CHICAGO – Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after a jury found Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke guilty of second degree murder in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald: “Today’s verdict represents a positive step in the effort to repair strained relations between law enforcement and many communities. Th...

CHICAGO — The state is investing nearly $14 million dollars in long overdue renovations at Chicago State University (CSU), State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) announced Friday. Public universities and colleges suffered as a result of Illinois’ two-year budget impasse. The impasse ended with a bipartisan budget passed with an override of...

SPRINGFIELD—Businesses in Illinois will now be able to more easily access resources to help them better compete with companies in neighboring states. State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr., a Chicago Democrat, sponsored the Illinois Home Grown Business Opportunity Act, which aims to help Illinois businesses identify existing state resources. “Busines...

CHICAGO—State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr., a Democrat from Chicago, is pleased to announce the Commission on Police Professionalism will continue to review police practices to ensure better police-community relations. The commission was established when a groundbreaking law enforcement reform package became law in 2015. This legislation, signed in...

SPRINGFIELD—Mothers who are breastfeeding can now be exempt from jury duty in Illinois. State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) sponsored House Bill 5745 that allows nursing mothers to be excused from jury duty upon request. “We have to respect and defend a mother’s need to breastfeed,” Sims said.  “It is important for us to allow nur...

SPRINGFIELD—Legislation to extend the waiting period for all firearms has now been signed into law. State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) sponsored legislation that would require applicants for any firearm to wait at least 72 hours before they can receive it. “This sweeping ‘cooling off’ period for guns will protect people throughout the...

CHICAGO—State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME overturning a 40-year decision regarding the ability of unions to collectively bargain. The ruling says government workers who are represented by a union, but choose not to join, do not have to p...