Toro reflects on accomplishments after 100 days in office

CHICAGO — From hosting three policy roundtables, attending over 60 events and meetings with community organizations and individuals, and introducing and sponsoring 12 bills and resolutions, it’s hard to believe State Senator Natalie Toro has only been in office for 100 days – but the freshman senator says she’s just getting started.

“Since taking office over the summer, my team and I have hit the ground running to get out in our community to hear about the issues most impacting residents and working on policies to address them,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “All of these meetings and brainstorming have helped us build a thorough legislative plan for the upcoming session, and I am excited to put it into action.”

In the time since Toro took office on July 10, she and her staff have helped donate 1,400 items to asylum seekers and met with many organizations and individuals to discuss issues affecting the community. Staff within her office also connected over 150 people to organizations and resources, responded to over 750 phone calls and assisted over 300 walk-ins. Last week, she held an open house in her district office to connect with even more constituents.

Toro has sponsored and introduced 12 legislative bills and resolutions, including Senate Bills 2604 and 2605, which would protect survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence by expediting the process to receive protective orders against perpetrators and increasing workplace safeguards.

“While protective orders are effective in shielding survivors against their perpetrators, they are only enforceable if they are served. Too often, the orders expire before they become enforceable, endangering survivors,” said Toro. “Senate Bill 2604 will require law enforcement to serve protective orders during routine run-ins with police, ensuring they are able to adequately protect survivors from more harm.”

 Follow the legislation Senator Toro is working on at ilga.gov or on her website.

Toro introduces new legislation to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Natalie Toro is working on new legislation to ensure protections for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence by expediting the process to receive protective orders against perpetrators and increasing workplace safeguards.

“For too long, people have fallen victim to violence or assault after concerns for their safety were not taken seriously,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “It is time we turn our commitment to believing survivors into policy and strengthen protections for survivors to prevent further harm.”

Protective orders are vital for the safety of survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking by separating an alleged offender from the alleged victim. Nearly 56,000 protective orders were filed in Illinois during 2021 alone. However, these orders are only effective if they are served or if a short order notification is issued.

Short form notifications are triggered during routine interactions with law enforcement, allowing officers to inform offenders of the protective order. Under current law, law enforcement officers are not required to service short form notifications. Senate Bill 2604 would require law enforcement to serve short form notifications if they encounter someone with an unserved protective order.

Further, Senate Bill 2605 increases protections in the workplace for people with protective orders by requiring managers to immediately call law enforcement if the offender appears on the premises during the survivor’s work hours. Together, these measures will strengthen protections for survivors and offer better peace of mind.

“Navigating the world as a woman — especially as a woman of color — requires us to be vigilant for our safety because those entrusted to protect us have not always listened to our very real concerns about threats of harm,” said Toro. “With these laws, I hope survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are afforded more protections and can instead focus on healing from these traumas.”

Toro looks forward to working with advocates and community stakeholders on advancing Senate Bill 2604 and Senate Bill 2605 during the legislative session.

• Domestic Violence

Toro appointed to Senate Education, Early Childhood committees

SPRINGFIELD — With her experiences as an early childhood educator for nearly 10 years, State Senator Natalie Toro is proud to offer her insight on the Senate Education and Early Childhood Education committees.

“As an educator, I have seen firsthand the funding disparities between schools and how this impacts our kids’ educational outcomes,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “I have also seen the impact of the teacher shortage, with many colleagues unable to afford to live within their current salary.”

In addition to her role on the Senate Education and Early Childhood Education committees, Toro will serve as the vice chair of the Senate Local Government Committee and as a member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Senate Appropriations – Education Committee.

Toro was appointed to serve the 20^th Senate District after working as a Chicago Teacher’s Union teacher for kindergarten and third grade. She is a lifelong resident of the district and looks forward to advocating for her community and its educators in the Springfield.

“Like many teachers in our state, I have walked into my classroom and found no supplies for students, and had no other choice but to pay for essential items out of my own pocket. I have also taken on additional jobs just to survive off of a teacher’s salary,” said Toro. “Bringing light to these everyday realities in the Senate will help craft policies that address the day-to-day struggles our educators are facing, which also ensures our kids are getting the best education possible.”

Committee schedules and livestreamed proceedings are available at www.ilga.gov.

• Education
• Committees

Toro encourages educators and parents to use educational tax credits

CHICAGO — As back-to-school season kicks off, State Senator Natalie Toro is reminding taxpayers that they may be able to claim school expenses for their K-12 students on their 2023 Illinois individual income tax returns.

“As a former educator for nearly 10 years, I know how difficult it can be for parents and educators to afford necessary school supplies,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “With the cost for these materials on the rise, it is more important than ever for people to be aware of and utilize these tax benefits to help offset the costs of their school supplies.”

The Illinois Education Expense Credit allows parents or legal guardians of a full-time K-12 student to take a 25% tax credit on qualified education expenses over $250 this year, up to $750 per household. Qualified educational expenses include tuition, book rental, and lab fees in excess of $250 paid to the school where the student is enrolled on a full-time basis. For homeschooled students, book rental, and lab fees greater than $250 are eligible when attending a qualified home school program.

The K-12 Instructional Materials and Supplies Tax Credit allows eligible teachers of full-time K-12 students to receive a tax break for qualified expenses on classroom materials paid during the taxable year. To qualify, taxpayers must be teachers, instructors, counselors, principals, or aides for at least 900 hours during a school year. Increasing from last year, they can now claim a credit up to $500 for qualified expenses they paid in the current taxable year. If spouses are both educators and are filing jointly, the maximum credit is $1,000.

“Classroom materials enhance a student’s learning and can be transformative to their experience in the classroom,” said Toro. “However, parents and educators should not have to suffer financially for this. I hope these tax credits will help alleviate some of this financial burden.”

To learn more about the Illinois Education Expense Credit, visit IDOR's website at tax.illinois.gov.