SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) to address school staffing shortages across the state passed the Senate Tuesday.

“These past couple of school years have presented tremendous challenges our schools,” Loughran Cappel said. “With school districts across the state facing teacher shortages, reducing the renewal fees for substitutes will increase the pool of qualified substitute teachers that are so desperately needed.”

According to a survey by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, 90% of Illinois schools are currently experiencing staffing shortages. Loughran Cappel passed House Bill 4246 to address the issue by significantly reducing the renewal fees for substitute teachers’ licenses to $50 instead of $500.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) passed a measure through the Senate Tuesday that would ensure customers get a discount when supermarkets put products on sale.

“When shoppers check out at the supermarket, they don’t always see the sale price of an item on the screen during the transaction,” Loughran Cappel said. “Customers are often left unsure if they received a discount because the screen only shows the final price of each item.” 

While retailers provide notice of discounts through various methods such as receipts, in-store promotions, advertisements, and price tags, there is nothing written in law concerning how prices and discounts are displayed during checkout. 

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate voted against one of the governor’s picks to continue serving on the Prisoner Review Board, who approved the early prison release for criminals charged with murdering police officers. Attributing to her vote against the appointment, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) released the following statement:
 
“Each time we hear an officer is murdered, we are reminded that these men and women risk their lives for us every day. The early release of criminals convicted of murdering a police officer makes a mockery of our justice system, and it’s disappointing to see this nomination before us to serve on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
 
“The early release of these criminals sends a horrible message and the governor needs to do right by reappointing worthy candidates.”

JOLIET – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) announced more encouraging news for local businesses recovering from the pandemic who have received grants in the latest round of Back to Business funding.

“The Back to Business program has already helped dozens of local businesses in our area,” Loughran Cappel said. “The people in our community rely on so many of these businesses every day, and I’m glad to see them recovering and thriving after the economic hit of the pandemic.”

The B2B program is providing millions of dollars for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. The grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.