CHANNAHON – Time spent outside, in nature and with their peers can bring lifelong memories and benefits to children and their families, which is why State Senator Rachel Ventura fought to secure funding for the Channahon Park District’s DuPage Park renovations. The Park District held a ribbon-cutting for the park Tuesday.

“I am proud that our community is improving public spaces for children and their families to experience the outdoors,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This ribbon-cutting marks the completion of all four neighborhood parks — DuPage, Louie Moorman, Swifton and Potawatomi — which are ready for our community to enjoy.”

The new DuPage Park is funded by an $185,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity secured by Senator Ventura.

“’The playground is where friendships are forged and imaginations soar.’ Thanks to Senator Ventura's efforts, the Channahon Park District has received the necessary funding to continue being a premier provider of fun experiences that impact lives,” said Michael J. Leonard, Executive Director of Channahon Park District. “The Channahon Park District is deeply grateful for her dedication to the community and partnership in creating opportunities to play.”

To view information about the neighborhood parks and other projects at the Channahon Park District, click here.

JOLIET – Amid ongoing discussions on how to address illicit substances coming into Illinois prisons by mail, State Senator Rachel Ventura criticized the Illinois Department of Corrections’ decision to electronically scan and withhold mail from incarcerated people.

“The way the emergency rule is being implemented by the Illinois Department of Corrections is a poorly thought out response that does not serve the needs of incarcerated people nor properly protect staff at our prison facilities,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “DOC has dragged their feet every step of the way on addressing the illicit mail issue, and this latest decision was a rushed stopgap to a problem the legislature has been trying to solve for years.”

The legislative oversight panel formally objected to DOC’s decision to withhold mail from incarcerated people and instead deliver electronically scanned copies of external correspondence they receive. Several lawmakers had expressed their dissatisfaction with this direction via letter.

SPRINGFIELD – To address workforce gaps in the behavioral health care workforce across the state, State Senator Rachel Ventura worked alongside State Representative Nabeela Syed on House Bill 3487, which was signed into law Friday.

“Our state’s rural areas continue to suffer due to a lack of mental health professionals,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Accurate and recent data can greatly assist in addressing the behavioral health care workforce needs we have in this state. When we know the totality of the situation, we can come up with better solutions, such as grants or improved training programs to help this essential field.”

House Bill 3487 requires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to request voluntary demographic and employment data — including primary language, anticipated retirement year and ZIP code — when individuals apply for or renew behavioral health licenses. The goal is to generate more accurate data to better understand and address service gaps across Illinois.

"The shortage of social workers, counselors, therapists and other caregivers that Illinois' mental health community has had to make up for – and Illinois mental health patients have had to live with – demands a strong response," said Syed (D-Inverness). "Without data, we can't make forward progress, and currently there is simply not enough information on behavioral health practitioners to accurately craft new approaches. I'm proud to join my colleagues in the Senate to work to correct that and ensure Illinoisans get the care they need."

House Bill 3487 was signed into law Aug. 15, and goes into effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – In a continued effort to expand access to health care while protecting affordability, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Hoan Huynh partnered together on House Bill 1577, which was signed into law on Friday .

The new law clarifies university participation in Illinois’ dependent coverage law, and ensures student health insurance plans remain affordable and sustainable for those who rely on them most.

“Expanding health care access must go hand in hand with protecting affordability,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation supports the intent of the original law while making sure we don't unintentionally burden students with higher premiums. We’re committed to building a more inclusive health care system — one that meets people where they are, including our students.”

House Bill 1577 is a follow-up to a law that took effect in January 2025, which requires health insurance plans to offer dependent coverage to an insured person’s parent or stepparent. That landmark law was designed to help multigenerational households and caregivers access essential care, and only applied to parents or stepparents living with or receiving at least six months of care from the insured individual. Highly specialized insurance products, like Medicare supplement plans and hospital-only coverage, were excluded from these provisions.

House Bill 1577 explicitly exempts student health insurance plans from this requirement — a clarification that was always intended but needed to be codified.

House Bill 1577 was signed into law on Aug. 15, 2025 and goes into effect immediately.