State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) has been appointed to serve on a key task force studying ways the General Assembly can bring lasting property tax relief to Illinois homeowners and small businesses.

“It is an honor to serve on this important committee. Rising property taxes continue to be one of the most common concerns I hear from constituents in the 29th Senate District,” Morrison said. “While we have had much success over the last several years increasing government consolidation efforts and driving efficiencies where possible, it is clear much more is needed to bring down the property tax burden in Illinois.”

The Property Tax Relief Task Force is composed of Democratic and Republican members from both the House and the Senate as well as two members appointed by Governor Pritzker’s office.

An initial report is required to be produced within 90 days with a final comprehensive report due by December 31, 2019.

SPRINGFIELD – A proposal by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) to study the potential threat of microplastics was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Pritzker.

“While the prevalence of microplastics is well known, the potential environmental and human health effects are not yet fully understood,” Morrison said. “With increasing levels of plastic being found in our waterways, it is of even greater importance to reduce consumption of plastics whenever possible.”

Morrison’s new law, contained in Senate Bill 1392, requires the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois-Champaign to study microplastics and the threat they may pose to human health and the environment.

SPRINGFIELD – Insurers will be required to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors for minors under a proposal passed by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Pritzker.

“With steady increases in food allergies and other serious allergic conditions, families are relying on EpiPens more than ever before,” Morrison said. “We should be doing everything we can to expand access to affordable lifesaving drugs and medicines. No child with a serious allergy should be without an epinephrine injector because they cannot afford one.”

Epinephrine injectors – commonly known by the specific brand name EpiPen – deliver the life-saving drug epinephrine to individuals experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine works by narrowing blood vessels and opening lung airways, reversing the symptoms of a potentially fatal allergic reaction.

Morrison’s new law, contained in House Bill 3435, requires certain private insurance policies to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors for those under 18 years of age.

SPRINGFIELD – Living organ donors in Illinois would have increased protections under the law under a proposal passed by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that was signed into law today by Gov. Pritzker.

“Across Illinois, thousands of residents are awaiting a kidney transplant. Sadly, less than a quarter of patients who were on the organ donation waiting list last year actually received an organ transplant,” Morrison said. “We must do more to incentivize individuals willing to give so much of themselves for the health of another.”

Morrison’s new law – contained in House Bill 2847 – would prohibit insurance companies from refusing to insure or limiting the kind of coverage available needed for care solely because an individual was a living organ donor.

The law also includes protections in the workplace, making it unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee for requesting a leave of absence to donate an organ. Lastly, the bill creates an organ and tissue donor registry under the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.