DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy released the following statement in response to the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling on the pretrial release portions of the SAFE-T Act:

“The decision by the Illinois Supreme Court is a monumental win. By upholding the elimination of cash bail, the court has aligned itself with the principles of equal treatment, ensuring that pretrial detention is based on risk rather than financial resources.

“Though we must always presume innocence until proven guilty, if the crime is serious enough, an individual should not be allowed out on bond if they pose a risk to our communities. Judges will now have to commit to risk assessments and evaluate individual circumstances which promotes fairness, and reflects an understanding that one’s financial resources should not determine their freedom while awaiting trial. I appreciate the Illinois Supreme Court’s commitment to promoting fairness, protecting civil liberties, and upholding the values upon which our legal system is built.”

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy’s measure to seal foreclosure records that were initiated during the COVID pandemic foreclosure moratoria has been signed into law.

“The stress of a foreclosure is difficult enough, but to have that added on top of a global pandemic must have been unbearable,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It is my hope that by having the option to seal a foreclosure that should not have happened during the moratoria, a sense of stability and hope is returned to the hardworking families of Illinois who faced wrongful foreclosure.”

The law allows a mortgagor to make a motion to seal certain foreclosure actions which were filed between March 9, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2021. This applies only to residential real estate and rental properties where the owner resides in the building, or properties with no more than six units if the owner does not reside in the building.

To protect personal privacy the law also removes the obligation to send foreclosure documents to municipalities or counties within which the foreclosure took place. Or, in the case of Chicago, the obligation to send foreclosure documents to the relevant alderperson.

According to ATTOM, a property and real estate data platform, nearly 12,000 properties nationally had foreclosure filings in October 2020. In October 2021, one in every 1,923 homes in Illinois faced foreclosure. Chicago ranked fourth among cities with a population of at least 220,000 with one in every 2,284 homes facing foreclosure.

“Having the ability to seal these records will enable individuals who lost their homes, faced damaged credit scores and may face difficulty finding housing to secure a new and better future,” said Murphy. “We have a duty to the Illinoisans who should have been protected by the foreclosure moratoria.”

Senate Bill 201 was signed into law by the governor on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – In a historic moment, Illinois has become the first state in the nation to prohibit the banning of books in libraries, thanks to a measure championed by State Senator Laura Murphy, which was signed into law Monday.

“Often times, censorship like book bans comes from fear, which is insidious. It spreads like a disease and leaves our vulnerable communities injured,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We cannot allow ourselves to give into fear – we must stand against this fear disguised as moral outrage and stand up for what we know is right.”

Under the law, a library or library system must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or develop a written statement prohibiting the practice of banning books or materials in order to be eligible for state grants.

Nationally, the number of attempts to ban books has been on the rise, with 681 attempts involving more than 1,600 titles throughout the U.S. in 2021, according to the ALA. Seven states have passed laws to impose restrictions on libraries, including Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida and Utah. Illinois became the first state in the nation to ensure intellectual freedom for all across the state.

“To try to stifle access to the stories of people whose lived experiences are different from our own leaves vulnerable communities without a voice,” Murphy said. “We have a duty as lawmakers to ensure that we protect the principles on which our country was founded.”

House Bill 2789 was signed into law by the governor on Monday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy stood alongside fellow Senate Democrats to applaud the signing of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, marking the fifth balanced budget in a row the state has passed.

“Once again we have been able to put forward a balanced budget that prioritizes the people of Illinois and supports them for years to come,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We led with fiscal responsibility – which, in recent years, has brought forth eight credit rating upgrades, the elimination of the bill backlog, and additional funding for the state’s pensions.”

Building on four years of historic fiscal progress, the FY 24 budget makes transformative investments in early childhood and higher education, workforce development, and efforts to protect the environment. Investments have also been put toward clean energy alternatives like solar, as well as electric vehicle manufacturing and rebates for the purchase of EVs.

The budget includes the largest higher education funding increase in two decades, including a $15 million increase for the AIM HIGH program – for a total of $50 million. The program provides merit-based, means-tested student financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities. The budget also includes increases to MAP funding by $100 million, bringing the total to $701 million.

This funding increase over five years will allow nearly all community college students and 40% of public university students at or below median income levels to have their tuition and fees covered through MAP and Pell Grants.

“Our communities will benefit from the investments we’ve made in education for all ages—from pre-K to higher education,” said Murphy. “This budget reflects our commitment to higher education, with the AIM HIGH program standing as a symbol of our work toward making college more affordable and attainable to all.”

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget was signed Wednesday and takes effect July 1.