SPRINGFIELD – Rising tuition costs have made higher education inaccessible to many Illinois students, but State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) hopes to put college back within their reach through an expansion of a college grant program to offer assistance to eligible students at public universities in the state.

“A college degree can give someone the chance to change their lives for the better, but the cost of tuition makes that impossible for many students from working families,” said Murphy. “The University of Illinois paved the way with their Illinois Promise program, and it’s time that all Illinois students benefit from that idea.”

The legislation would expand the University of Illinois’ grant program to all public schools in the state. The expanded Illinois College Promise program would provide grant assistance for up to four years to eligible students who stay in Illinois, keep their grades up and work 10-12 hours per week.

To be eligible to receive a grant through the Illinois College Promise program, a student must:
•    be under 24 years of age;
•    have attended and graduated from an Illinois high school;
•    have been admitted as a new freshman or new transfer student;
•    have an expected family contribution of $0 as determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
•    have total family assets that are less than $50,000; and
•    be enrolled in at least 12 semester hours during the fall or spring semester.

The student and his or her parents or guardians must also be residents of Illinois.

“Illinois is losing lots of talented students because tuition costs are just too high,” said Murphy. “This program will make sure our world-class institutions stay cost-competitive with the schools in nearby states.”

Senate Bill 3770 was part of a subject matter hearing on college affordability in the Senate Higher Education Committee Tuesday.

SPRINGFIELD – After a weeklong water shortage at a mobile home park in her district, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is taking action to ensure that residents can count on the owners of their parks to maintain livable conditions.

Last winter, residents of the Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines were unable to shower, do laundry or wash dishes after pipes froze, cutting off access to clean running water across the park.

“Water is a vital resource. During the situation in Blackhawk Estates last year, people couldn’t cook, perform household tasks or care for their pets. Without water, their homes became unlivable,” said Murphy. “I want to make sure that it never happens again.”

If the normal water supply in a mobile home park is disrupted for more than five days, Murphy’s proposed legislation would make park owners responsible for providing enough clean water to residents to provide for food and drink, basic hygiene, and cooking needs. The park owner would be required to continue the supply until water services are restored.

Bronwyn Russell, a resident at Blackhawk Estates, experienced the water shortage in 2019. She explained that water quality and access have been longtime issues in the park.

“We have so many water main breaks, we’re laughing that we should start keeping a bucket by the toilet just so we can flush it,” Russell said.

Russell said that residents are often forced to wait in long lines to fill up water bottles at the supermarket. Management has been unresponsive to her complaints.

Murphy says that stories like Russell’s are too common among residents of mobile home parks, especially parks that are managed remotely.

“Typical mobile home parks aren’t ‘mom-and-pop’ operations anymore. Park owners might not live in—or even near—the park, but residents still rely on them to uphold a basic standard of living,” said Murphy. “This ensures that access to clean water is included in that standard.”

Senate Bill 3436 has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and now heads to the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address today, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement:

“I’m thrilled to see that Gov. Pritzker has committed to put Illinois on the path to financial recovery by outlining a stable, functional budget for the second year in a row.

“I agree with the governor that investments in economic development and our higher education system should be top priorities—however, I was disappointed that the proposal did not include solutions to address the skyrocketing cost of property taxes.

“In the next few months, I look forward to working with the governor and my fellow lawmakers to negotiate a budget that implements the recommendations of the Property Tax Relief Task Force and extends a helping hand to struggling Illinois families.”

SPRINGFIELD – In response to news that President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement:

“I am disappointed and troubled by former Gov. Blagojevich’s early release. His crime remains a prime example of the kind of corrupt behavior we should be working to eradicate, and the commutation of his sentence signals that the federal government isn’t serious about ethics reform.

“Here in Illinois, I’m working with my fellow lawmakers to restore the public’s trust in government, and I worry that Illinoisans will see this news as a step back.

“But I am still committed to eliminating corruption and greed at all levels of government. Despite today’s frustration, I will continue my efforts to change the corrupt culture in Springfield and hold bad actors accountable for their actions. It’s time to follow through on our promises and demand ethical behavior from our elected officials.”