SPRINGFIELD – To increase compassion and awareness for those impacted by tardive dyskinesia, State Senator Laura Fine led a resolution to designate the week of May 4-10, 2025 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in Illinois.

“Developing a medical complication while treating a mental health condition is usually unexpected,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This resolution seeks to build on public awareness and sensitivity to those impacted by tardive dyskinesia, giving those with the condition access to necessary support and a sense of dignity.”

Tardive dyskinesia is a condition characterized by uncontrollable, repetitive movements affecting the face, torso, and other body parts. This condition may develop after several months of taking certain medications to treat mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia. Approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. experience symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.

SPRINGFIELD – To increase awareness about the health and environmental benefits of compost practices, State Senator Laura Fine presented a resolution to the Senate establishing the week of May 4-10, 2025 as Compost Awareness Week.

“This resolution raises public awareness about why composting organic materials and using compost to create a healthier environment improves our quality of life,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Communities, schools, organizations and businesses can participate in composting activities to benefit their own space and contribute to a large-scale effort to encourage sustainability.”

Senate Resolution 100 seeks to promote the importance of composting and its role in growing healthier food, supporting fertile soil, and ultimately creating a more sustainable world.

SPRINGFIELD – Continuing her work to increase affordable access to vital health care services, State Senator Laura Fine is sponsoring a measure addressing coverage for emergency neonatal intensive care.

“Every newborn deserves a fighting chance, especially in the critical first hours of life,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Parents want their children to be safe and healthy, and an unexpected birth complication can lead to permanent consequences if not promptly treated.”

To treat premature or critically ill newborns, neonatal care is often necessary and may require specialized treatments that might not be covered by a patient’s health insurance network. House Bill 2464 would address the importance of immediate care by requiring private insurers to cover emergency neonatal care, regardless of whether the provider is in or out of the patient’s network. This ensures families are not billed for greater out-of-pocket costs than they would have incurred with a participating provider.

SPRINGFIELD – A career-long advocate for people struggling with substance use and mental health challenges, State Senator Laura Fine is leading a measure to strengthen reporting standards for opioid overdoses and protect patient confidentiality.

“Local health departments in the Chicago area benefit from gathering data on overdoses in their community,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “But opioid-related overdose can impact any community, and all public health departments need access to vital overdose data in order to ensure emergency services are able to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Currently, Illinois law only requires Chicago EMS providers to report overdose information using the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) tool. This free web-based tool provides the most up-to-date suspected overdose surveillance data to support public safety and health efforts.