SPRINGFIELD – Legislation increasing the age to legally purchase tobacco to 21 was signed into law on Sunday by Gov. JB Pritzker at a signing ceremony at Mile Square Health Center in Chicago. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) sponsored the legislation and was in attendance of the signing.

“Today represents the culmination of years of dedication and hard work from health advocates and lawmakers who were relentless in their fight to protect teen health,” Morrison said. “Raising the age has been proven to reduce smoking rates among young teenagers who are susceptible to the impact of nicotine on the brain and have a strong chance of beginning a lifelong deadly habit.”

The new law, which passed under House Bill 345, adds Illinois to a growing list of states that have already implemented Tobacco 21. Nine states – Arkansas, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine, Utah and Virginia – have all raised the age to purchase tobacco to 21.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, released the following statement this afternoon after news that Gov. Pritzker has nominated Marc D. Smith to lead the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS):

“Today’s announcement by the governor begins what I hope will be a new chapter for an agency that has been marked by instability for years. DCFS has failed to live up to its primary role, which is first and foremost the safety of children. Audit findings and high-profile deaths of toddlers who had been visited by DCFS staff only highlight the systemic dysfunction at this agency.

“In the weeks ahead, I look forward to learning more about Director Smith and working with him on the critically important task of restructuring DCFS from the ground up. The lives of Illinois children are too important for anything less.”

Join State Senators Julie Morrison and Ann Gillespie and State Representatives Mark Walker and Jonathan Carroll for a Town Hall discussion on Cannabis Legalization.

The event is being held on Saturday, March 30 from 10:00a until 11:30a at the Mt. Prospect Public Library (10 S. Emerson Street, Mt. Prospect).

Questions?

Contact Senator Morrison's office in Deerfield at (847) 945-5200.

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Caption: State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) discusses her proposal to incentivize organ donation with State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia), a kidney transplant recipient.

SPRINGFIELD – A tax credit introduced by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that would incentivize businesses which offer paid leave of absences to their employees for donating an organ or bone marrow passed the Senate Revenue Committee this afternoon.

“Last year, 3,402 Illinois residents were candidates for a kidney transplant. By the end of the year, however, only 798 people actually received a transplant. That represents less than a quarter of patients who are on the organ donation waiting list,” Morrison said.

Morrison is sponsoring Senate Bill 68, which would create the Organ Donation Tax Credit, allowing private employees to take a 25 percent credit against their withholding taxes if they offer employees who donate an organ paid sick time for at least 30 days.