Johnson law empowers students to learn about climate solutions

• HB 4895
• Climate change education

SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing the importance of equipping students with knowledge about environmental challenges and solutions, State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a new law that will ensure students have access to comprehensive climate change education.

“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and it disproportionately affects marginalized communities,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “By integrating climate change education in our schools, we are not only providing students with the knowledge they need to navigate these issues, but also promoting equity by ensuring all students, regardless of background, can use this critical information.”

Johnson’s law tasks public schools in Illinois with providing learning opportunities on the environmental and ecological impacts of climate change and solutions for addressing the crisis. Schools have the flexibility to decide whether to create a separate class or implement these lessons into existing relevant classes – such as science, agriculture and technical education courses.

“Educating our youth about climate change takes a multi-faceted approach,” said Johnson. “Empowering students with this knowledge will prepare them to be informed residents, helping to create and sustain resilient communities.”

House Bill 4895 was signed on Friday and goes into effect July 1, 2025.

Johnson supports breastfeeding mothers with new law

• HB 4819
• Lactation room
• Breastfeeding

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson spearheaded a new law requiring the Illinois Department of Corrections to provide lactation rooms for employees.

“All women should have the peace of mind that they will have a safe, secure and private place to pump when they return to work,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “In requiring this space, we further establish workplaces as supportive and inclusive for nursing mothers.”

This law requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to provide lactation rooms for employees to use. The rooms must be in each department facility that employs nursing mothers and each individual lactation room must meet certain requirements, such as containing electrical outlets for plugging in breast pumps and having a minimum of one refrigerator for storage of the breast milk.

“This law is necessary as it further ensures employees are comfortable and secure in the workplace throughout every stage in their lives,” said Johnson. “Mothers deserve to feel seen and supported.”

House Bill 4819 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Johnson law regulates the sale of products containing mercury

• HB 2363
• Regulation of product containing mercury

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson’s measure to regulate the sale of certain fluorescent lamps has been signed into law, further protecting residents from persistent and toxic pollutants.

“This law is essential in the effort to effectively reduce mercury pollution,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). “By eliminating a root cause of mercury pollution, we reduce product waste containing traces of it from our disposal sites.”

This law bans the sale of newly manufactured screw-base, bayonet-base and pin-base compact fluorescent lamps and linear fluorescent lamps. Exemptions apply for certain fluorescent lamps used for medical diagnostics, academic research, photocopying and printing, and in vehicle headlights.

“The proper disposal of products containing mercury is a long-standing issue in preventing environmental contamination and protecting human health, because recycling programs are not always accessible,” said Johnson. “Ultimately, this law further protects the environment and residents throughout the state.”

House Bill 2363 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Johnson law brings new elementary school to North Chicago

• Education
• North Chicago
• SB 464

SPRINGFIELD – After realizing the dire need for a new building, State Senator Adriane Johnson led a new law to expedite the process of constructing a new elementary school for North Chicago.

“It’s easy to see the construction of a new school is a more efficient solution than continuing to pour funds into rehabilitating the current building,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove).  “We need to create safe and well-equipped schools, and this law will allow that to happen sooner rather than later.”

The new law allows North Chicago District 187 to move forward with a new building on the most efficient timeline possible by bypassing public referendum requirements — saving the district critical resources and time.

The current school building does not have drinkable water due to high levels of lead in the pipes, in addition to needing asbestos installation repair.

Twenty-five percent of North Chicago District 187 sits on federal land and has been awarded a number of federal grants to aid in the construction of a new school. The federal grant will cover 80% of all eligible costs for the construction of a new school with the remaining 20% of costs coming from a blend of state assistance, philanthropic dollars and approved bond revenues.

“Students spend so much of their time here, and we cannot continue to risk their health and well-being,” said Johnson. “Bypassing the referendum to begin this process sooner is simply the right thing to do. We owe students a safe learning environment.”

Senate Bill 464 was signed into law Friday and is effective immediately.