SPRINGFIELD – A new law led by State Senator Loughran Cappel will get more teachers in the classroom, continuing her commitment of addressing the ongoing teacher shortage.

“Every year we have taken necessary steps to tackle the teacher shortage, getting more educators in the classroom,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “People who want to be teachers need support and encouragement. We can’t risk losing aspiring educators – we need to ensure they can get their licenses without delays.”

House Bill 5057 allows those applying for teaching licenses to take content area tests before, during and after student teaching. Loughran Cappel’s law will ensure applicants receive their license in a timely manner.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect youth from the dangers of vaping, e-cigarettes will no longer be shipped to Illinois under a new law led by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“The internet has made it very easy for kids to get vapes,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Manufacturers are making e-cigarettes look like school supplies, making it difficult for teachers to decipher if it’s a vape or not. After hearing from local elected officials who were seeing an uptick in the usage of vapes in schools, it was clear we had to put guardrails in place to protect kids from the dangers of smoking.”

Senate Bill 3098 prohibits electronic cigarettes purchased by mail, online or through other remote sale methods from being shipped to anyone in the state other than a distributor or retailer. Loughran Cappel’s law came in response to students obtaining e-cigarettes that are designed to look like everyday objects, such as highlighters.

CREST HILL – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel secured a strong investment for Joliet Junior College, Village of Romeoville and the City of Lockport to increase opportunities in the trade industry and expand the clean energy talent pipeline.

“Expanding the trades gives people a path to secure stable, good-paying careers in a high-demand industry,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “We have worked to expand opportunities and bring more jobs to Will County and these key investments will open a number of doors for residents.”

The Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program prioritizes underrepresented populations and people living in communities that have historically faced economic and environmental barriers, bolstering a diverse workforce in the clean energy industry.

SPRINGFIELD – Career and technical education teachers will now be granted tenure under a new law sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“I’ve been a strong advocate for CTE, which gives students the opportunity to receive a hands-on academic experience,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “With the ongoing teacher shortage, we need to ensure CTE teachers receive the benefits they are entitled to and deserve.”

Senate Bill 463 allows CTE teachers to be granted tenure if they have a license with credentials. Loughran Cappel’s law aims to expand tenure eligibility from only educators with a Professional Educator License to include CTE teachers.