SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy’s law to bring to justice to victims of human trafficking by expanding the expressway camera program to target traffickers was signed into law Monday.

“With this law we send a clear message: Illinois is not a safe haven for human traffickers,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “By empowering law enforcement with the tools necessary to identify human traffickers in real time, we are helping with investigations, increasing public safety and saving lives.”

Human traffickers often use highways to transport victims. Truck stops in particular are often hotspots for this kind of illicit activity and those vehicles can be tracked using an expressway camera.

Building on Murphy’s efforts to address public safety in 2022, the new law will expand the existing expressway camera program to Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties and enable police to use expressway cameras for human trafficking and involuntary servitude investigations. Previously, the camera program was limited to target gun violence, vehicular hijacking and other offenses.

Law enforcement has used these cameras to great effect in the 20 counties previously authorized for their operation. According to the Illinois State Police, automated license plate readers helped identify a suspect or a witness in 82% of interstate shootings in 2024.

To protect the privacy of everyday Illinoisans, the law exempts images captured on expressway cameras from Freedom of Information Act requests. This is in line with state laws prohibiting data collection tools like license plate readers from being used by out-of-state law enforcement to target people traveling to and around Illinois to access reproductive and gender-affirming care.

“Public safety is always a concern for the people of Illinois, and by ensuring bad actors can’t access these images to stalk or track someone, we’re protecting the average citizen,” said Murphy. “Everyone deserves to have their safety and sensitive data protected.”

House Bill 3339 was signed into law on Monday and takes effect immediately.

DES PLAINES – To help residents safely dispose of sensitive documents, State Senator Laura Murphy and State Representative Marty Moylan are hosting their annual shred event on Saturday, July 26.

“One way we can all prevent fraud and identity theft is by securely disposing of sensitive personal documents,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Take advantage of this free and convenient opportunity to help keep your information out of the wrong hands.”

The event will be held Saturday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of Acuity Brands Lighting, located at 1300 S. Wolf Rd. in Des Plaines.

Examples of documents with personal identifiable information that should be safely discarded include bank statements, outdated medical records, tax returns, utility bills, junk mail, credit card applications and receipts.

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

SPRINGFIELD – The Prisoner Review Board will see much-needed reforms thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Laura Murphy.

“These reforms are about safety and fairness, and are needed to protect both victims and the public,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Through the clarification of objective criteria for reviewing cases, we are not only making the process fair for all, we are making it more professional.”

The law updates many structures within the PRB, which address the needs of victims, the composition of the board and more. One of the membership requirements is to include individuals with experience in advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence or intimate partner violence. Members must participate in at least 20 hours of annual training on the correctional system, rehabilitative corrections and programming, and domestic violence.

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy announced two small Elk Grove Village manufacturers have been selected to participate in and receive state funding through the Made in Illinois Grant Program.

“By providing funding to small and mid-sized manufacturers, we give them the opportunity to thrive,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “These grants empower innovation — ensuring our local industries remain competitive and continue to grow.”

The Made in Illinois Grant Program provides matching grants of up to $50,000 to help small and mid-sized manufacturers invest in strategic projects that fuel innovation, increase productivity and enhance competitiveness.

In 2025, the program awarded $1.35 million to 29 manufacturers employing a combined 1,120 individuals supporting projects that represent a total investment of over $38.3 million statewide.

In Murphy’s district, Atomic Industrial Machine, Inc. and Mothers Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes in Elk Grove Village were selected as recipients of the 2025 Made in Illinois Grant Program.

“Investing in local manufacturers strengthens our communities by creating jobs, boosting the local economy and ensuring long-term economic resilience right here at home,” said Murphy. “I am proud of these two organizations for their hard work and dedication.”

A full list of recipients can be found here.