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.

DES PLAINES – To connect with residents and keep the community up to date on important legislative issues, State Senator Laura Murphy will be hosting three town halls.

“I am glad we can resume in-person town hall meetings after suspending them for COVID; they are a fundamental way to get feedback from the constituents I represent,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “I want my constituents to be aware of what is happening in the state.”

Murphy plans to give an overview of the spring legislative session, in which she passed a number of large measures, as well as a brief summary of the state budget. In addition she wants to tackle various issues of local importance.

Each town hall will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, May 30 at Des Plaines Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., meeting rooms B & C, with Mayor Andrew Goczkowski
• Wednesday, May 31 at Park Ridge Library, 20 S. Prospect Ave., first floor meeting room, with Mayor Marty Maloney
• Thursday, June 1 at Trickster Cultural Center, 190 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, second floor gallery, with Mayor Tom Dailly

“It’s important for me to stay connected with the people I represent and hear directly from them about the issues that matter most,” Murphy said. “I’m excited to host these legislative town halls to provide an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and share their ideas for our community.”

For questions regarding the events, contact Murphy's office at 817-718-1110 or www.senatorlauramurphy.com/contact-us.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the FY 24 budget:

“Illinois legislators have once again delivered a balanced budget that addresses the needs of working families – from education, to support services and pensions. We continued to make smart spending decisions that improve our fiscal health, while also prioritizing our most vulnerable communities.

“We’ve ensured that money is going to support those who need it most. This budget protects programs that prevent crime and illegal firearm activity, invests in kids and seniors, and protects our communities. Additionally it prepares us for fiscal uncertainty. As a state we have lived through a recession and a pandemic within recent memory, and we will not forget the lessons we learned.

“By providing more funding to MAP grants and the AIM HIGH program, we maintain our commitment to make college more affordable and attainable for working and middle-class families. We continue to ensure that we uplift our students so that they can receive the best possible education.”