Murphy to host property insurance seminar in Des Plaines

DES PLAINES –State Senator Laura Murphy is co-sponsoring an insurance seminar on Tuesday, April 22 at 4 p.m. at the Des Plaines Library, Room C, located at 1501 Ellinwood St.

The seminar will cover insurance 101, focusing on weather and climate-related property insurance and ways homeowners can protect their homes from weather disasters. It is being hosted in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Insurance.

“When bad weather rolls in, most people worry what sort of damage will be done to their homes,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “This seminar will help answer those questions and offer homeowners peace of mind.”

For more information, contact Murphy’s office at 847-718-1110 or online.

Schools would be more prepared for emergencies under Murphy’s measure

SPRINGFIELD – With worries about hazardous material explosions on the rise, schools would be required to establish emergency evacuation plans under a measure from State Senator Laura Murphy.

“It’s vital to establish clear plans before an emergency happens, which is why our schools need to know how to best protect their students should the unthinkable happen,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Evacuation plans developed with emergency management experts give schools the tools they need to act quickly and confidently in a hazardous spill – saving time, reducing chaos and protecting lives.”

Under this legislation, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security would be required to work with the Illinois State Board of Education to develop guidance detailing the potential impacts of an explosion or release of hazardous substances near schools. The guidance must include recommendations for evacuation plans, communication protocols and how to identify a school district’s local disaster agency. This guidance would be shared with all local emergency planning committees, emergency services and disaster agencies and school districts in the state by July 1, 2026.

Equipped with the agency’s guidance, both private and public schools would need to develop school procedures in the event of an explosion or release of hazardous substances. The districts would have until July 1, 2027 to have evacuation, communication, and training programs established at each school in their district.

“Preparing for accidents isn’t just taking precaution – it’s demonstrating responsibility,” Murphy said. “Schools and emergency officials working together means faster responses and safer outcomes for our children.”

Senate Bill 71 passed the Senate Wednesday.

Murphy advances measure to make equine therapy more accessible

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy’s bill to make equine therapy more accessible has passed the Senate.

“Equine therapy is an incredible tool that can be used by occupational therapists to meet the unique needs of their patients,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “When insurance covers equine therapy, more individuals can access this transformative care – supporting mental health, emotional growth and recovery without the burden of high out-of-pocket costs.”

Equine therapy is a term that encompasses therapies that involve interacting with horses, including specific therapies used by physical, occupational and speech therapists to engage different sensory responses for patients. It has shown positive effects for people living with PTSD and autism.

Read more: Murphy advances measure to make equine therapy more accessible

Murphy initiative to increase transparency around educator misconduct

SPRINGFIELD – A new measure from State Senator Laura Murphy would close a loophole that leaves schools in the dark about educator misconduct investigations.

“Children must be protected at school, and to do so, the districts must be kept up to date about the teachers they employ,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “A school district has a right to know if an educator they have employed is the subject of a misconduct investigation.”

Current law prohibits the Illinois State Board of Education from providing information on pending misconduct charges or ongoing investigations to an educator’s current employing school district. However, this leaves many parents and guardians feeling concerned when an investigation is concluded and released to the public. This also leaves school districts in the dark about whether they unknowingly hired a teacher engaged in misconduct, potentially putting their students at risk.

Read more: Murphy initiative to increase transparency around educator misconduct