Welcome to Senator Adriane Johnson's Legislative Website

Domestic violence survivors have stronger protections under Johnson’s law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson’s new law uplifts domestic violence survivors, addresses emerging forms of digital abuse and expands access to legal protections.

“Our laws must evolve to reflect the realities of the digital era and the way that technology can be used against domestic violence survivors,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Survivors deserve laws that prioritize their safety, privacy and peace of mind. We do this by strengthening our laws to ensure that survivors are protected from threats, stalking and intimidation in all forms including digital harassment.”

Senate Bill 3020 updates the state’s criminal laws to better reflect the ways abuse can occur in the digital age and ensures survivors have greater access to court protections. Johnson’s law expands the definition of harassment to include conduct such as electronic tracking, doxing and the nonconsensual creation or dissemination of digitally altered sexual images and other harmful online content.

The law seeks to improve access to the legal system for individuals seeking an order of protection. Petitioners can request remote hearings in any Illinois county unless a judge determines there is good cause to deny the request. Previously, remote hearing options are only guaranteed in counties with populations above 250,000.

In addition, Senate Bill 3020 clarifies that survivors cannot be denied an order of protection simply because the offender is incarcerated at the time the order is issued.

The law also strengthens protections related to orders of protection by allowing courts to grant extensions for any fixed period of time or longer upon good cause, expediting extension hearings when an order is nearing expiration and clarifying that a violation or a new incident of abuse is not required to extend an existing order.

“The internet has created new ways for abusers to harass, stalk and intimidate survivors long after they leave unsafe situations,” Johnson said. “Protecting domestic violence survivors means recognizing that online abuse can be just as harmful and dangerous as abuse that happens in person.”

Senate Bill 3020 was signed into law Friday.

Johnson’s new law codifies civil rights

SPRINGFIELD – In order to strengthen and preserve Illinois’ civil rights protections, State Senator Adriane Johnson’s new law codifies standards to assess whether policies have discriminatory impacts within the Illinois Human Rights Act.

“Fairness means ensuring that opportunity is truly accessible to all people, regardless of background or circumstance,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Disparate impact standards help identify unintended inequalities and encourage policies that better serve the public as a whole.”

Senate Bill 3777 will codify the use of disparate impact standards within the Illinois Human Rights Act, ensuring policies that appear neutral at face value but disproportionately harm protected communities can still be challenged under state law.

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Johnson’s new law creates non-profit investment pool

SPRINGFIELD – Non-profits in Illinois will have new investment opportunities, thanks to a new law from State Senator Adriane Johnson.

“Illinois-based non-profits should have the same high-quality investment opportunities as government entities,” said State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Greater investment opportunities means food pantries will have the resources to provide more food, homeless shelters can provide more beds, health care providers can offer more services to those in need and legal aid centers can assist more Illinoisans who have limited resources to address their legal needs.”

Senate Bill 2968 authorizes the State Treasurer to create a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment-processing program to supplement and enhance investment opportunities for 501(c) non-profit organizations located in Illinois. The Non-Profit Investment Pool will provide hundreds of non-profits across the State the opportunity for safe, liquid, and competitive investments.

Non-profits across the state will be able to pool their invest-able assets together in a fund to earn greater returns, at a much lower cost than they would on their own. Participants will earn interest proportionally based on their account balance. For Illinois Funds participants, earnings are calculated daily and paid monthly.

“Non-profits are critical organizations that serve communities all across the state,” said Johnson. “This initiative will give them the chance to maximize their resources and strengthen their financial stability.”

Senate Bill 2968 was signed into law on Friday.

Johnson urges local communities to apply for OSLAD grant

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson is encouraging communities in the 30th District to apply for assistance through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program.

“Now is the time we utilize funding to rebuild local parks in our communities and provide our children and neighbors with safe and new attractions,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “I am encouraging our park districts to take advantage of the opportunity by applying for this grant.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31.

The program offers state-financed funding assistance to local governmental agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. A total of $37.5 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. IDNR will provide funding to cover 90% of eligible projects located in distressed communities, or locations recovering from storm damage that apply as physically distressed communities.

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 31 and should be submitted to IDNR. For more information on the OSLAD program, visit IDNR’s website.