Murphy’s law makes library resources more accessible for Illinois children
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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.
Murphy law eliminates outdated bureaucratic procedures, allows physician assistants to begin new employment faster
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SPRINGFIELD – Physician assistants will soon be able to begin new employments at a quicker rate, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D--Des Plaines) that eliminates an outdated rule requiring physicians to file a notice of employment before a physician assistant can begin work.
“Before this initiative, the process to become a physician assistant was stalled with unnecessary paperwork and bureaucratic red tape,” Murphy said. “This law will encourage physician assistants to practice in Illinois—ensuring we have more high-quality practitioners administering care.”
Under Murphy’s law, physician assistants are now required to file a notice of employment with a doctor within 60 days instead of at the time of employment. Physician assistants may also begin employment before this notice has been filed—allowing them to join the workforce sooner.
Many other states, such as Minnesota, North Dakota, and West Virginia have similar laws to eliminate unnecessary restrictions for this primary reason. With less time spent waiting for paperwork to be filed and approved, people can begin making money faster, which may incentivize health care professionals to relocate or to stay in the state.
“We invest so much in the education of top-notch physician assistants in Illinois, only for them to leave to other states after graduation because they do not have this burdensome requirement,” Murphy said. “With this measure, we will encourage Illinois students to keep their talents in the state, and create more opportunities to provide care to underserved areas.”
SB 145 was signed into law Friday, May 6. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023.
New Murphy law ensures transparency for projected rent increases in mobile home parks
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SPRINGFIELD – Mobile home residents will now have access to more information about projected rent increases when going into a rental agreement, thanks to a measure introduced by State Senator Laura Murphy (D--Des Plaines) that was signed into law Friday.
“Tenants deserve to know about future changes to their rental agreements when they sign a new lease,” Murphy said. “This law will give them more insight into rental projections so that they can make informed decisions that impact their financial future.”
The law aids mobile home park residents by ensuring they are shown rent increase projections to their lots before signing their lease. This allows them to decide if they can invest in a lot with the fluctuating rent prices. Additionally, the law clarifies language for tenants and first time buyers of mobile homes to help people living in mobile home parks better understand the terms of their financial agreements.
The law also removes fees for owning a pet in a mobile home. All of these measures aim to assist mobile home park residents with selecting the most financially viable rental agreement for them, and removing unnecessary fees that may have deterred potential tenants from choosing to live in a mobile home park.
“Pet fees are sadly a financial deterrent for working class families deciding on where they can afford to live,” Murphy said. “I am proud that this law not only eliminates pet fees, but also works to make sure that families can enter rental agreements that work for their financial situations, allowing them to rest easier without having to worry about unexpected price increases and instead, enjoy their home.”
SB 1097 was signed into law Friday, May 6. It is effective immediately.
Murphy announces over $21 million investment in DuPage Department of Public Works to repair infrastructure
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DES PLAINES –State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is proud to announce that the state Environmental Protection Agency is investing over $21 million in the DuPage County Department of Public Works to improve the infrastructure of water reclamation facilities.
“Investing in our water infrastructure is essential to protect our environment and the health of our residents,” Murphy said. “I am glad to see this program at work in DuPage County.”
The DuPage County Department of Public Works will receive funding to upgrade the electrical equipment at the Woodridge-Greene Valley and the Knollwood Water Reclamation Facilities. The investment will cover replacing the electrical systems and backup generators.
The funds come from the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund Program, which includes the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public Water Supply Loan Program. These programs provide low-interest loans to fund wastewater, storm water and drinking water projects.
“The infrastructure of water reclamation facilities needs to be updated across the state to keep our residents healthy,” Murphy said. “Illinois should set the standard for high-quality water infrastructure nationwide–and programs like this are the first step.”
Projects are funded throughout the state through the Rebuild Illinois program, and recipients will receive an interest rate of 1.11% for both wastewater and drinking water loans. Find more information about Illinois EPA’s SRF program here.
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Welcome
Welcome,
Thank you for visiting my legislative website. I am proud to serve as the State Senator from Illinois' 28th District, and hope you will find this site a useful resource in keeping up-to-date with what is happening in our district and in Springfield. Please contact either of my offices with questions or ways I can better serve you.
It is my honor to represent you in Springfield.
Sincerely,
Laura Murphy
State Senator, 28th District
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Office Info
Springfield Office:
307 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-3875
District Office:
1645 S. River Rd., Suite 7
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018
(847) 718-1110
