October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

AURORA – State Senator Linda Holmes is working with local agencies to host a “#LovePurse” donation drive for area women in need. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Holmes wants to increase awareness, and provide essentials to survivors in the 42^nd Senate District.

“Women fleeing domestic violence, human trafficking or in need sometimes have left difficult circumstances with no belongings at all, perhaps including their purse and bare necessities,” Holmes said. “Love Purse gives survivors the products and care they need, and our community can take part by helping these women recover with some essentials and encouragement.”

AURORA – With support from State Senator Linda Holmes, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced the latest round of Back to Business grants awarded to businesses in the restaurant industry.

“The Back to Business grants have given a meaningful boost to our local restaurants during their post-pandemic recovery,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “These grants have continued to help restaurants and other businesses rebuild and thrive after tough times during COVID-19.”

Young vloggers gain protections child actors achieved over past 80 years

SPRINGFIELD — Social media content has surged in the past decade, with many posts featuring influencers who promote themselves and commercial products on behalf of advertisers. Although a growing portion of that content features children, there were no laws protecting minors’ rights. Thanks to legislation led by State Senators Linda Holmes and Dave Koehler, Illinois is the first state to protect child influencers’ earnings.

“Our role as legislators is to ensure our labor laws reflect advances in technology and the economy, including the work of children and teens,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “In this digital age, parents should not profit off their children’s work, as was established for film and television in the years before YouTube or TikTok existed.”

SPRINGFIELD – Growing and raising food for the nation is engrained in Illinois’ character, with a bountiful farming culture throughout the state. However, there are families all over Illinois who live with food insecurity every day. A measure sponsored by State Senator Linda Holmes that establishes a Farm to Food Bank Program to address that gap was signed into law today.

House Bill 2879 will address the food insecurity needs identified by a feasibility study conducted by multiple state agencies. This program will help provide nutritious food to expand the Illinois emergency food system and assist more than a million Illinois citizens.