Morrison law to protect kids from damaging effects of nicotine

SPRINGFIELD – Nicotine companies are creating vapes that are designed to look like school supplies and therefore are easily concealed, leading State Senator Julie Morrison to pass a law to prevent these products from being advertised to children.

“With more high school students using vapes today than cigarettes 10 years ago, youth e-cigarette use is a public health threat,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This law will prohibit tobacco companies from pulling the wool over the eyes of educators and guardians whose job it is to keep kids safe.”

Educators have complained to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services about finding electronic cigarettes on school property that are designed to look like school supplies such as highlighters, erasers and pencil sharpeners. Senate Bill 2662 will prohibit the advertising, marketing or promoting of an electronic cigarette in a manner that is likely to cause a person to mistake it for an object that is anything other than what it is, a tobacco product.

“As chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, I have taken a strong stand on the issue of nicotine use,” said Morrison. “This law will protect our children from creating a habit that can have harmful long term effects.”

Senate Bill 2662 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1.

Morrison law to protect nursing home residents

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure consistent quality of care for residents when their nursing home changes ownership, State Senator Julie Morrison championed a new law requiring facilities to develop comprehensive transition plans.

“Nursing home residents should always receive high-quality care, even during facility ownership transitions” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This law requires transfer plans from current owners to new owners to ensure nothing gets over looked.”

Senate Bill 3115 will require owners of a facility to submit a transition plan detailing how resident care and appropriate staffing levels will be maintained throughout the process of shifting ownership. 

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, past changes of ownership have taken place without a clear and concise transfer plan that assures appropriate staffing and quality of care. This issue will be remedied by this new law by providing clear steps facilities must take during ownership changes.

“Medical staff have been at dangerously low levels during past transitions,” said Morrison. “The responsibilities of making sure a nursing home facility is properly staffed and that residents are taken care of does not go away just because of a change in ownership.”

Senate Bill 3115 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Morrison works with local teen to enhance safety standards for cheerleaders

SPRINGFIELD – Like thousands of teenagers across the country, Noel Demetrio was her happiest when performing cheer routines with her teammates. That happiness, however, quickly turned tragic when she was lifted into the air during a halftime performance, only to fall and face serious injury that led to immediate hospitalization.

After a year of physical and emotional struggles, then-15-year-old Demetrio recovered and was able to cheer again. Yet, she acknowledged that many people across the state and nation aren’t that lucky – leading her to work with State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) to ensure cheerleaders of all levels learn proper safety standards.

“I am thankful to Senator Morrison for believing in me. My hope was that something could be done throughout our state to protect cheerleaders. In fact, I felt I had an obligation to help greatly reduce serious injury in the sport of cheer,” said Demetrio. “I have loved taking part in the legislative process. With Senator Morrison’s strong advocacy, as well as Representative Bob Morgan leading the way in the House, my hope has been realized. I am grateful that the safety standards that have now been enacted into law will greatly reduce serious injury in the sport I love.” 

Morrison was enamored with Demetrio’s drive to turn her experience into change to minimize the risk for other cheerleaders and make the sport safer. She worked with the young Lake Forest athlete to pass a newly signed law to require the Illinois High School Association and Illinois Elementary School Association to adopt the Spirit Rules Book – which sets standards and regulations to ensure the safe practice and competition of cheer teams.

“It takes a lot of care, compassion and resilience to turn a tragedy into change,” said Morrison. “I am proud of Noel’s steadfast advocacy to make a difference by protecting future generations of cheerleaders.”

In 2022, 18,007 cheerleading injuries led to emergency room visits across the country. Together, Morrison and Demetrio’s efforts to enhance precautions and knowledge will lead to fewer injuries.

“Cheerleading — while a sport full of enthusiasm and spirit – can quickly take a turn, as Noel learned firsthand,” said Morrison. “I am proud of our joint effort to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of cheer and spirit leaders.”

Senate Bill 2861 was signed into law last week and takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Morrison law to make vote by mail more accessible for seniors, veterans

SPRINGFIELD – Continuing her efforts to make voting more accessible, State Senator Julie Morrison championed a newly signed law to help people in veterans’ homes, nursing homes and hospitals cast their ballots in a safe and secure way.

“Voting disparities among people with disabilities is a pressing issue,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Increasing opportunities for voters with disabilities to utilize vote by mail will have a positive impact on their participation.”

House Bill 4488, among other things, will allow election authorities to deliver vote by mail ballots to voters who live in veterans’ and nursing homes, hospitals and mental health facilities, in addition to the authorities' preexisting ability to administer supervised, on-site voting.

This vote by mail initiative is just one part of a bigger package of proposals to increase voting accessibility and make elections more transparent.

“This compilation of provisions will improve the efficiency and equity of our state’s elections,” said Morrison. “The rate at which Illinois voters show up to the polls has dropped in recent years and this measure provides paths to turn this stat around.”

House Bill 4488 was signed into law Monday and takes effect immediately.