SPRINGFIELD – Medically necessary equine therapy will soon be covered by health insurance thanks to a law championed by State Senator Laura Murphy.

“There are many effective forms for therapy, but insurance roadblocks and cost barriers often leave patients without access to the care they need,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Equine therapy can support mental health and emotional growth, and soon it will be available to individuals who could benefit from this treatment but couldn’t afford it.”

Equine therapy 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, autism and many other conditions.

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.

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) released the following statement regarding the sudden and unfortunate passing of her friend and colleague State Senator Scott M. Bennett.

“There was not a more genuine, hardworking or enjoyable member of the General Assembly than Scott Bennett. He truly enjoyed life.

He possessed an incredible ability to formulate public policy respectful of all sides and opinions.
But most important is his family who lost an incredible father. They have my deepest sympathy during this heartbreaking time. He will be dearly missed.”

SPRINGFIELD – Children living in unincorporated areas will no longer have to pay large non-resident fees to access resources in libraries outside of their district, thanks to a law led by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“It is long past time to increase access to library materials for our children who need to succeed and learn by reading,” Murphy said. “This law will ensure all children—regardless of where they live—will be able to gain knowledge through their local libraries.”

Currently, children who want to access resources from a library outside of their district must pay a non-resident fee. These fees are determined by each library’s board of trustees, and typically are at least equal to the cost paid by the residents of the district. However, the fees are often far too expensive for children who want to access resources, like reading materials or computers, during their school breaks. Murphy aims to address these disparities by waiving non-resident library fees for kids who want to expand their horizons through reading.

Murphy is a longtime supporter of increasing accessibility to library resources. In 2020, she advocated for a group of high school students living in unincorporated Des Plaines who could not check out reading materials from their local libraries without paying hundreds of dollars in non-resident fees. To address this issue, she supported a bill that extended library access to children residing outside of the municipality where their local library is located, which passed the Senate unanimously.

“Reading from an early age is proven to make children more successful in the future,” Murphy said. “This law will give more children access to library books—giving all kids opportunities to the tools that will help create a better future.”

SB 3497 was signed into law May 13, 2022. It goes into effect immediately.