SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura filed legislation in Illinois that would legalize psilocybin for adult-supervised use in a licensed service center. The legislation, known as the CURE ACT (Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act), aims to tackle treatment-resistant conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. Additionally, it facilitates research into the safety and efficacy of psilocybin through medical, psychological, and scientific studies.

“As mental health concerns rise throughout our state and nation, it's imperative to acknowledge that conventional treatments don't always suffice,” stated Ventura (D-Joliet). "Psilocybin shows promise as a potential solution, particularly for those grappling with PTSD and other mental health disorders. The ongoing research and trials have yielded encouraging results."

The FDA has labeled psilocybin twice as a "breakthrough therapy" for treatment-resistant depression, indicating federal acknowledgment of its therapeutic promise. In June, the agency released its inaugural guidelines for researchers keen on investigating its potential for medical applications.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura is leading a measure that would increase fines to hospitals that fail to implement a written staffing plan amidst continuous nurse negotiations at the St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet.

“There needs to be accountability for hospitals who negotiate and operate in bad faith,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Numerous nursing strikes have gone on and yet no changes have been implemented – it’s dangerous to the patient and nurses to be understaffed.”

Senate Bill 3217 would increase fines assessed on hospitals for failing to implement a written staffing plan to alleviate staffing shortages and increase pay from $500 to $5,000. Additionally, it would increase fines for failure to comply with the written plan from $500 to $10,000 and allows the Illinois Department of Public Health to revoke or suspend licenses for failure to comply with a plan of corrections a second or subsequent time.

JOLIET – State Senator Rachel Ventura recently chose two young adults to serve as interns through a new program she started in partnership with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice at the Illinois Youth Center - St. Charles Facility.

“One such note I took during interviews was that the DJJ candidates felt uncertain about the future and unsure about their role in the community, whereas my Stateville interns had time to self-reflect and had goals planned out,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “With this in mind, I wanted to craft an inclusive internship that would provide guidance and show them that it is possible to have a vision for a bright future – and what a better way to help than to focus on legislation that directly impacts our community.”

Current educational opportunities at the St. Charles Facility include classes for 8th grade and high school graduation, a credit recovery program, and tutoring. Additionally, they offer different career driven programs including barber skills, culinary and finance classes, forklift operation and now Ventura’s internship.

JOLIET -- As more news continues to break about the seven people in Will County who were killed by who police say was their relative, State Senator Rachel Ventura is mourning the tragic loss and highlighting resources for others families who may be facing domestic violence.

Ventura (D-Joliet) expressed deep concern following the devastating loss of seven family members in Joliet, reflecting on the necessity of preemptive assistance to avert such tragedies and the profound impact they leave on the community.

"No family should suffer through such anguish,” said Ventura. “Unfortunately, we often remain unaware of individuals' internal struggles until it's too late."

Sadly, an estimated one in five homicide victims are killed by a relative, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ventura is reminding people if they feel unsafe or see signs someone is in potential danger, help is available.