CREST HILL – State Senator Rachel Ventura recently conducted interviews at Stateville Correctional Center to renew and expand her internship program in partnership with DePaul University.

“I’m proud to continue and expand this internship that highlights the research of bright and promising people who have a lot to bring to the table but are often ignored,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “With this internship, we will be providing individuals with an opportunity to give back to their communities, challenge and present their own ideas and opinions, and provide a perspective that they uniquely can share.”

SPRINGFIELD – A new law from State Senator Rachel Ventura will promote standardization on food labels and reduce food waste across the state.

“We are working to reduce food waste and help our neighbors stretch their dollar by providing clearer information on food labels,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “As we see buying power decrease due to inflation and grocery bills increasing, we need to think of alternatives to save people from guessing whether their food is safe to consume.”

House Bill 3849 defines "quality date," "safety date" and "sell by date" and requires 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.

“Quality date” will be defined as the date when the food quality begins to deteriorate but remains safe to consume. “Safety date” will be the date by which the food should be consumed or frozen and the “sell by date” is intended to inform a retailer when it is time to pull a product from the shelf.

“The law will provide accurate information for consumers about their food and help clear up confusion surrounding expiration dates,” said Ventura. “This legislation will help with food waste, as well as alleviate food insecurities in some communities.”

House Bill 3849 went into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law that will incentivize the use of renewable hydropower electricity across the state goes into effect on Jan. 1 thanks to State Senator Rachel Ventura.

“To make Illinois self-sustainable we need to lift the limits on these essential hydropower plants,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Not only will it increase jobs and support the emerging green energy economy in our state, but will also address the ongoing energy problem with pragmatic solutions.”

Under Ventura’s law, the Illinois Power Agency will procure a percentage of its renewable energy credits from hydropower dams to help increase the use of this renewable energy source. Additionally, it promotes environmental conservation by using dams that already exist, such as the Kankakee Hydropower Dam, the Wilmington Dam, and the Brandon Road Lock and Dam.

Illinois is currently ranked 46th in the nation when it comes to hydropower, and with Senate Bill 1474 going into effect, Ventura hopes to shepherds advancements in Illinois’ renewable energy sector.

“Supporting hydropower today will allow all Illinoisans to reap economic and environmental benefits for decades to come,” said Ventura. “Expanding renewable energy, especially base load capacity, through clean and affordable hydropower is crucial for Illinois to meet the demands of the future and hit our renewable energy goals.”

Senate Bill 1474 takes effect Jan. 1.

SPRINGFIELD – To stop the misleading fake “final notices” sent in the mail, State Senator Rachel Ventura passed a new law going into effect Jan. 1.

“During a time when it is already difficult to pay the bills, we needed a way to protect Illinoisans from these anxiety-inducing final fake notices which are often sent to new homeowners and seniors,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This dishonest business practice will finally be put to and end so that no one is tricked into purchasing goods or services they don’t need.”

When someone buys a car or home in Illinois, “final notice” letters regarding warranties, protection plans and insurance are often mailed out by third parties to scam recipients into providing information or buying products under the guise of maintaining their home or vehicle.

Under Senate Bill 1440, the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act will be amended to require that senders clearly state that their mailing is not a bill but rather a solicitation of services.

“Illinois has become a trailblazer for finding tangible solutions to a wide array of issues that impact everyone,” said Ventura. “My hope is that by Illinois taking the lead in ending this practice, more states will follow suit to protect vulnerable members in our communities.”

Senate Bill 1440 takes effect Jan. 1.