‘Hitting kids should never be allowed’: Illinois bans corporal punishment in all schools “It was an easy thing to do. I don’t want a child, whether they are in private school or public school, to have a situation in which corporal punishment is being used,” Croke said. Reproductive healthcare: New Illinois law expands insurance coverage “The decision to undergo additional rounds of IVF should be left to a medical provider and his or her patient and not dictated by financial limitations,” Croke said. From rats to riches: Oz Park’s Dorothy’s Playlot reopens after stunning renovation Oz Park’s Dorothy’s Playlot in Lincoln Park reopened after a $1.25 million renovation, featuring new amenities like bouncy bridges, twisty slides and ADA-accessible ramps. Oz Park’s New Playground Unveiled In Lincoln Park LINCOLN PARK — Dorothy’s Playlot, the popular playground at Oz Park, reopened to the public Monday as dozens of neighbors of all ages celebrated the new and improved amenities. IL House committee approves bill prohibiting sale, sharing of driver private data A plan moving to the Illinois House would ensure private identifiable information of drivers is protected. Illinois House sends plan expanding infertility coverage to Pritzker for final approval Senate Bill 773 passed out of the House on a 90-17 vote. The measure previously passed out of the Senate on a 50-1 vote. Bill expanding infertility coverage heads to Gov. Pritzker’s desk “The decision to undergo additional rounds of IVF should be left to a medical provider and his/her patient and not dictated by financial limitations,” said state Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, the bill’s House sponsor. Illinois bill would ban corporal punishment in private schools House Bill 4175 passed last week out of the House and was sent to the Senate. The bill seeks to ban corporal punishment in all private schools in Illinois. Gov. J.B. Pritzker expresses support for expanded CPS school closing moratorium; House sends bill to Senate Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday expressed his support for extending a moratorium on closing any public schools in Chicago by two years to coincide with a fully elected school board that’s set to be in place in early 2027. Illinois House approves bill improving health insurance network adequacy standards State representatives passed a plan Wednesday to improve network adequacy standards for health insurance companies. Pritzker Signs Hybrid CPS Board Bill, Says He Supports Moratorium on Selective Enrollment Closures Under the measure (House Bill 5766) introduced by state Rep. Margaret Croke, a Democrat who lives in Lincoln Park, the Chicago Board of Education could not close any selective enrollment schools until February 2027. Reproductive rights advocates say Illinois law protects IVF as state lawmakers consider legislation to expand access SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – In 2019, Illinois passed the Reproductive Health Act. Protecting abortion rights was a key part of the legislation, but that wasn’t its only intent. Illinois lawmakers challenge Chicago school board’s plans to remove police, rethink choice policy Illinois state lawmakers filed two bills last week aimed at reversing the Chicago Board of Education’s decisions to rethink school choice policies and remove school resource officers from campuses. Illinois House insurance committee approves plan expanding infertility coverage Private insurance companies in Illinois can currently limit patients to four rounds of IVF treatment. State lawmakers removed the cap on infertility coverage for state employees last year. Although, a proposal in the Illinois House could expand private insurance coverage for the critical infertility treatments. How an Illinois Law Protects IVF Access, Reproductive Health Care Rights “For me, being pro-choice means being pro-family. I think that’s a component of being pro-choice. I want people to have the ability to have a family in whatever way that they want,” Croke said, whether that’s adopting, using fertility assists or having no children. IVF Protections State Rep. Margaret Croke is introducing a bill to expand the number of rounds of IVF protected under insurance. She talks with Micah about making sure protections are never lost in Illinois as they are in some states. A new bill in Springfield allows Illinois residents to recoup extra costs for mental health care If you have medical insurance, obviously, you want to see a health care provider who is in-network. That’s not always the case, though, on the lists of providers you may see, and you can wind up paying full price for going out-of-network. A bill in the Illinois House would allow you to recoup the extra costs when you see a mental health provider in those cases. New Illinois law to try to curb bullying at schools through quicker parental notice A new law signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker earlier this month is trying to curb bullying at Illinois schools. Illinois Lawmakers Approve Bill Requiring Schools to Notify Parents of Bullying Within 24 Hours A measure that would require school administrations in Illinois to inform parents and guardians of bullying within 24 hours has been approved by both bodies of the state legislature and is awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s approval. Pritzker Administration Expands Access to Self-Administered Contraceptives Today, Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) announced a new process to expand access to self-administered hormonal contraceptives, making them more available to Illinois residents than ever before. Senator Fine measure to make specialty services more accessible for HMO patients passes Senate House Bill 1186 would allow HMO patients to have appointments and receive care with in-network specialists covered by their insurance, eliminating the requirement to get a referral from a general practitioner. This will allow HMO patients to get the care they need in a timely manner. One Illinois Representatives fight to strengthen and expand Cyberbullying statute Illinois State Representative Margaret Croke has pushed legislation to strengthen and expand the current Illinois cyber-bullying statute. Senate approves Feigenholtz anti-bullying legislation “Through this legislation, we can ensure that students remain safe and that their parents understand what they’re going through at school,” Feigenholtz said. “Representative Croke and I were proud to sponsor this bill in honor of a family in our district who lost a child to bullying. We hope this bill serves as a beacon of hope for families across Illinois.” Women coach women on leadership Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, credited her IWIL Training Academy experience in 2020 with giving her the tools she needed to successfully run for the Illinois House of Representatives later that year. Illinois House passes bill raising credit union regulatory fees State lawmakers hope to raise the annual credit union regulation fee for the first time since 2008. Illinois House passes cryptocurrency regulation bill State lawmakers hope to pass a plan to stabilize the market and ensure consumers are protected. Measure would require schools to notify parents of bullying incidents within 24 hours Legislation that would tighten anti-bullying protocols in Illinois schools will head to the full state Senate after unanimously passing out of committee this week. Lawmakers look to modernize state’s bullying policy State lawmakers are advancing a plan that would require stricter reporting requirements for school officials about incidents of bullying in an effort the lead sponsor of a bill says will help align Illinois’ anti-bullying law with online cyberbullying. Rep. Margaret Croke | Rising Stars in Illinois Politics April 14, 2023, Illinois State Representative Margaret Croke, a Democrat from the 12th District, and institute director John Shaw kicked off a new series titled “Rising Stars in Illinois Politics.” JOAN ESPOSITO LIVE, LOCAL, & PROGRESSIVE 03.29.2023 Illinois State Rep. Margaret Croke joins Joan Esposito on WCPT 820 – Chicago’s Progressive Talk to talk about House Bill 2477, the Pregnancy Expenses Act and House Bill 3425, which expands the current Illinois Bullying Prevention statute. 1 2 3 4 Next »
