SPRINGFIELD – The General Assembly accomplished a great deal this spring legislative session. State Senator Julie Morrison supported a budget and subsequent legislative efforts to prioritize public health and safety.  

“I was proud to vote for a smart, balanced budget focused on public health,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “By prioritizing health care, delta-8 regulation and mitigating the effects of climate change, our state is making an effort to support the continued wellness of all Illinois residents.”

Alongside the budget, Morrison also supported a number of measures during the last week of session to prioritize people’s health and safety.

The General Assembly worked together to pass legislation which reforms insurance and supports consumers. Morrison’s initiative, Senate Bill 2697, was a massive win for increasing cancer screening and genetic testing. House Bill 5643 secured coverage for at-home pregnancy tests while House Bill 5087 made physical therapy available via telehealth.

SPRINGFIELD – Tons of trash and debris are dumped annually into Illinois rivers, negatively impacting wildlife and damaging both the aesthetic and biological qualities of the rivers. State Senator Julie Morrison passed a resolution to name September 2024 as River Clean Up Month to encourage Illinoisans to promote clean-up efforts across the state. 

“Illinois contains more miles of rivers than any other state east of the Mississippi River,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It is imperative that we keep our rivers clean not only for the ecosystem, but also so we can continue to enjoy the many activities the rivers provide.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison passed a resolution to encourage election authorities to sign eligible students up to serve as deputy registrars. 

“Increasing civic engagement and creating more informed young citizens will have a positive impact on them and on Illinois,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It’s important for young people to have a say on things that will affect their future.”

Senate Resolution 532 urges election authorities to conduct outreach and training to qualified high school students to serve as deputy registrars. Deputy registrars are appointed by a county clerk to register eligible individuals to vote. Individuals who are at least 17 years old can serve as deputy registrars.

SPRINGFIELD – Building off her efforts to make voting more accessible, State Senator Julie Morrison is leading a measure to help people in veterans’ homes, nursing homes, and hospitals cast their ballots in a safe, secure way.

“Voting disparities among people with disabilities is a pressing issue,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Increasing opportunities for voters with disabilities, many of whom are veterans, to utilize vote by mail will have a positive impact on their participation.”

House Bill 4488, among other things, would allow election authorities to deliver vote by mail ballots to voters who live in veterans’ and nursing homes, hospitals and mental health facilities, in addition to the authorities' preexisting ability to administer supervised, on-site voting. This vote by mail initiative is just one part of a bigger package of proposals to increase voting accessibility and make elections more transparent.