SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) was appointed to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure and Policy Tuesday.

“I look forward to working with stakeholders to make sure Illinois remains the innovative transportation hub of the Midwest,” Murphy said.

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure Funding and Policy was established by legislation introduced during the spring legislative session. Senate Bill 1233, which was signed into law in May, created the commission to seek out alternative funding mechanisms for projects and operations. The group is also tasked with researching current and future workforce needs, safety improvements, racial equity and how to expand multi-modal transportation networks.

Illinois has an extensive transportation network that ranks third in the nation for roadway miles and bridges. With over 127,000 miles of road, nearly 29,000 bridges and 17 major airports to maintain, funds from the gas tax are crucial to operating and maintaining our transportation system.

“As we continue to promote innovative infrastructure development, consumers should be able to utilize all transportation methods with as much ease as possible,” Murphy said. “As a member of this commission, I strive to provide and plan for future transportation needs to ensure the integration of all transportation modalities.”
The commission’s full report will be presented to the General Assembly for review by Jan. 31, 2023.

DES PLAINES –To motivate young students to keep up with their reading, State Senator Laura Murphy is launching a Summer Book Club for children and youth who live in the 28th District.

“We know that kids who read, succeed,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “With this summer challenge, I hope children will develop a passion for reading and learning more about the world around them—which will be transformative for them as they get older.”

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form and return the form to Sen. Murphy’s office by Aug. 12. Everyone who completes the Summer Book Club will receive a gift card and certificate from Sen. Murphy.

“I hope that our office’s book club program will help motivate students expand their minds through reading this summer,” Murphy said. “I look forward to hearing from students and parents about the books that made an impact on them, and seeing the positive impact of reading on their studies in the fall.”

To receive a book club form,  print the form with this link. Parents can also call Sen. Murphy’s office at 847-718-1110 to request a copy by mail or ask additional questions.

SPRINGFIELD –Thanks to State Senator Laura Murphy (D—Des Plaines), more counties across the state will be able to fight and prevent crime on expressways with more access to expressway camera funding.

“Expressway cameras are helpful tools for investigations of crimes committed on the road,” Murphy said. “Investing in these cameras is a small step to assist law enforcement in reducing the rising rates of crime in Illinois and in making our communities are safe.”

Cameras are an important resource for law enforcement to investigate crimes that occur on the road. Before this legislation, the Illinois Department of Transportation had to rely on revenue from the Road Fund to fund any cameras on expressways under their jurisdiction. Murphy’s House Bill 4481 expands the funds available for cameras by including expressways under the Illinois Tollway Authority’s jurisdiction. The Tollway must include funds intended for cameras in their annual budget request.

House Bill 4481 also expands this law to allow for expressway cameras to be purchased for Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Madison, McHenry, Morgan, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair, Will and Winnebago counties—making sure these communities are also able to monitor and investigate any unlawful activities on their expressways.

This measure was part of the Senate Democrats’ public safety initiative, a group of bills aimed at addressing rising rates of crime throughout the state. Senator Murphy hopes this measure will help bring justice in the event of a crime on expressways, and deters them from happening in the first place.

“Public safety is one of the biggest issues concerning Illinoisans,” Murphy said. “I am proud to advance legislation that will help our families feel safer and provides law enforcement the additional tools they need to investigate crimes and ensure justice is served.”

HB 4481 was signed into law on June 3, 2022. It goes into effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to the rise of car thefts across the state, State Senator Laura Murphy supported a legislative package to give law enforcement more tools to reduce carjackings that was signed into law Thursday.

“The rising rates of car theft need to be addressed to protect motorists and families on the roadways,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “These new laws make it easier for law enforcement to effectively respond to car theft, and ensure victims of these crimes aren’t responsible for associated fines and fees.”

In Illinois, there has been a 13% increase in car thefts from 2019-2020 alone—with new technology being a major factor. House Bill 601 expands the legal definition of “burglary tools” to include modern technologies used to steal cars, such as devices that unlock or start vehicles without a key and devices that duplicate a signal from a key fob. This makes the process of bringing car thieves who utilize this technology to justice more straightforward for police and prosecutors.

House Bill 3699 provides grants to offer financial support to federal and state agencies, local governments, and neighborhood organizations for law enforcement to identify and prosecute vehicle hijackers. In addition, House Bill 3699 helps ensure victims of carjacking do not have to pay any red-light camera or speed camera violations when their car is stolen and being used by someone else, as well as any towing fees, parking tickets, or toll payments. Murphy hopes these measures will bring residents more peace of mind following the rise of reported carjackings.

“Having your car stolen is a massive financial and emotional burden for people to face—and can be even more frustrating if the victims are being charged for speeding tickets from the stolen car,” Murphy said. “With these laws, victims will not have to pay for a thief’s ticket, and are more likely to have their car returned with more investment into tools for law enforcement to identify vehicle hijackers. I am in strong support of these laws.”

HB 601, HB 3699, and HB 3772 were signed into law May 26, 2022. All three take effect Jan. 1, 2023.