Welcome to Senator Adriane Johnson's Legislative Website

Johnson’s new law creates non-profit investment pool

SPRINGFIELD – Non-profits in Illinois will have new investment opportunities, thanks to a new law from State Senator Adriane Johnson.

“Illinois-based non-profits should have the same high-quality investment opportunities as government entities,” said State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Greater investment opportunities means food pantries will have the resources to provide more food, homeless shelters can provide more beds, health care providers can offer more services to those in need and legal aid centers can assist more Illinoisans who have limited resources to address their legal needs.”

Senate Bill 2968 authorizes the State Treasurer to create a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment-processing program to supplement and enhance investment opportunities for 501(c) non-profit organizations located in Illinois. The Non-Profit Investment Pool will provide hundreds of non-profits across the State the opportunity for safe, liquid, and competitive investments.

Non-profits across the state will be able to pool their invest-able assets together in a fund to earn greater returns, at a much lower cost than they would on their own. Participants will earn interest proportionally based on their account balance. For Illinois Funds participants, earnings are calculated daily and paid monthly.

“Non-profits are critical organizations that serve communities all across the state,” said Johnson. “This initiative will give them the chance to maximize their resources and strengthen their financial stability.”

Senate Bill 2968 was signed into law on Friday.

Johnson urges local communities to apply for OSLAD grant

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson is encouraging communities in the 30th District to apply for assistance through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program.

“Now is the time we utilize funding to rebuild local parks in our communities and provide our children and neighbors with safe and new attractions,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “I am encouraging our park districts to take advantage of the opportunity by applying for this grant.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31.

The program offers state-financed funding assistance to local governmental agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. A total of $37.5 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. IDNR will provide funding to cover 90% of eligible projects located in distressed communities, or locations recovering from storm damage that apply as physically distressed communities.

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 31 and should be submitted to IDNR. For more information on the OSLAD program, visit IDNR’s website.

Johnson secures over $581,000 for 30th District libraries

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson announced 16 public libraries and school districts in the district she represents are set to receive more than $581,000 for library services, enhanced programming and construction and security upgrades.

“In the increasingly digital world we live in, libraries can be a lifeline to students, job seekers, low-income families and more,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “By supporting their work, we’re building a bright future for our kids and our community.”

More than $27 million was awarded to over 640 public libraries and 2,500 school libraries statewide through the Illinois Secretary of State’s Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants, Security and Construction Grants and School Library Grants. The funding will support libraries’ investments in reading materials, technology, literacy programs, infrastructure improvements and security upgrades. School library grants, awarded once every fiscal year, will support student learning and literacy from kindergarten through 12th grade.

In Johnson’s district, four public libraries and twelve school districts received funding, including:

• North Chicago Public Library - $206,747
• Waukegan Public Library - $151,846
• Warren-Newport Public Library District - $113,011
• Vernon Area Public Library District - $75,150
• Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 - $11,131
• Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 - $4,148
• Hawthorn School District 73 - $2,959
• Kildeer Countryside School District 96 - $2,927
• Community High School District 128 - $2,735
• Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 - $2,125
• Mundelein Elementary School District 120 - $1,951
• Lincolnshire Prairie View School District 103 - $1,618
• Gurnee School District 56 - $1,514
• North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 - $1,503
• Mundelein Elementary School District 75 - $1,300
• Oak Grove School District 68 - $850

A full list of public and school libraries receiving grant funding can be found here.

Johnson’s law increases notary applications

SPRINGFIELD – Under a new law from State Senator Adriane Johnson, individuals with prior felony convictions may apply to become a notary public.

“Notaries play an important role in protecting the integrity of legal and financial documents, helping prevent fraud and ensure trust in everyday transactions,” Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Giving former felons who have demonstrated rehabilitation the chance to become notaries recognizes that accountability and redemption go hand in hand.”

Under previous law, individuals who have been convicted of a felony cannot apply to become a notary. House Bill 4277 allows individuals who have completed all requirements of felony sentences to apply to apply become a notary so long as it has been 10 years since the completion of their sentence.

The new law only allows the individual to apply for appointment and commission as a notary, it does not guarantee a position. The applicant must still go through the typical process involved in becoming a notary.

House Bill 4277 was signed into law Friday.