SPRINGFIELD — Committed to advancing equity and dignity in financial planning, State Senator Adriane Johnson’s new law will prohibit insurers from denying or limiting final expense life insurance coverage solely due to a prior felony conviction.
“Everyone deserves the chance to care for their families, even after they’re gone,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This law ensures that a person’s past doesn’t disqualify them from planning for the future with dignity and compassion.”
House Bill 2425 prohibits companies that offer final expense life insurance policies from rejecting applicants, limiting their coverage or inflating their premiums solely based on a felony conviction—provided the applicant is not currently incarcerated. Final expense policies—often referred to as burial or funeral insurance—are smaller-scale, affordable forms of whole-life insurance meant to help families handle end-of-life costs, including funeral services and medical bills.
By extending existing non-discrimination protections already provided in Illinois law to cover past felony convictions, this measure continues the state’s commitment to fair treatment. Current law already bars insurers from discriminating based on disability, veteran status and other personal history factors.
“This law is a step toward meaningful reintegration,” Johnson said. “When people complete their sentences, they deserve a chance to move forward—not face a lifetime of punishment. This change offers that opportunity.”
House Bill 2425 was signed into law Friday.
SPRINGFIELD — Student teachers across Illinois will now have greater opportunities to receive compensation for their classroom contributions, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Adriane Johnson.
“Student teachers put in long hours and shoulder real responsibilities — it’s only fair they have the option to be compensated,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This law brings us one step closer to a more equitable, inclusive education system where aspiring educators aren’t pushed out due to financial hardship.”
House Bill 3528 prohibits public universities from enforcing rules that bar student teachers from receiving payment during their placement. While the law does not require student teachers to be paid, it eliminates longstanding prohibitions that blocked school districts, higher education institutions and nonprofit partners from providing stipends, wages or other forms of compensation.
Under previous policies, many student teachers worked full-time without pay for an entire semester — a financial burden that often discouraged talented candidates from low-income or underrepresented backgrounds from pursuing teaching careers.
“This law is about fairness and flexibility,” Johnson said. “By removing outdated barriers, we empower schools and teacher preparation programs to offer support that better reflects the demands placed on student teachers and helps diversify our education workforce.”
House Bill 3528 was signed into law Friday.
BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson announced that 12 school districts across the 30th District will receive over $8 million in evidence-based funding, in addition to the base funding that the state provides.
“We have to make investments into our schools to ensure our students have the best educational opportunities available,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “With evidence-based funding, we can identify the school districts that need more funding and direct resources toward educators and institutions that need and deserve assistance.”
The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.
BUFFALO GROVE — State Senators Adriane Johnson and Mary Edly-Allen are hosting a State of Transit Town Hall on Monday, alongside Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart and special guest State Senator Ram Villivalam, to share updates about the state of transit in Illinois.
“Public transit connects our community – getting residents where they need to go, when they need it,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “We need to continue to speak with residents to learn more about how they use public transit and provide them with updates on our work.”
The Northeastern Illinois transit region is expected to hit a $771 million fiscal cliff as federal pandemic relief funding runs out. Public transit riders are currently facing issues with the system, including delayed service, a lack of routes and limited coordination of services between providers. This presents an issue for many, as they are left without reliable transportation to reach health care appointments, jobs, school and more.
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