Harmon re-elected Senate President for 104th General Assembly

Oak Park Democrat Don Harmon was elected Senate President by his colleagues Wednesday, vowing to keep Illinois moving forward and calling on all in public office to strive for unity in a time of division and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

“I am challenging myself, and everyone here, to be better leaders of our state, to treat everyone with decency and respect, and to let that shine through our work,” Harmon said. “Because at the end of the day, we are all here because we love this state, the people who call it home, and want the best for all of them.”

Harmon announces funding to address teacher shortage

OAK PARK – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) today announced funding to help prepare area high school students to become teachers.

The Des Plaines Valley Education for Employment region will receive $250,000 in grants administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. The region serves six high school districts in western Cook County.

“Illinois is facing an ongoing teacher shortage that impacts every area of our state,” said Harmon. “We need to do everything we can at the state level to make a career in education accessible to anyone who has a passion for teaching students.”

The three-year grants were awarded primarily to rural, understaffed and underfunded areas. They aim to train students through hands-on experience and strive to increase diversity within the state’s teacher workforce. 

“Teaching is a career that changes lives,” said State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders. “A career in education allows teachers to shape the future while finding deep personal fulfillment. These grants are ensuring that our students are not just prepared but inspired to step into the classroom and make a difference for generations to come. We encourage high school students in participating districts to explore this incredible field.” 

To learn more about the grants, visit ISBE’s College and Career Grants webpage.

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Harmon passes bipartisan update to Prisoner Review Board standards

SPRINGFIELD – In response to a deadly stabbing that occurred earlier this year, Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) joined with Senate Minority Leader John Curran to advance legislation improving training and transparency for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB).

The legislation comes after Crosetti Brand was charged with murder for allegedly stabbing 11-year-old Jayden Perkins and his pregnant mother. Perkins died while attempting to protect his mother. The attack came one day after the PRB voted to grant Perkins release.  

“It is clear that gaps existed in Prisoner Review Board rules and training that, tragically, contributed to a child losing his life,” Harmon said. “This is an attempt to strengthen the review process so that something like this hopefully never happens again.”  

In an effort to prevent future tragedies, the measure:

• Requires additional training for PRB members to be completed annually and before their first vote as a member of the board;
• Requires the PRB to provide victims notice of hearings and notice of revocation of mandatory supervised release;
• Increases transparency by requiring certain PRB hearings to be broadcast live and mandating the minutes from hearings be posted online; and
• Allows crime victims abused by incarcerated individuals to petition for orders of protection.

“These bipartisan, victim-focused reforms are a strong first step in increasing accountability and transparency in how the Prisoner Review Board operates,” Curran said.  

The PRB conducts hearings to determine whether individuals are eligible for parole or mandatory supervised release. Its members are appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate.

In the aftermath of Perkins’ death, two members of the PRB resigned.

Gov. JB Pritzker also announced additional training and screening requirements for PRB members.

HB 681 passed the Senate without opposition and heads to the House for concurrence.

Harmon passes bipartisan measure to prevent traffic obstructions at O’Hare

SPRINGFIELD – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) took a step today to improve traffic safety around O’Hare Airport.

In response to reports of dangerous conditions around the airport, Harmon passed legislation prohibiting drivers from stopping their vehicles on the shoulder of the road anywhere within a half-mile radius of O’Hare.

“O’Hare is one of the busiest airports in the country,” Harmon said. “With thousands of cars coming through daily, obstructions on the roadway present a threat to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”

The legislation was a bipartisan effort, originally introduced in the Illinois House by Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont).

“This initiative is a proactive measure to ensure motorist safety on 190 and I-90 near the entrance to O’Hare Airport. Countless drivers have been parking on the shoulders of these roadways awaiting traveler arrivals instead of using the conveniently located cell phone lots within the airport property,” said Rep. Stephens. “We can’t station officers in these areas to address this safety issue as it’s not an efficient use of manpower, so I am happy to sponsor this measure in hopes that we have addressed an issue prior to anyone being injured or killed.”

The measure also directs the Illinois Tollway Authority to install automated traffic safety cameras within the same half-mile radius.

Anyone found in violation of the new provisions could be fined $100 per instance.

House Bill 5408 passed the Senate 50-5 and will now be sent to the governor’s desk.

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