CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci announced that school districts across the area will receive over $4 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Our commitment to using the evidence-based funding formula ensures the schools in our district receive the resources they need to provide every student with the education they deserve,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “By prioritizing data-driven approaches, we’re taking a significant step forward in providing equitable, high-quality education to every child in our community.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci’s measure to extend utility bill relief so more Illinois households can receive assistance was signed into law on Friday.  

“If we want to help keep people in their homes, especially those on a fixed income, this is the right thing to do,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “The extension of this program is an investment in the health and well-being of our community.”

Faraci’s measure eliminates the scheduled sunset date on a state fund that finances two needs-based assistance programs – the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The fund was set to shut down Jan. 1, 2025.

LIHEAP and PIPP offer bill payment assistance to low-income residential utility customers by helping eligible households pay for home energy services. Both assistance programs are administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci’s measure to give veterans and first responders access to mental health providers of their choice was signed into law on Friday.

“As we see the federal government start to crack down on non-compete agreements, it’s important that we stay ahead of the curve in Illinois,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “The goal of this initiative is to expand access for veterans and first responders who want to receive mental health treatment from the licensed professional of their choice.”

The measure was brought to Senator Faraci because a mental health provider was sued for providing health care services to a firefighter under a non-compete clause. These clauses are common when a mental health professional leaves their place of employment; often times their contract contains a non-compete clause, leaving them unable to provide services within a 50-mile radius for two years. Police, fire and veteran organizations often want to contract mental health professionals that have a shared background or an establishment of trust with the organization, making these non-compete clauses detrimental to mental health care access for first responders and veterans. In the 52nd District, a non-compete clause would not only prevent a mental health counselor from providing services in Champaign, but it would also stop them from providing services in surrounding communities, including Urbana, Rantoul and Danville.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci co-sponsored a new law aiming to bring more transparency around benefits to veterans and service members.

“We want to make sure no veteran is left in the dark wondering what benefits they are eligible for,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “This is just a small way that we can further show our support to those who defend our democracy and freedoms that we often take for granted.”

The measure requires the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs to produce and distribute a comprehensive benefits, services and protections poster. The goal of this is to give veterans and service members streamlined access to information about critical resources — such as tax benefits and the Illinois veteran driver’s license — empowering these individuals to navigate the complexities of their available support systems effectively. The measure centralizes essential information in one accessible format, helping to facilitate informed decision-making.

House Bill 4757 was signed into law on Friday and takes effect Jan. 1.