SPRINGFIELD — Today, children have internet access at every turn — from tablets to phones and other smart devices — putting them at greater risk of exploitation. To help protect children from this growing threat, State Senator Julie Morrison is working with the Illinois State Police to expand their authority to investigate and put an end to these internet crimes.

“Online predators don’t limit themselves based on county lines, so neither should our police investigations,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This legislation removes barriers to allow state police to act quickly and effectively when children are targeted online.”

House Bill 2586 would give ISP’s Division of Criminal Investigation broader jurisdiction to pursue online child exploitation cases and work alongside local task forces across the state. The legislation aims to improve response times, close jurisdictional gaps and strengthen coordination between agencies working to protect children from digital threats. These changes would bring Illinois in line with Alicia’s Law, a national initiative that empowers specialized law enforcement units to track and prosecute predators who target children online.

SPRINGFIELD — In response to the federal administration’s plan to collect private medical information, Governor JB Pritzker issued an executive order to restrict autism-related data collection and sharing.

State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest), who has served as co-chair of the bipartisan and bicameral Disability and Accessibly Caucus, commended the state’s response, releasing the following statement:

“The federal administration has depicted individuals with autism as those who do not lead fulfilling lives or contribute to their communities, and that can’t be further from the truth. Tracking individuals with autism — what Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy has declared ‘a tragedy’ and ‘an epidemic’ — will reduce them to a data point without clarity on how this information will be used.

“People across the country are rightfully concerned about what this means for their rights, safety and future. Illinois will not stand by while the autism community is misrepresented and tracked without informed consent. We remain committed to protecting the privacy and autonomy of every resident. Health data is personal and will remain that way for all Illinoisans.

“My nephew and thousands of our friends, colleagues and neighbors deserve the same privacy that we all expect. Governor Pritzker has my complete support on this order.”

SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to curb the growing threat of synthetic drugs, State Senator Julie Morrison passed legislation in the Senate to regulate the use of xylazine — a powerful animal tranquilizer often mixed with fentanyl and tied to overdose deaths.

“We’re seeing xylazine turning already dangerous drugs into something even more lethal,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “By classifying the drug as a controlled substance, we’re giving law enforcement a path to respond to this escalating crisis without disrupting approved usage by veterinary professionals.”

Senate Bill 1773 would update the state’s controlled substance classifications to better address emerging drug trends, such as the mixing of fentanyl and xylazine. The bill, an initiative of the Illinois State Police, aims to provide law enforcement with more effective tools to combat the evolving challenges posed by illicit drug use. It would categorize xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance and clear up legal definitions to align Illinois law with federal standards, preventing loopholes that could put people at risk.

SPRINGFIELD — In response to traffic accidents that have endangered the lives of students, staff and drivers, State Senator Julie Morrison is leading legislation to require seat belts in newly purchased school buses.

“We teach children at a young age the importance of buckling their seat belt when getting into a car,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “With many students riding a school bus several times a week, a seat belt is one more layer of protection.”

Under Senate Bill 191, all school buses purchased or leased after July 1, 2031 would be required to have seat belts on all seats. Current law requires drivers and passengers ages 8 and older to wear seat belts in passenger vehicles, but there is no law requiring safety belts on buses. If the measure passes, Illinois would join nine other states requiring seat belts on buses.