Senator Murphy fights to further enshrine abortion access in Illinois

• healthcare
• women's rights
• women's health care
• abortion

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy supported a measure Monday that protects the fundamental right in Illinois for people to make their own health care choices, and provide privacy and protections for individuals who seek reproductive health care in Illinois.

“Everyone deserves to have access to safe and legal reproductive health care,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We must preserve the right of women and the professionals who perform these services.”

Through House Bill 4664 many avenues of protecting choice are enshrined, including in vitro fertilization, creating grants to provide abortion training, clarifying advance practice nurses can perform abortions, and more.

Illinois residents and health care providers will not be penalized for providing or utilizing care that is illegal in other states but legal in Illinois.

“This blanket protection for reproductive health care ensures that Illinois remains a step ahead of states trying to outlaw such care,” said Murphy. “Women have the fundamental right to make their own health care decisions, and should not be punished due to restrictive, overarching laws.”

House Bill 4664 passed the Senate Monday and will head to the House for further consideration.

Murphy: Weapons of war do not belong on our streets

• gun laws
• assault weapons

SPRINGFIELD – Just six months after a gunman opened fire at a Fourth of July parade in nearby Highland Park – killing seven and injuring dozens more – State Senator Laura Murphy voted in support of banning assault weapons in Illinois.

“I have always supported commonsense gun laws aimed at keeping dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “By banning the future sale of assault weapons, Illinois takes a step forward in preventing further gun-related violence which threatens our most fundamental human right, the right to life.”

In response to the Highland Park shooting and other mass shootings across the nation, Murphy supported Senate Bill 5471. The measure bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being sold in Illinois.
The 4th of July shooting punctuated a six-week period in which mass shooters using semi-automatic weapons killed more than 40 people in Buffalo, Uvalde, Texas, Tulsa and Highland Park combined.

Studies show that approximately one-third of public mass shooting events include the use of an assault weapon, and nearly 40% involve a high-capacity magazine. When an assault weapon and/or a high-capacity magazine is used in a public mass shooting, nearly 14 times as many people are injured, and twice as many people are killed. Not only are there more injuries when assault weapons are used, but the types of injuries are far worse.

“We know that no amount of regulation can ensure we prevent these senseless killings, but each time we limit the ability for a dangerous person to access a firearm, we potentially save a life,” said Murphy. “In addition, the measure protects the rights of every law-abiding gun owner.”

House Bill 5471passed the Senate Monday and will head to the House for further consideration.

Murphy legislation grants local governments the tools to hold utility companies accountable

• Local government

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a measure from State Senator Laura Murphy local governments and municipalities have better tools to hold utility companies accountable for payments.

“Utility companies already collect this tax on behalf of municipalities—it’s just a question of whether the money gets where it’s supposed to go,” Murphy said. “This legislation would ensure local governments can depend on utility companies to hold up their end of the bargain.”

The legislation will hold utility companies accountable for gathering accurate sales data, reporting that data to municipalities, and giving municipalities the tax dollars they are owed. It also establishes a process by which municipalities can request tax information to perform an audit and settle disagreements regarding the amount of taxes owed.

The amount a municipality receives in utility tax dollars depends on the municipality's local charges and the amount in utilities used by customers within those municipalities. Under current law, if municipalities do not receive the funds they believe they are owed, the burden rests on the municipality to hire an auditor and determine the correct amount.

“Local governments shouldn’t have to spend years in court and pay thousands in legal fees to make sure utility companies pay up,” Murphy said. “Especially after the economic hardships of the past years, we have to make sure our communities receive the dollars they’re owed.”

Senate Bill 1794 passed both chambers with bipartisan support and awaits the governor’s signature before becoming law.

Senator Murphy on the passing of her friend and colleague Senator Bennett

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.”