SPRINGFIELD – As a strong advocate for agriculture education, State Senator Doris Turner championed a new law to allow hands-on learning for FFA and 4-H students to count toward school hours.

“As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a member of the Senate Education Committee, I know the valuable experiences students get from participating in hands-on learning,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This is a necessary step to ensuring no student is jeopardized for attending an FFA or 4-H event.”

Building on Turner’s 2023 law, House Bill 2802 allows participation in supervised career development experiences and other approved work-based learning activities to count toward the daily calculation of school clock hours.

Illinois FFA is a youth organization that prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. 4-H is the largest out-of-school youth organization across the state aimed at teaching practical skills to youth by offering lessons in communications, leadership, career development, livestock, home improvement and computer technology.

“To really understand the ag industry, students need to have the option to participate in events and competitions that provide hands-on learning,” said Turner. “Illinois is a national agriculture leader and it’s important we build the pipeline to encourage students to join the industry.”

House Bill 2802 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

SPRINGFIELD – Teachers will soon see mental health resources on their school IDs under a new measure sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner that was signed into law Friday.

“Teaching is not an easy job, but teachers show up every day to educate and support students,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We have to ensure their mental health is a priority, too.”

House Bill 3000 requires all school districts serving students in grades 6-12 to have the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and the Safe2Help Illinois helpline on all employee IDs.

Turner’s law builds on a 2021 law expanding suicide and crisis helpline awareness in schools by ensuring all employees in school districts have this information on their ID cards. Currently, this information is required to be in student handbooks or planners and on student IDs if schools issue them.

“As we continue working to end the stigma around mental health, resources need to be easily accessible, especially for teachers who may need it for themselves or a student in a time of need,” said Turner. 

House Bill 3000 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

SPRINGFIELD – Agriculture education teachers will be compensated for their extra work hours under a new law sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner.

“I’ve been a strong advocate for agriculture education,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “While we’ve worked to expand ag education, we can’t forget about the teachers who spend extra hours outside of the classroom to educate students about the industry.”

Senate Bill 1605 ensures that school districts pay agriculture teachers 100% of their regular pay rate for the extra hours teaching agricultural education if the teacher works 400 hours or more beyond their regular teaching hours.

SPRINGFIELD – AEDs will be required in nursing homes under a new law led by State Senator Doris Turner.

“AEDs increase the chances of survival during cardiac arrest,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “By requiring them in nursing homes, lives will be saved.”

House Bill 1287 requires nursing homes to have an automatic external defibrillator by Jan. 1, 2030. Turner’s law also requires all facility staff certified to use an AED to have completed courses in CPR and AED usage.