Villivalam, Olickal law brings halal and kosher food options to schools

Through a new law championed by State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Kevin Olickal, Illinois becomes the first state in the nation to require schools to offer halal and kosher food meal options, providing all students with equal access to meals served in schools.

“No student should have to watch their classmates eat a school-provided lunch and be left out because there is not an option that meets their needs,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “This new law ensures everyone has access to food that respects and dignifies their dietary restrictions.”

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Villivalam holds subject matter hearing to address public transit challenges

CHICAGO — Senate Transportation Committee Chair Ram Villivalam held a subject matter hearing Tuesday to hear from advocates and stakeholders about two pieces of legislation that would make changes to governance and address issues riders face.

“Given persistent delays and service gaps that riders face, it is important that we prioritize improvements to our public transit system,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Today, we had the opportunity to hear from advocates and stakeholders about measures that would provide reliable, affordable, safe and coordinated transit to our region.”

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Villivalam measure to provide schools with cultural and religious calendar dates

SPRINGFIELD — To assist schools in scheduling major school or athletic events, State Senator Ram Villivalam is sponsoring a measure that would require the Illinois State Board of Education to provide calendar dates indicating when a portion of students may be absent due to cultural or religious reasons.

“Our communities are diverse, which means there are numerous days throughout the academic year where different students may be absent for cultural or religious reasons,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Yet students are having to make challenging decisions such as having to miss a sporting event because it was scheduled on a religious or cultural holiday.”

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Villivalam: Commitment to invest in education, public safety and seniors

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the governor outlined his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026:

“I remain committed to ensuring that we provide critical care for our seniors, a quality education for our youth, and a comprehensive set of policies to ensure the safety of our residents.

“Additionally, we will need to work to fund a robust public transit system that enables our essential workers to provide the programs and services our residents rely on while also addressing the need for an adequate retirement for our public servants.

“Over the next few months, I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to negotiate a budget that not only continues to make Illinois a great place to live, but also one that addresses the needs of our communities.”