August Newsletter

Dear neighbor,

School is back in session and it is an important time to talk to your student about emergency preparedness. Gear up for the school year with these tips from the Illinois School and Campus Safety Resource Center.

Read on for resources, legislative updates and grant opportunities.

As always, my office is available to help you access state resources, answer questions on legislation and more. Reach out to my Rock Island office at 309-558-3612, Galesburg office at 309-297-4483 or online at SenatorHalpin.com official website if you have any questions or need assistance.

Sincerely,

Mike Halpin

State Senator | 36^th District

Legislative updates

License plates for Air Force combat veterans

I am proud to have championed a law that will now allow the Secretary of State to issue Air Force Combat Medal license plates to Air Force veterans who received the prestigious award. Read more about the Air Force Combat Medal license plates press release .

Further education for Scott’s Law

To keep our first responders and emergency crews safe, I spearheaded a law that will require the Secretary of State to provide specific information about Scott’s Law to any person who incorrectly answers a question about the law on a driver’s license written exam. Read more about the Scott’s Law awareness legislation press release .

Community-Based Corrections Task Force

Alongside a Rock Island probation officer, I led a law to create a community-based corrections task force. This task force will show us how folks struggling with mental illness or addiction interact with our criminal justice system so we can achieve better outcomes for these individuals while keeping our communities safe. Read more about the Community-Based Corrections Task Force press release .

Resources

Heading back to school

As you gear up for the back-to-school season, take advantage of resources from the state:

• Find information about school nutrition programs, including the Illinois Free Lunch and Breakfast Program, school nutrition programs page .
• Students with disabilities and their parents have a number of rights at school and in academic settings, like IEP meetings. Learn more about Special Education programs and your rights as a parent on the Special Education programs and rights page .
• The Illinois Safe2Help hotline is a free, 24/7 information-sharing platform. If you or a student you know has a school safety concern, you can reach out any time – day or night. Call 1-844-4SAFEIL or text SAFE2 to get connected.

Find more resources for the new academic year from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Overdose Awareness Day

Overdose Awareness Day is recognized on Aug. 31 as a day to increase awareness about the tragic loss of life related to drug overdoses and to help reduce the stigma that still surrounds substance use-related deaths. Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, is safe, effective, easy to use and most of all: it saves lives. Find a provider near you that offers free naloxone by visiting the Illinois Department of Public Health overdose and naloxone dashboard and clicking on Naloxone Distribution Locations.

2024-25 free & reduced-price school meal eligibility

The Illinois State Board of Education announced federal eligibility guidelines for students to receive free and reduced-price lunch, breakfast and after-school snacks for the 2024-25 school year. Families should contact their local school district for details about accessing free and reduced-price meals, as the process may vary. To determine students’ eligibility, view the income guidelines document .

Provide input on Illinois’ 2026 Public Transportation Plan

Next Move Illinois is a new statewide public transportation plan that will incorporate feedback from transit users and providers to help address the needs of diverse communities across the state, including enhanced accessibility. The Illinois Department of Transportation is inviting the public to participate in the first Next Move Illinois survey to help establish a vision for transit services across the state. Take the Next Move Illinois survey , and learn more about the plan on the Next Move Illinois transportation plan page .

Local park development grants open now

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant program helps cover the cost of acquiring and developing land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. Local governments can use grant funding to build playgrounds, sports courts and fields, swimming pools, campgrounds, winter sports facilities and more. Learn more about OSLAD grants and apply by Sept. 13 on the IDNR OSLAD grant program page .