SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced legislation that passed both chambers on Friday to address surplus state-owned properties by curating a report on its condition.

“We have an obligation to address the numerous state-owned properties that have either been vacant or unused, which in turn wastes taxpayer dollars through maintenance and security costs,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation will give us insight into each property’s maintenance and demolition costs to consider what to do with them in the future.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced an initiative through the House and Senate that would allow local government to apply for loans through the Illinois Finance Authority Climate Bank in an effort to expand clean energy infrastructure across Illinois while saving tax payers money on interest rates.

“We need every level of government to do their part when it comes to mitigating the effects of climate change,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Through the IFA bank, these low-rate loans to local government will not only save taxpayers money in the long run, but also address and tackle the effects of climate change.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura spearheaded an initiative through the Senate that would deem nomination papers invalid should the candidate be found to have engaged in fraud.

“To keep our elections free of fraud and hold nominees to the highest standard, we must continuously set checks and balances so our electoral and nomination processes retain their integrity,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “If a candidate is found to have personally engaged in any fraudulent behavior, their nomination papers must be deemed invalid. We need honest candidates and legislators.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura introduced a measure in the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday that would deem nomination papers invalid should the candidate be found to have been engaged in fraud.

“In order to have full transparency and prevent fraud in our elections, we must continuously set checks and balances so our electoral and nomination processes retain their integrity,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “If a candidate is found to have personally engaged in any fraudulent behavior, we need language in place to ensure that these papers will be deemed invalid.”