Murphy advocates for improved privacy protections for Illinois travelers

• Tollway

SPRINGFIELD – To protect Illinois drivers’ personal information and travel records from falling into the wrong hands, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) advanced legislation out of the Senate Friday to limit the instances in which this data can be shared.

“You have the right to keep your personal information private—that includes your travel history,” Murphy said. “This legislation would tighten up current laws to ensure your comings and goings aren’t shared without valid cause.”

In 2019, reports revealed that the Illinois Tollway Authority was openly sharing drivers’ travel data with local police departments and divorce attorneys. The data showed individuals’ movements on state tollways, in addition to personal contact information, license plate numbers and more.

Under Murphy’s bill, private data derived from toll collections could only be released for toll collection purposes and pursuant to law enforcement investigations. Except in cases of emergency, police departments would be required to have a warrant or subpoena in order to obtain a driver’s information from the Tollway.

Any personally identifiable information connected to travel data would have to be deleted from Illinois Tollway Authority records within five years.

“Releasing travel records to third parties isn’t just a violation of privacy—it can put individuals like domestic violence survivors in danger,” Murphy said. “It is critical that the Illinois Tollway treats this sensitive information with the care it deserves.”

Senate Bill 2235 passed the Senate and now heads to the House.

Murphy advances plan to crack down on lavish severance packages for university administrators

• Higher education
• Schools
• students

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure universities are using tuition and tax dollars in service of their students, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) advanced legislation out of the Senate Friday to crack down on university administrators who continue to exploit loopholes in the law by receiving massive payouts, or “golden parachutes,” after leaving their positions.

Lawmakers passed the Government Severance Pay Act in 2018 to limit the amount paid in university severance packages. Murphy’s measure strengthens the act by expanding the definition of severance pay and defining limits on compensation.

“Students and taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for a retired administrator’s six-figure payouts,” Murphy said. “The Government Severance Pay Act was intended to ensure our institutions spend responsibly, with the campus community in mind—it’s time we hold them to that standard.”

Universities typically offer severance packages to end an employment agreement without litigation or arbitration. Upon resignation, many public university administrators are awarded severance packages that pay amounts equal or nearly equal to their entire salary, even in cases of declining university performance under their leadership.

Senate Bill 2240 expands the definition of severance pay to include employees who are transitioning to a new position within a unit of government. It also limits the compensation that employees may receive to the annual compensation of the highest paid employee in their department.

“Public universities in Illinois are already losing students to out-of-state schools with more affordable tuition. Limiting overhead costs is one way we can help keep our institutions cost-competitive,” Murphy said.

Senate Bill 2240 passed the Senate and now heads to the House.

Murphy initiatives establish protections for mobile home owners

• Transparency
• Constituent Service
• Mobile home parks

SPRINGFIELD – In a victory for mobile home owners across Illinois, two measures proposed by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to increase transparency for mobile home buyers and improve conditions in mobile home parks have both passed the Senate.

“Every homeowner deserves to know the terms of their loan agreement and to be able to depend on a basic standard of living—that includes mobile home owners,” Murphy said. “These initiatives set the bar, ensuring residents of mobile home parks have the same protections as any other Illinoisan.”

A loan for a mobile home located in a mobile home park is different from a mortgage: Mobile homes are assessed and taxed as personal property rather than real estate, interest rates are often much higher than those for typical home loans, and refinancing options are limited. To ensure residents are well informed when purchasing a mobile home, Senate Bill 1779 would require lenders to disclose these differences to prospective mobile home buyers.

Murphy has also introduced Senate Bill 1780, which calls for the owner of a mobile home park to provide water to residents if the normal water supply has been disrupted for more than three days, unless the disruption is due to circumstances beyond the owner’s control. Murphy was inspired to introduce the legislation after a weeklong water shortage in 2019 at the Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines, which left residents unable to shower, do laundry or wash dishes.

“Financial transparency and clean water access are basic rights,” Murphy said. “It’s past time we step up and defend Illinois’ mobile home owners from exploitation.”

Senate Bills 1779 and 1780 passed the Senate and now head to the House.

Murphy advances pedestrian safety legislation in memory of local traffic losses

• Public safety
• Des Plaines

SPRINGFIELD – Following a series of pedestrian deaths in the community she represents, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) has advanced a plan to prevent further tragedy by requiring the Illinois Department of Transportation to look more closely into traffic accidents on state highways that result in the death of a pedestrian.

“The design of a roadway can play a large part in traffic accidents, with deadly consequences,” Murphy said. “By responding to these accidents with action, we can pinpoint those hazards and make a fix before more lives are lost.”

The legislation would require IDOT to conduct a traffic study after any fatal pedestrian accident at the intersection of a state highway. The study would include a rundown of potential methods to improve safety at the site, such as design improvements and traffic control devices. The results of each study would be publicly accessible via IDOT’s website.

Murphy was inspired to sponsor the legislation following a series of three fatal accidents in just two years on Miner Street, between Pearson Street and Graceland Avenue, in Des Plaines.

After four people were hospitalized following two separate accidents two hours apart at the location, police conducted a sting operation: Officers in plainclothes walked across the crosswalk and if drivers failed to yield, they were issued a citation. Within a six-hour period, 20 citations were issued.

“We all have a problem area in our neighborhood—an intersection or crosswalk that just doesn’t feel safe,” Murphy said. “It’s critical that we identify and remedy those dangers early to prevent avoidable losses.”

Senate Bill 1791 passed the Senate Wednesday and now heads to the House.