SPRINGFIELD – Military service members on active duty status who are members of a public body – such as a village board, school district or township – may soon be allowed to attend meetings remotely, thanks to a measure State Senator Mike Porfirio advanced through the Senate.

“We’re recognizing the invaluable service of our military personnel while ensuring their voices are heard in discussions that impact their communities,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “Every sacrifice made by our military service members deserves recognition, and granting them the ability to engage in public service remotely is a small yet significant gesture of gratitude.”

Currently, a majority of the members of any public body can choose to allow another member to attend remotely in cases of illness, disability, employment related to the business of the public body, a family emergency or unforeseen child care obligations.

SPRINGFIELD – To support the educational aspirations of refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan, State Senator Mike Porfirio has steered legislation through the Senate that would waive transcript evaluation fees for these individuals. 

“Denying refugees equal access to education reinforces marginalization,” said Porfirio. “By waiving transcript evaluation fees, we are not only promoting access to education, but also recognizing the valuable contributions that refugees bring to our colleges.”

Currently, transcript evaluations assess foreign transcripts as part of an admission process for higher education institutions. These evaluations are used to establish a U.S.-equivalent GPA, verify the accreditation of the foreign schools, and benchmark completed coursework to determine if the applicant has met the prerequisite requirements for their intended program.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect our nation’s veterans from predatory business practices, State Senator Mike Porfirio championed legislation through the Senate aimed at combating companies who target veterans by offering veteran and military benefit services in exchange for financial compensation.

“Our veterans have sacrificed greatly for our country, and they deserve to be protected from exploitative, predatory practices,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “This bill sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who seek to take advantage of our veterans and their benefits.”

Some of these predatory practices include guaranteeing an increased disability rating or percentage increase, advertising expedited VA claims decisions, requesting login credentials to access a veteran’s personal information through secure VA websites and more. Senate Bill 3479 aims to combat companies who target veterans in their deceptive business practices by ensuring transparency regarding these businesses’ lack of VA accreditation. To offer better consumer transparency, Porfirio’s legislation would require these entities to disclose that their businesses are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

SPRINGFIELD – Last summer, significant flooding hit Cook County in the wake of historic storms, leaving numerous properties with immense damage and leading President Joe Biden to approve a federal disaster declaration for the area. In response, State Senator Mike Porfirio is leading legislation to address future flooding concerns by giving renters the right to receive critical information about a property’s flooding history before they sign their lease.

“This bill is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety and wellbeing of tenants across the state,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “By requiring landlords to disclose flood hazards, we are arming renters with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their families from potential harm.”