Illinois State Senator Laura Fine

Fine law mandates baby food testing for toxic heavy metals on Jan. 1

Details: Category: Press Releases; Tuesday, January 06, 2026 09:25 AM

SPRINGFIELD – To protect infants from exposure to toxic heavy metals, State Senator Laura Fine spearheaded a new law requiring testing of baby food products for these toxins on Jan. 1.

“Parents should never have to worry that the food they give their children could harm their health,” said Fine. “By establishing mandatory testing and transparency between manufacturers and consumers, this law gives parents peace of mind about the contents of the baby food they’re purchasing.”

Under Fine’s law, manufacturers must test samples of their baby food products for toxic elements – such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury – every month and disclose this information directly on the product’s website.

Fine law expands mental health care access on Jan. 1

Details: Category: Press Releases; Monday, January 05, 2026 02:08 PM

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois eliminated unnecessary barriers to health care by banning prior authorization for outpatient mental health services on Jan. 1, thanks to State Senator Laura Fine.

“Like physical health care, mental health care is a critical component to overall well-being and it is time we ensure everyone has access to the treatment they need,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This new law breaks down unnecessary barriers to mental health care services by making it more affordable and accessible for all Illinoisans.”

The Healthcare Protection Act, signed into law in July 2024, made health care more accessible and affordable for Illinoisans. The law banned step therapy requirements, prohibited prior authorization for inpatient mental health care at hospitals, banned junk insurance plans, and ended unchecked rate increases for large group insurance companies.

Fine law expands neonatal intensive care coverage on Jan. 1

Details: Category: Press Releases; Monday, January 05, 2026 08:53 AM

SPRINGFIELD – Insurance coverage expanded for emergency neonatal intensive care on Jan. 1, thanks to State Senator Laura Fine.

“Newborns deserve immediate care in the first critical hours of life and parents deserve peace of mind to know the services are covered,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This new law ensures no family is denied life-saving treatment for their child.”

Neonatal care for premature or critically ill newborns often requires specialized treatments that might not be covered by a patient’s health insurance network. Under Fine’s law, private insurers are required 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 an in-network provider.

Senator Fine legislation addressing foster care liability coverage passes the Senate

Details: Category: Press Releases; Thursday, October 30, 2025 08:58 PM

SPRINGFIELD – In order to protect community based foster care agencies from the increasing costs and the decreasing availability of liability insurance, State Senator Laura Fine passed legislation to analyze the current foster care liability insurance landscape in Illinois.

“Foster care and adoption services must maintain liability coverage to operate in the state,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Without sustainable insurance options, these foster agencies are at risk of shutting down altogether.”

Agencies are required to carry liability insurance to protect the 13,000 children in their care. Many carriers are no longer offering this line of insurance, and only two carriers offer liability insurance for foster care providers in the state. This has resulted in higher costs and limited coverage.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting my website.

I am proud to serve as the State Senator from Illinois’ 9th Senate District. I hope you’ll find this site a useful resource in keeping up to date with what’s happening in our district and in Springfield. Please contact any of my offices with questions or ways I can better serve you.

It is my honor to represent you in Springfield.

Sincerely,

Laura Fine Signaure