Illinois students’ learning, engagement and test scores could be on track to improve significantly under a proposal from State Senator Cristina Castro seeking to limit students’ use of cellphones during classroom instruction.

“Every student in Illinois deserves a quality education,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “The growing mental health crisis among children has been shown to be directly related to constant access to these devices, which poses a serious concern for their education.”

Almost three-quarters of high school teachers recently polled by Pew Research said cellphone distraction is a major problem in their classes. At least 10 states currently have laws, executive orders, or state education department policies restricting student use of cellphones during class.

Joined by realtors and advocates at a press conference Thursday, State Senator Cristina Castro outlined legislation she’s sponsoring to incentivize saving for a first home.

“I keep hearing from young people who are starting their professional careers, and a lot of them don’t feel like homeownership is attainable,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This bill will help them prepare for that, and it will help make owning a home attainable.”

Years of low housing inventory have created an inflationary effect on the housing market in Illinois, driving home prices up by nearly 40% in the last five years. Ballooning prices mean that new homebuyers have to put down more of their savings for down payments, further driving up the burden of buying a home. To address this imbalance, Castro is leading a proposal to help consumers save responsibly and create a pathway to homeownership.

Firefighting is an inherently dangerous, vitally important profession. Nearly every firefighter knows someone who has died or been seriously injured in the line of duty, yet the state does not currently track Illinois firefighter deaths, leading State Senator Cristina Castro to introduce a plan to change that.

“These brave men and women risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “As we learn more about the unique risks firefighters face, such as an elevated threat of lung cancer and the potential dangers associated with firefighting foam, it is imperative we seek answers.”

Over the past 20 years, nearly 2,000 firefighters have died in the line of duty, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In addition to injuries and deaths that occur in the line of duty, firefighters are at a higher risk of cancer and other illnesses – highlighting the need for state-level data to guide interventions that protect their health and safety.

After Governor JB Pritzker released his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement:

“The proposal we heard today is pragmatic and thoughtful in its approach, but there is no sugarcoating the reality we face: In the midst of unpredictability from the federal government, we need to find innovative solutions to help stabilize our state’s budget. That’s why I’m bringing solutions to the table to generate revenue without cutting vital services or raising taxes, which I believe we can do by legalizing and regulating online gaming.

“Amid a time of great uncertainty at the federal level, budget stability for Illinois is crucial. My proposal could bring in an additional $750 million for the state while combatting illegal operators who are currently skirting regulations and avoiding taxes.