SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner secured nearly $1 million to help build pathways to good-paying jobs in the construction and building trades in Central Illinois.

“Investing in the trades gives students a path to secure stable, good-paying careers in a high-demand industry,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Here in Springfield, District 186 has worked with SkillsUSA to create a construction trades education hub at Lanphier for students across the district to get hands-on learning in the industry.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $19 million in grant funding through the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program to 38 organizations across the state. The purpose of the funding is to create more pathways for kids to access pre-apprenticeship programs and registered apprenticeships, which provide greater opportunities to secure lifelong careers in the construction trades.

In Turner’s district, Menard-Sangamon Regional Office of Education #51 will see a total of $440,000 and Illinois Foundation of SkillsUSA in Sangamon and Christian Counties will receive $550,000 to support pre-apprenticeship students.

SPRINGFIELD – In order to combat fraud, State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through the Senate that would create an alert system to notify property owners when a deed or instrument has been filed on their property.

“People work hard to be able to say they own a property in their name,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This legislation would ensure your hard-earned property is protected from common scam tactics and deception.”

Senate Bill 1523 would require county recorders to establish a fraud referral and review process to review deeds and other instruments and a fraud alert system to notify property owners when a deed or instrument has been filed on their property. The bill creates a legal pathway for any rightful property owner against any person who fraudulently files a deed or other instrument.

SPRINGFIELD – Following the murder of Sonya Massey at the hands of a Sangamon County deputy sheriff, State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through the Senate that would allow Sangamon County to put a recall process in place for countywide elected officials.

“Alongside Sangamon County Board Chair Andy Van Meter, we created the Massey Commission to address systemic issues in law enforcement practices, mental health responses and community relations,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “The commission, comprised of community members, supported this initiative. Not only as an elected official, but also having a generational relationship with the Massey family, I have been working tirelessly since the horrific incident to make sure our community’s voices are heard.”

Senate Bill 1954 would allow the Sangamon County Board to put a recall process referendum on the ballot for the 2026 General Election. If approved, petitions to recall an elected official must be signed by at least 15% of the total votes cast for governor in the last election in the county. The petitions must be collected within 150 days and cannot be filed in the first or last six months of a term. The Sangamon County Board voted in January to support Senate Bill 1954.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner, a strong advocate for agriculture education, passed a measure that would allow any agriculture-related course to satisfy the vocational education requirement for public high school students.

“A lot of kids know early on that they want to have a career in agriculture, whether that’s farming, becoming an agricultural economist, farm manager or researcher,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We should let them take classes that peak their interests, not force them into electives they have no interest in.”

Senate Bill 1605 would clarify in statute that agricultural education, agricultural business or any other agriculture-related course can satisfy the vocational education requirement for public high school students beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Currently, one year of music, art, foreign language, vocational education or speech and debate are required to graduate from high school.