Ventura food label standardization measure passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura passed a measure through the Senate that would promote standardization on food labels to reduce food waste across the state.

“As we see buying power decrease due to inflation and grocery bills increase, we need to think of alternatives to move away from the sniff and taste test to determine if food is safe to consume,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “By providing more guidance on food labels, we can reduce the amount of food ending up in the garbage and help feed more community members struggling to get by.”

House Bill 3849 would define "quality date," "safety date" and "sell by date" and require the Illinois Departments of Agriculture and Public Health to publish information to encourage food manufacturers, processors and retailers to voluntarily use uniform terms on food product labels to communicate quality and safety dates.

According to ReFED, a national nonprofit working in conjunction with Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic, a national food labeling standard could divert 582,000 tons of food waste per year and provide $2.41 billion in annual economic value. Illinois does not currently have any food labeling laws, however, if labeled, eggs cannot be sold past the label date.

“Not only will this legislation help with food waste, but it will also alleviate food insecurities in some communities,” said Ventura. “This will provide accurate information for consumers about their food and help clear up confusion surrounding expiration dates.”

Illinois would join states like California and Massachusetts in creating food label standardization.

House Bill 3849 passed the Senate on Wednesday.

Ventura highlights $500,000 in home improvement grants for Will County Habitat for Humanity

JOLIET – State Senator Rachel Ventura was pleased to see the Home Repair and Accessibility Program will provide $500,000 to the Will County Habitat for Humanity to help low-income homes with much-needed repairs.

“Having a stable shelter is a basic human right,” said Ventura (D – Joliet). “This funding will provide financial assistance for residents across Will County who need necessary repairs for their home.”

The grant program will help provide low-income homeowners with health, safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency repairs to their homes. The funding is designed to serve underfunded communities and ensure residents are able to stay in their homes.

Will County Habitat for Humanity has been running since 1988. The group has placed over 75 families in homes and built multiple rehab homes in the area, providing life-changing services to those in need.

“I encourage people who can’t afford structural repairs to their home to apply for this grant,” said Ventura. “This grant will provide relief to those who need safer and more secure homes or those who need accessibility improvements.”

More information on eligibility and a list of administering agencies can be found at https://www.ihda.org/my-community/revitalization-programs/

Ventura passes measure to protect vulnerable communities against deceptive tactics

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura passed a measure through the Senate that would protect vulnerable individuals from deceitful tactics in legal proceedings.

“There needs to be a serious conversation on police tactics needing an overhaul across the country,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “We need to build trust with our police and move toward safe and practical measures that don’t prey on vulnerable members of society and penalize them for not understanding interrogation tactics.”

Currently, a confession by a minor that was made as a result of a custodial interrogation conducted at a police station or other place of detention is presumed to be inadmissible in a criminal proceeding or a juvenile court proceeding as evidence against the minor if, during the custodial interrogation, a law enforcement officer or juvenile officer knowingly engages in deception.

With this new measure, the definition of a "protected person" would be expanded in provisions prohibiting the use of certain deceptive tactics by law enforcement during custodial interrogations. Instead of only covering minors, the revised definition includes both minors and persons with severe or profound intellectual or developmental disabilities.

“By working with police and having these conversations about necessary protocols needing to be changed, I believe we can build a better understanding and trust within our communities,” said Ventura. “Expanding the definition of individuals whose confessions may be presumed inadmissible under certain circumstances is necessary so that people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities will be protected from bad actors.”

House Bill 3253 passed through Senate on Thursday.

Ventura encourages food label standardization

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura passed a new measure through the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday that would promote standardization on food labels to reduce food waste across the state.

“Food waste is an issue that affects every community,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “By providing more guidance on food labels, we can reduce the amount of food ending up in the garbage and help feed more community members struggling to get by.”

House Bill 3849 would define "quality date," "safety date" and "sell by date" and require the Illinois Departments of Agriculture and Public Health to publish information to encourage food manufacturers, processors and retailers to voluntarily use uniform terms on food product labels to communicate quality and safety dates.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service product dating is not required by federal regulations except for infant formula. Manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is at its best quality. There are no uniform or universally accepted descriptions used on food labels for open dating in the United States.

According to ReFED, a national nonprofit working in conjunction with Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic, a national food labeling standard could divert 582,000 tons of food waste per year and provide $2.41 billion in annual economic value. Illinois does not currently have any food labeling laws, however, if labeled, eggs cannot be sold past the label date.

“Not only will this legislation help with food waste, but it will also alleviate food insecurities in some communities,” said Ventura. “It’s beneficial for everyone to have an updated system that gives consumers accurate information about safe food consumption.”

House Bill 3849 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee and now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.