Democratic Party of DuPage County

Weekly Newsletter

To honor the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, President Biden has declared January 9, 2025, a National Day of Mourning. This day coincides with President Carter's state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. Many government offices and businesses will be closed, and flags will fly at half-staff for 30 days as a tribute to the 39th President of the United States.

President Jimmy Carter's legacy is one of unwavering dedication to peace, social justice, and the well-being of ordinary Americans. He will be remembered for his humility and integrity, embodied in his tireless work with Habitat for Humanity and his efforts to eradicate disease and promote fair elections worldwide. His presidency, though marked by economic challenges, achieved significant milestones, including the historic Camp David Accords that brought peace between Egypt and Israel. A champion of human rights, Carter established a new bureau of democracy, human rights, and labor at the State Department, created the Departments of Energy and Education, and expanded access to nature for all Americans by prioritizing our national parks. Even after leaving office, he continued to exemplify peacemaking, social responsibility, and a steadfast dedication to democratic ideals both at home and abroad.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law on January 5, 2025, by President Biden. It is a landmark piece of legislation that eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions previously reduced Social Security benefits for millions of public servants like teachers, firefighters, and police officers who also earned pensions from their public service. The act ensures that these workers receive the full Social Security benefits they earned, acknowledging their contributions to both Social Security and their public pension systems.

Over 300 bills became law in Illinois on January 1st, 2025. Here are some highlights:

Minimum Wage Increase (SB 1): Raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour for most workers aged 18 and older.
Family Responsibilities Discrimination (HB 2161): Prohibits employers from discriminating against employees due to family caregiving responsibilities.
Ban on Mandatory Workplace Meetings (SB 3649): Prohibits employers from requiring employee attendance at meetings that discuss political or religious matters, including unionization.
Whistleblower Protection (HB 5561): Protects employees from retaliation for exposing workplace practices they believe violate the law.
Gym Membership Cancellation (HB 4911): Allows gym memberships to be canceled online or via email if those methods were used for the initial contract.
Free Trial Consumer Protection (SB 2764): Requires businesses with free trials longer than 15 days to send email reminders three days before the cancellation deadline.
Protections for Consumers Against "Zombie Debt" (HB 3966): Prohibits debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue consumers on time-barred debt.
Hearing Aid Coverage (HB 2443): Requires insurers to cover medically prescribed hearing aids and services for individuals of all ages.
Epinephrine Injector Price Cap (HB 3639): Caps the price of epinephrine injectors (like EpiPens) at $60 per twin pack.
Autism Training for Police (SB 3201): Requires law enforcement officers to receive training on recognizing and interacting with individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution (SB 3350): Creates programs for distributing fentanyl test strips to reduce overdose deaths.
Opioid Antagonist Access (SB 3779 & HB 5028): Expands access to opioid antagonists (like Narcan) by allowing social workers and trained state employees to administer them.
Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention (HB 4589): Requires recyclable metals dealers to track vehicle information for catalytic converters to prevent illegal sales.
Towed Vehicle Protections (SB 2654): Eliminates storage fees for stolen vehicles recovered within seven days and allows retrieval of essential items from towed cars.
Free Replacement License Plates (SB 3471): Allows Illinois drivers to request free replacement plates if their license plates are stolen.
Child Labor Law Update (SB 3646): Repeals and replaces the existing child labor law, with changes to working hours, prohibited occupations for minors, and protections against discrimination and retaliation.
Changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (HB 3647): Provides more guidance to public bodies on responding to FOIA requests.
Veteran Benefit Service Transparency (SB 3479): Requires businesses offering veteran or military benefit services for a fee to disclose all terms upfront.

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Tune in on Friday, January 10, at 5:00 PM to hear important DPDC updates from Chair Reid McCollum

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