SPRINGFIELD – In Illinois last year, an estimated 25,832 people experienced homelessness. To increase the accessibility of resources available to help homeless individuals, State Senator Mary Edly-Allen worked with State Representative Lindsey LaPointe to bring House Bill 3761 to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

“People experiencing homelessness are often in and out of emergency rooms. Hospital staff, like social workers, are usually under-equipped to connect our unhoused neighbors to services. It is difficult to find resources and we do not have enough emergency shelters to meet the needs,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “This bill solves one of those problems — by providing clear information online on how to begin the process to access shelter and services.”

SPRINGFIELD – Recording artists could soon have more protections from artificial intelligence (AI) replicating their voice or work under legislation from State Senator Mary Edly-Allen and State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz.

“We need strong regulations and protections in place to safeguard artists when people try to steal their work and pass it off as their own using artificial intelligence,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “This bill was made to clarify existing law using language approved by both the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Motion Picture Association (MPA).”

SPRINGFIELD – Domestic violence is a serious public health issue across the United States. In Illinois, 42% of women and 26% of men will face violence from an intimate partner, leading State Senator Mary Edly-Allen to collaborate with State Representative Daniel Didech on House Bill 1278.

“Victims of domestic violence should not have to worry about workplace retaliation,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “Survivors should not be penalized for protecting themselves. This bill can - and will - save lives, and I am proud to carry this legislation through the Senate.”

LIBERTYVILLE – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen announced 13 school districts in the 31st District have received more than $29,000 to provide resources to libraries through books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.

 “As an educator, I know how essential these grants are to our students and the benefits that come with it,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “When we invest in educational resources and materials, we are providing the necessary tools to develop great leaders and brilliant thinkers.”