AURORA — State Senator Linda Holmes announced that five school districts across the area will receive over $4 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“This is a commitment to our children to ensure a comprehensive learning environment,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “We’re continuing to prioritize evidence-based funding for the schools that need it most, whatever your ZIP code may be.”

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 its 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.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula:

SPRINGFIELD – Homeowners throughout Illinois can look forward to getting unused household paint out of their garage or basement to designated collection centers for safe disposal soon. Legislation led by State Senator Linda Holmes sets out a process for regulators to propose and adopt specific regulations for the state’s upcoming paint recycling program, expected to begin operations in 2025.

The Paint Stewardship Act became law early this year, founding a program for Illinois to manage collecting, transporting and disposing unused household paint. Senate Bill 839 is the next stage for the program: setting rules and roles for state and federal regulators to allow Illinois consumers to begin dropping off paint at established collection points. PaintCare Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, represents paint manufacturers and works with states and jurisdictions that pass paint stewardship laws.

“This law moves us closer to a day next year when homeowners can begin dropping off their old paint at PaintCare’s collection sites,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “Over time, at least 90% of Illinois residents will have a collection site, service or event within a 15-mile radius of their home free of charge. Getting these cans of unused paint out of our basements and garages will protect our state’s soil and water to continue growing crops to feed the state and nation.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes is aware of problems those in health insurance programs experience when their insurers’ networks are understaffed. Her legislation to correct this deficiency – Senate Bill 2641 – was signed into law Friday. The law will require insurers to demonstrate whether they have enough physicians and specialists at each hospital as preferred providers in a network plan.

“Many of us have experienced the anxiety of having to wait weeks or months to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for a health concern,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “I believe it is a reasonable expectation of people with health insurance to get the care and urgency their condition calls for; those in smaller communities may worry about their condition worsening as they wait for that care, simply because the network is understaffed.”

AURORA – In 2023, State Senator Linda Holmes collaborated with State Senator Julie Morrison to allow law enforcement agencies to use drones for public safety. This year, they cosponsored Senate Bill 2849 to give local governments authority to set reasonable rules for the airspace over public spaces; the measure is now law.

“Drones have the potential to aid our communities in many ways, and this is an example of giving local governments a say in when and where their use is appropriate,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “For children engaged in a sporting event, the buzzing of a drone may distract players and supporters on the field. This law can prevent the disruption.”

Local parks, playgrounds, aquatic facilities, wildlife areas, sports fields or other recreational facilities will be off-limits to private drone operators.