Castro-sponsored bill bolsters vaccine transparency

 SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Cristina Castro backed legislation designed to put clear, expert vaccine guidance at the center of the state’s public health response.

“The education and effort put into ensuring our doctors and clinicians make evidence-based decisions should be second to none,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “In the absence of federal leadership, this measure equips our medical professionals and families with the best information available.”

House Bill 767 comes at a time when the federal administration has gone dark on vaccine transparency. The goal is to shine a spotlight on this issue so Illinois continues to follow the science, no matter what happens at the federal level.

The legislation would strengthen advisory duties for the Department of Public Health’s medical director and require the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee to advise the director on diseases for which a vaccine is licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This aims to give the state advisory committee more authority to advise the director on vaccine guidelines that protect Illinois public health in the absence of federal action.

As consumer protections and insurance coverage at the federal level are rolled back, the Castro-backed legislation would require health insurance plans to cover vaccines that are recommended within the State Guidelines for Communicable Disease Prevention. Under this bill, coverage would take effect within 15 days after becoming law, removing a financial barrier to timely access for families.

“At the end of the day, health care de-regulation of any sort will be a price that children and families have to pay and we will stand against that,” Castro said.

House Bill 767 passed the Senate Thursday, Oct. 30.

Castro-supported bill to reform mental health insurance coverage

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Cristina Castro bolstered support for a measure that secures mental health parity, which allows for the equal treatment of mental health conditions and substance use in insurance plans.

“The lack of in-network mental health coverage in insurance plans discourages people who need services from seeking the help they need,” said Castro. “Taking this step gives residents peace of mind that they can rely on the insurance plans they have been paying into and make the most out of their coverage.”

House Bill 1085 would create a formula to calculate mental health and substance use reimbursement rates. The bill would then task the Illinois Department of Insurance with utilizing the formula to calculate rates and publish them in a bulletin for use by insurers.

Updating reimbursement rates would ensure more behavioral health providers join networks, ensuring individuals are able to access the care outlined within their benefits in a timely manner without having to go out-of-network.

“Having a wider range of in- network provider options for clients to choose from allows for clients to pick the best provider for their needs, not to settle for less” said Castro. “Quality care for patients and meaningful compensation for providers is the top priority in this legislation.”

House Bill 1085 passed the Senate last Thursday.

Homeowner’s insurance reform backed by Castro

 SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Cristina Castro supported legislation designed to protect homeowners from excessive insurance rate increases and would ensure Illinois residents are not at the mercy of insurance companies.

"This measure would protect residents by placing accountability and responsibility squarely on the shoulders of insurance companies," said Castro (D-Elgin). "Homeowners would not be caught off guard by surprise rates or renewals and could be protected under the law from negligent insurance practices.”

The legislation would establish clear rules for homeowners insurance, such as:

• No surprise renewals: Companies would be required to give at least 60 days’ notice before nonrenewal and at least 60 days’ notice for premium increases over 10% or changes in coverage or deductibles.
• Use of Illinois-specific data: Insurers would need to use credible state-specific loss experience when setting rates.
• Fair, reasonable and transparent rates: Rates would need to be actuarially sound and not excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.
• Accountability and enforcement: The Department of Insurance would be able to review filings, issue orders and require rebates when rates are found unfair.

The legislation would apply specifically to fire and extended coverage insurance for residential owner occupied properties, while excluding commercial, rental and unoccupied properties.

Castro highlighted the legislation would give Illinois residents equal footing.

"Reducing people who have suffered losses to limited and cherry-picked data is simply unjust,” said Castro. “This legislation would give homeowners a fair shake, with complete and impartial data to serve customers well when making their claims."

House Bill 3799 passed the Senate on Thursday.

Castro-backed bill would protect state budget from federal cuts

 SPRINGFIELD — With rising threats to state funding for vital programs from the federal administration, State Senator Cristina Castro backed a measure that would safeguard the state’s budget and ensure that communities continue to receive funding for economic development projects in the face of economic uncertainty.

“Working families shouldn’t have to pay the price for this administration’s recklessness,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “The threats to funding for our safety net programs requires us to step up to the plate to fill the void.”

The federal administration's budget cuts threaten to create a $267 million shortfall in Illinois' Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Senate Bill 1911 would recover nearly $250 million of that lost revenue by strategically decoupling from federal tax policy changes that benefit large corporations at the expense of working families and update definitions to align with federal law.

Additionally, the measure calls for sales tax and revenue bonds – or STAR bonds – to be permitted for use within local municipalities. The STAR bonds initiative helps finance the construction of local retail, tourism and entertainment projects. This would empower local municipalities with additional revenue, helping them attract visitors, draw in investments and create more jobs.

“Responsibility means stepping up to keep dollars in our local economies, where they fuel job growth and support our communities,” said Castro. “Access to revenue during these trying times will protect Illinois businesses owners and families alike.”

Senate Bill 1911 passed the Senate on Friday and on its way to the governor for final approval.