SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston championed diversity efforts in the clean energy job sector through House Bill 3702, which was signed into law Friday.

“We have to hold programs accountable for ensuring that they are providing all returning residents with the same opportunities,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This law helps us to ensure no specific demographic is being underserved within the returning resident community.”

The Returning Resident Clean Jobs Training provides training to prepare people in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections for entry-level clean energy jobs. House Bill 3702 diversifies the reporting requirements for the Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program requiring the Illinois Office of Equity to report performance metrics according to race, ethnicity, gender, age, and location.

“Having these reporting requirements in place will allow us to see if specific demographics are being underserved and give us the opportunity to come up with solutions to ensure that we are supporting every returning resident,” said Preston. “I am proud to stand behind legislation that supports creating opportunistic environments for our entire state.”

House Bill 3702 was signed into law on Friday.

CHICAGO - State Senator Willie Preston attended the 2024 FY Budget signing with Governor Pritzker at Christopher House Stewart Campus Gymnasium in Chicago, releasing the following statement:

"I am thrilled to commend Governor JB Pritzker for signing the 2024 Illinois Budget, a milestone that places workers at the forefront of our state's priorities. As the State Senator representing the 16th District, I am proud to have played a role in shaping this budget, which not only addresses the immediate needs of our constituents but also lays the foundation for a prosperous future.

SPRINGFIELD – During his first year in office, State Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago) was proud to support a budget that prioritizes education from birth to college, enhances workforce development, and includes efforts to uplift low- and middle-class families.

In response to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget passing the Senate, Preston released the following statement:

“The working class people of the 16th District sent me to Springfield to help shape a budget that provides educational and career opportunities that promote stabilization of our communities, support the re-emergence of entrepreneurship in our most economically challenged communities, and ensure equitable opportunities for all. I am excited to expand these opportunities to many of the residents in the area who have been underserved.”

SPRINGFIELD – Taking a step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of employees and incarcerated individuals, State Senator Willie Preston advanced a measure through the Senate addressing indecent exposure in correctional facilities.

"This bill addresses a serious issue that has often gone unnoticed,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “By criminalizing these acts of public indecency, we are taking a strong stand against harassment and intimidation, fostering an environment that prioritizes the well-being of both inmates and staff."

House Bill 1399 amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to create the offense of "lewd sexual display in a penal institution," making it a Class A misdemeanor for incarcerated individuals to expose themselves with the purpose or effect of intimidating, harassing or threatening someone in the presence of such a display. Repeat offenders would face more severe penalties, with subsequent violations being considered Class 4 felonies. The provisions will be repealed on Jan. 1, 2028, allowing for thorough review of annual reports provided by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.