Turner works to bring fresh, homegrown food to schools

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is leading a measure to bring fresh, healthy food to schools.

“Students need access to healthy food in schools to increase focus and brain development, setting them on a path to success in the classroom,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We should utilize our state’s strong agriculture industry by bringing those products into schools.”

Senate Bill 1522 would appropriate $2 million to the Illinois State Board of Education for grants, contracts and administrative expenses under the federal Farm to School State Formula Grant.

Turner worked with Beyond Green Sustainable Food Partners, a firm that partners with schools and other organizations to implement affordable, sustainable changes in institutional kitchens. A total of 15 schools in Illinois currently use the model, including schools in Pawnee, Cobden, Murphysboro, Porta, northwestern Macoupin County and New Berlin. Turner’s initiative would allow more schools to participate in the Farm to School program.

“Public schools and institutions order mostly processed foods that lead to poor health,” said Beyond Green Partners Founder Greg Christian. “With measures like these, I believe Illinois can rebuild a local food system through institutional kitchens, like those in schools.”

Senate Bill 1522 was heard in the Senate Appropriations-Education Committee on Tuesday.

Turner leads measure to expand ag education for FFA, 4-H students

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is leading a measure to further expand hands-on learning for FFA and 4-H students to count toward school hours.

“As a strong supporter of ag education, I advocated for FFA and 4-H program students who have been jeopardized for missing class to participate in competitions,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We need to remove the barriers students are facing when trying to participate in agriculture education experiences by giving students the opportunity to use a school day to pursue time in the field.”

Building on Turner’s 2023 law, House Bill 2802 would allow participation in supervised career development experiences and other approved work-based learning activities to count toward the daily calculation of school clock hours.

Illinois FFA is a youth organization that prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. 4-H is the largest out-of-school youth organization across the state aimed at teaching practical skills to youth by offering lessons in communications, leadership, career development, livestock, home improvement and computer technology.

“Encouraging students to participate in the agricultural industry is important in states like Illinois that thrive on the industry,” said Turner. “Let’s not deter them from participating in hands-on learning.”

House Bill 2802 passed the Senate Education Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

Turner advances measure putting patients over profit

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is sponsoring a measure that would require insurance companies to cover anesthesia services, regardless of duration.

“We have to put patients over profit,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Insurance companies use tactics like not covering anesthesia for the entirety of a procedure to put more money in their own pockets, rather than prioritizing the health and well-being of patients.”

House Bill 1141 would require private insurers and all state group health plans to cover medically necessary anesthesia services, regardless of duration, for any procedure covered by the policy. 

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AEDs could be required in nursing homes under Turner measure

SPRINGFIELD – To increase the chances of survival during cardiac arrest, State Senator Doris Turner is leading a measure that would require AEDs in nursing homes.

"Facilities entrusted with caring for individuals need to be able to demonstrate to loved ones that the health and well-being of the resident is foremost in everybody's mind," said Turner (D-Springfield). “This would give nursing home residents and their families peace of mind that if something were to happen, there are the necessary tools on site to revive them.”

House Bill 1287 would require nursing homes to have an automatic external defibrillator by Jan. 1, 2030. Additionally, Turner’s measure requires all facility staff certified to use an AED to have completed courses in CPR and AED usage.

Under current law, AEDs are required in public schools, fitness centers, horse racing facilities, police departments and dental offices. According to the American Heart Association, of the people with cardiac arrest who receive a shock from an AED within the first minute, nine out of 10 survive.

“The data shows us that AEDs can save lives,” said Turner. “Let’s prioritize the lives of our seniors and nursing home residents by requiring lifesaving devices in facilities.”

House Bill 1287 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.