pritzker for swiftly signing the bill into law, and to our robust coalition of partners who activated at each stage of the process. ADL is committed to fighting hate on all fronts and the evolving online landscape is no exception.”

House Bill 2954 was signed by the governor Friday.

Morrison measure to make Illinois smoke-free signed into law

SPRINGFIELD – A steadfast champion of Illinois laws to keep harmful tobacco products away from young people, State Senator Julie Morrison expanded upon her work passing a measure to ban e-cigarettes inside public places, which was signed into law Friday.

“A tobacco epidemic continues in our state,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We have made great progress, but the surge of use of e-cigarettes has threatened that progress and lured more people toward a deadly addiction. I am proud to have passed a measure to ban the use of e-cigarettes indoors, and I thank the Respiratory Health Association and American Lung Association for their advocacy.” 

Passed in 2007, the Smoke Free Illinois Act prohibited smoking in public and within 15 feet of entrances, and required “no smoking” signs to be posted on the prohibited public place. However, this law took effect when people primarily smoked cigarettes and cigars.

In recent years, the use of e-cigarettes – like vapes – has increased tremendously, leading Morrison to work to add such products to the Smoke Free Illinois Act through passing House Bill 1540.

Morrison has been an advocate for putting an end to tobacco use by teens since entering the General Assembly. In 2019, she successfully passed a law that increases the age to legally purchase tobacco to 21 and last year passed a measure to place a number of restrictions on marketing e-cigarettes to children.

“HB 1540 will help to protect workers and all Illinoisans from the harmful toxins and carcinogens in secondhand electronic cigarette emissions,” said Kristina Hamilton, Illinois Advocacy Director, American Lung Association. “We congratulate advocates statewide for creating momentum around reducing the negative effects of e-cigarettes on our communities. We applaud Sen. Morrison and Rep. Lilly for championing HB 1540 in the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker for signing it into law.”

House Bill 1540 was signed by the governor Friday.