Dear neighbor,

Students are back in the classroom and back-to-school season is an important time to talk to your student about emergency preparedness. Get ready for the school year with these tips from the Illinois School and Campus Safety Resource Center here.

Read on for resources, upcoming events and grant opportunities from the state.

As always, my office is available to help you access state resources, answer questions on legislation and more. Reach out by calling (773) 445-8128 or online at SenatorBillCunningham.com.

All the best,

Bill Cunningham
State Senator | 18th District

Legislative updates

Preserving biometric protections for consumers

My initiative updating the Biometric Information Privacy Act is now law, maintaining Illinois as a leader in biometric protections while also shielding small businesses from undue financial burden. Read more about the updates to BIPA here.

Benefits for first responders

First responders are our everyday heroes who take on the responsibility of keeping our communities safe. I am dedicated to uplifting first responders and their families, which is why I led two new laws that secure access to family counseling services and disability benefits for firefighters and police officers. Read more here.

Reining in rouge towing companies

After learning about a resident’s difficulties with retrieving a medical device from their vehicle that was stolen and was being held by a towing company, I knew something had to change. I passed a law that protects Illinoisans from outrageous storage fees and ensures that they are able to access their medical devices, including hearing aids, after being a victim of vehicle theft and having it towed. Read more about the law here.

Increasing early skin cancer detection

I am proud to do everything I can to help fight cancers that affect people in our community. This past spring, I worked to ensure that ‘hands-on’ professionals are equipped to detect skin cancer before serious issues arise. This law adds new training requirements on abnormal skin growths for additional professions. Read about which professions are included here.

Upcoming events

I-PASS on Demand

On Friday, Aug. 23, I will be hosting an I-PASS on Demand event alongside State Representatives Kelly Burke and Mary Gill. Come down to the Evergreen Park Community Center, located at 3450 W. 97th Place, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to receive a free I-PASS sticker tag and take advantage of account management assistance and pay-by-plate services.

Beware of Sweetheart Scams

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office, along with myself, Alderman Matt O’Shea and State Representative Mary Gill, is hosting a sweetheart scams informational session. Seniors are strongly encouraged to attend. Come down to learn more about sweetheart scams, why seniors are targeted and how to avoid being a victim. The event will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Beverly Arts Center located at 2407 W. 111th St. in Chicago. For more information and to register, please call the 19th Ward Service Office at 773-238-8766.

Senior Bingo in September

Please join State Representative Mary Gill, Alderman Matt O’Shea and I for Senior Bingo every Monday in September starting on Sept. 9. Senior Bingo will be hosted at Mt. Greenwood Park located at 3721 W. 111th St. in Chicago at 5 p.m. For more information, call my office at 773-445-8128.

Coffee and Conversation

Join State Representative Mary Gill and I for a cup of coffee to share your thoughts on state and local issues with us. The event will be held at Afro Joe’s Coffee and Tea located at 1818 W. 99th St. in Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 9-10 a.m. For more information, please call 773-445-8128.

Shred Day

Help protect yourself from identity theft! Join State Representative Mary Gill and I for our Shred Day event on Friday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Palos Heights Recreation Center located at 6601 W. 127th St. For more information, please call 773-445-8128.

Resources

Heading back to school

As your little ones head back to school, take advantage of resources from the state:

Find information about school nutrition programs, including the Illinois Free Lunch and Breakfast Program, here.
Students with disabilities and their parents have a number of rights at school and in academic settings, like IEP meetings. For example, school districts must provide competent interpreters for parents who need or request them for meetings. Learn more about Special Education programs and your rights as a parent here.
The Illinois Safe2Help hotline is a free, 24/7 information-sharing platform. If you or a student you know has a school safety concern, you can reach out any time – day or night. Call 1-844-4SAFEIL or text SAFE2 to get connected.

Find more resources for the new academic year from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Online Payments for Paper Applications

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has launched a pilot program to allow individuals who submitted a paper application to pay their professional license application fees on IDFPR’s website. To view a list of eligible professions, click here. For a user guide on how to pay online, click here. For more information, contact IDFPR at 888-473-4858.

Overdose Awareness Day

Overdose Awareness Day is recognized on Aug. 31 as a day to increase awareness about the tragic loss of life related to drug overdoses and to help in reducing the stigma that still surrounds substance use-related deaths. Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, is safe, effective, easy to use and most of all: it saves lives. Find a provider near you that offers free naloxone by visiting IDPH’s dashboard and clicking on Naloxone Distribution Locations.

Provide input on Illinois’ 2026 Public Transportation Plan

Next Move Illinois is a new statewide public transportation plan that will incorporate feedback from transit users and providers to help address the needs of diverse communities across the state, including enhanced accessibility. The Illinois Department of Transportation is inviting the public to participate in the first Next Move Illinois survey to help them establish a vision for transit services across the state. Whether or not you are a transit user, your input is a valuable part of strengthening our transportation network. Take the quick survey here, and learn more about the Next Move transportation plan here.

Local park development grants open now

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant program helps cover the cost of acquiring and developing land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. Local governments can use grant funding to build playgrounds, sports courts and fields, swimming pools, campgrounds, winter sports facilities and more. Learn more about OSLAD grants and apply by Sept. 13 on the IDNR website.