SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam’s comprehensive public transit plan and commuter benefits legislation were signed into law Friday.

“As we work on a comprehensive solution to address the funding challenges that our major public transit agencies are facing, these laws are critical first steps to making our public transit operations more accessible, equitable, environmentally conscious, transparent and safer,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “These laws will significantly assist the hundreds of thousands of riders who use Illinois transit every day and encourage more residents to do the same."

House Bill 1342 allows public transit agencies to suspend riders if the rider commits assault, battery, sexual assault or violations of public indecency toward an employee or another commuter. It also provides for a formal appeals process.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam’s legislation was signed into law on Friday to protect workers who are exercising their rights.

“Employees exercising their rights can be impeded by malicious and abusive employers, and this law will address those issues,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Many labor activists have stressed the importance of protecting workers fighting for their rights. This legislation supports that goal.”

To support employees that are protesting, House Bill 3396 makes changes to the Labor Dispute Act so that any person who places any object in the public way with intent to interfere with, obstruct, or impede a picket or other demonstration or protest, would be committing a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $500 and a sentence of imprisonment of less than one year.

House Bill 2907 provides that, in any labor dispute, a court cannot grant an award for monetary damages except in the case of damage to an employer’s personal property as a result of conduct prohibited by law.

To further support public employees, Senate Bill 214 requires disability benefits to be provided to police officers, firefighters, and paramedics who become ill in the line of duty due to a disease or condition present in the community that is covered by a declaration of emergency by a municipality, county, or state.

CHICAGO –State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the governor signed the Fiscal Year 2024 budget into law:

“I am excited to see the FY 24 budget signed into law. With this budget, we are taking steps to build on the fiscal progress we have made and ensure working families have the assistance they need.

“This balanced budget assists families who need access to affordable child care, increases access to quality home care for our senior residents, and provides grant opportunities for our small businesses and entrepreneurs across the state to prosper.

“Along with these strategic investments in this balanced budget, we have worked to eliminate the backlog of bills and save for future emergencies through the Rainy Day Fund. I was proud to vote for these necessary steps to continue our historic fiscal progress.”

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SPRINGFIELD – To provide more food options for all faiths in Illinois, State Senator Ram Villivalam championed legislation that would provide kosher and halal food options in public schools and state facilities.

“We are recognizing the cultural needs of our community and this is a big step for families who eat kosher or halal,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Everyone deserves to have an option that fits their needs. With this legislation I hope to expand the available options for all residents in Illinois.”

House Bill 3643, would require all public schools, the University of Illinois Hospital and state correctional facilities to offer a kosher and halal food option upon request.

Specifically in schools, the bill would require the State Board of Education to enter into a statewide master contract with a vendor and provide districts access to the contract to more efficiently provide the meals to students. The prepackaged meals for schools would be required to meet both the state and federal nutritional guidelines for school lunch programs.