New Releases

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Linda Holmes continues to lead measures to restrict species from owners of traveling animal acts by adding more specific breeds to the list of wildlife banned for this use.

“In 2017, I passed legislation to ban the use of elephants in circuses and other traveling exhibitions that cannot provide the animals adequate living conditions, and we have added more and more species to the ban over the years,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “These animals spend most of their lives in cramped, filthy cages under severe and chronic stress. This cruelty must stop.”

House Bill 4255 would add specific breeds to the offense of unlawful use of animals in traveling acts to include cougars, jaguars, leopards, lions, tigers, non-human primates, bears, and all elephants, not just endangered species. It also adds any hybrids of these animals. Anyone knowingly using a covered animal would be committing a Class A misdemeanor.

SPRINGFIELD – A consistent advocate for legislation to end unsafe conditions for animals, State Senator Linda Holmes is leading a proposal that would bring statutory guidance to Illinois courts to resolve pet possession conflicts when their unmarried parents separate.

“Laws need to reflect how family roles change over time, and how more people see their pets as beloved family members rather than property,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “If those roles change and the future residence of a companion animal is in question, the courts need guidance to reflect that not every family starts with a married man and woman whose pet is considered an asset rather than a furry family member whose wellbeing is at stake.”

SPRINGFIELD – In Illinois, law enforcement officers and prosecutors who charge suspects accused of harassment need updates to the law to reflect today’s use of technology. State Senator Linda Holmes advanced legislation to reflect the realities of how offenses are being committed in present day.

“The means to harass someone continues to magnify from phones to electronic devices, offering platforms on which to send demeaning, frightening messages,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “Our intent is to capture harassment that causes emotional distress. Emails, social media, forums and gaming are being used, so our laws must reflect the changed landscape violators use to intensify their attacks.”

Senate Bill 2741 is an initiative of Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser and Detective Rich Wistocki whose organizations see how the nature of harassment has changed with technology. To prosecute offenders who use these tools, the bill would remove the requirement that content must be of a sexual nature. It would lay out how violators would be charged for harassment by telephone and by electronic devices.

SPRINGFIELD – In Illinois, law enforcement officers and prosecutors who charge suspects accused of harassment are seeing options to update the law to reflect today’s technology. State Senator Linda Holmes filed legislation to reflect the realities of how offenses are being committed in present day.

“The means to harass someone continues to expand from phones to electronic devices, offering platforms on which to send demeaning, frightening messages,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “Emails, social media, forums and gaming are being used by those intending to cause emotional distress to the recipient, so laws need to be amended to address each offense separately.”