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.

SPRINGFIELD – A more comprehensive review of prospective law enforcement officers prior to hiring would be required under an initiative led by State Senator Doris Turner in response to the horrific murder of Sonya Massey.

“When it comes to hiring police officers, we want to ensure that we have the most qualified people,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “In collaboration with the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Chiefs of Police, we were able to determine necessary guardrails to include in this legislation.”

Senate Bill 1953 would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer’s past employment to ensure his or her fitness for duty as a police officer before making an offer of employment.

To ensure the highest degree of integrity and professionalism in the hiring process of sheriff’s deputies and other personnel, Turner’s measure would also expand the creation of sheriff’s merit boards and sheriff’s merit commissions for counties with a population of at least 75,000.

Senate Bill 1953 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and heads to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – Higher education scholarships would be easier to find under a measure sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner that passed the Senate Thursday.

“College is expensive, and scholarships should be easy for students to find,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “There’s a need for a one-stop shop that includes all scholarships for Illinois students seeking higher education.”

Senate Bill 1331 would create the Illinois Scholarship Database, developed and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to be used as a tool for improving Illinois students' knowledge of and access to higher education scholarships.