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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva’s strategic approach to addressing domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking, known as the Family Justice Center Act, was signed into law Friday.

“We know survivors of violence often struggle with accessing services, feeling the process is too overwhelming and too confusing to offer any real reprieve,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “When someone has a range of needs due to the trauma they’ve experienced, we have to ensure that individual is receiving comprehensive care that meets them where they are in their healing journey.”

A Family Justice Center is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary service center where public and private agencies assign staff members on a full-time or part-time basis to provide services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking. These centers increase access to services for survivors and their children by reducing the number of times survivors must repeat their accounts and the number of places survivors must go for help. The goal is to ensure families have comprehensive support in one centralized location.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva led a new law that strengthens environmental justice protections by ensuring state regulators consider the potential impacts on communities that have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens when reviewing pollution control permits.

“The Illinois Constitution makes it clear that all residents have the right to a healthful environment, meaning no communities in the state should be forced to bear the disproportionate and adverse weight that comes with air pollution,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Unfortunately, we know low-income, minority and immigrant communities are historically the ones who carry this burden and live with the effects of pollution exposure. This law recognizes that enough is enough and that our communities and families deserve better.”

Villanueva’s law requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate environmental justice factors when reviewing certain air pollution construction permit applications. It also requires the IEPA to evaluate whether a proposed facility is located in an area of environmental justice concern and determine whether additional safeguards may be needed.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a new law that will implement stricter, mandatory reporting requirements when a patient or client experiences sexual abuse or misconduct perpetrated by a licensed health care professional.

“Being assaulted or exploited doesn’t only cause physical harm, but it also leads to severe, long-lasting emotional turmoil and often times completely eradicates that patient’s trust in our health care system,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Health care professionals across this country take an oath to do no harm, so when a doctor, nurse, practitioner, clinician or any other professional takes advantage of their patient, they must be swiftly brought to justice.”

Villanueva’s law comes in response to a series of investigative reports that uncovered serious misconduct and abuse in Illinois’ health care system. The investigation identified 52 health care workers accused of sexual misconduct who were allowed to continue working at their respective hospitals and facilities. The new law will mandate hospitals and health care professionals licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to report any sexual or sexual-adjacent misconduct by a health care professional against a patient. Reasonably reportable misconduct will include sexual assault and harassment, as well as behavior such as offering to provide professional services to a patient or client in exchange for sexual favors or using the professional-patient or professional-client relationship to solicit a romantic or sexual relationship.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva led a new law that will ensure survivors of domestic violence are fully protected and current state law supporting victims is properly enforced.

“I have spent several years now working to address the lethality of domestic violence altercations that involve a firearm, and I am proud to see the state will be further prioritizing the well-being of domestic violence survivors, especially women and children, through expanded safeguards,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “There is still much work to do, but getting this law over the finish line will certify our state’s justice system works in the favor of survivors, ensuring perpetrators of abuse and violence don’t have the means to cause further harm.” 

Senate Bill 3329 will solidify protections for victims of domestic violence under Karina’s Law. Signed into law in February 2025, Karina’s Law addresses the growing concern surrounding firearms and domestic violence by clarifying and strengthening the law around orders of protection, requiring law enforcement to remove firearms from individuals subject to emergency restraining orders within 96 hours of a judge issuing an order revoking the individual’s FOID card.