SPRINGFIELD – To lift burdensome in-person requirements that barred many residents from updating their wills or establishing end-of-life plans during the pandemic, a proposal by State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) was signed into law Monday to modernize court practices for remote and electronic filings.

“The procedure for estate planning has lagged behind as technology advances,” Crowe said. “Many courts are capable of holding virtual hearings, and this law give flexibility and convenience for residents simply wanting to update their plans.”

Executive Order 2020-14, filed in March 2020, gave notaries and witnesses the ability to finalize documents remotely during the pandemic. The governor most recently extended the state’s COVID-19 emergency proclamation on July 23, 2021 through Aug. 22, 2021.

Crowe’s law works in collaboration with the executive order to allow wills to be signed electronically and hearings to be conducted virtually with audio and video communication.

“There is no need for the will hearing process to be complicated,” Crowe said. “By providing the opportunity to hold virtual hearings, we’re giving residents a safer, more efficient estate planning option.”

Senate Bill 730 is effective immediately.

MARYVILLE – To encourage residents to visit her office with comments and concerns, State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is extending her office hours to accommodate the schedules of working Metro East families.

“With residents and businesses struggling to access recovery resources after the pandemic, my staff is available to bridge the gap. We are offering direct help on Thursday for an extended amount of time,” Crowe said. “I encourage anyone who needs assistance, has ideas or just wants to talk to attend.”

To allow residents the opportunity to access state services and discuss legislative matters directly, Crowe’s Maryville office, located at 35 Executive Plaza Court, will be open until 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 15. The office is typically open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Appointments are encouraged, but not required and can be made by calling (618) 251-9840.

MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) championed a new law in Illinois aimed at holding companies accountable who manufacture, distribute and aggressively market opioids to residents.

“Countless families have been devastated by the effects of the nationwide opioid epidemic,” Crowe said. “It’s time for the companies who have played a role in its creation to pay retribution for the lives affected.”

Crowe’s law allows the Illinois attorney general to pursue a full settlement for the state in lawsuits against six opioid manufacturers and three distributors.

Numerous other states and hundreds of local governments across the U.S. have filed opioid-related lawsuits against these companies. In order to reach a resolution and ensure the companies pay the full amount owed, separate governments must work together by participating in the national settlement and releasing their claims against the defendants.

Crowe’s legislation enables the attorney general’s office to take these steps.

Without this legislation, Illinois stands to lose 50% or more of the settlement funds—meaning potentially hundreds of millions of dollars less towards abatement and remediation of the opioid crisis.

“If an appropriate settlement is not reached, families will not receive what is owed to them,” Crowe said. “Although no amount of money can make up for the pain and loss, this funding could support educational and treatment resources to prevent other loved ones from falling victim.”

Senate Bill 215 was signed by the governor Friday and is effective immediately.

MARYVILLE - State Senators Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) congratulate three local organizations chosen to receive funding to help small businesses apply to receive financial assistance.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” Belt said. “This investment will support the businesses who were affected most by the pandemic. It’s essential that businesses know the funding available through the economic recovery programs, so that we can continue to build back what was lost for our businesses.”

A total of $9 million will be invested to expand the community navigator outreach program. The program will provide support for small businesses that need help navigating financial assistance available from the state and the U.S. Small Business Administration as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity trained 13 new regional partners to give assistance to small businesses. Metro East organizations that have served diverse businesses across the state, include Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission, Illinois Public Health Association and National Main Street Inc. These groups will facilitate technical assistance on a common level to small businesses.

“With this critical investment, our state is working to ensure businesses can operate safely, support opportunities for employees and boost our economy as we rebuild,” Crowe said. “I strongly urge members of the Metro East business community to connect with our community partners to stay informed on available grants and resources.”

To ensure the smallest and most vulnerable businesses are prioritized, navigator partners will provide small businesses with direct assistance on applications, language assistance, on-the-ground outreach, webinars, technical assistance sessions and more.

An expansion of the community navigator program builds on the success of this approach first piloted during the state’s Business Interruption Grants program – which led to a record amount of funding deployed, including over 40 percent of grants to minority-owned businesses. During the BIG program, more than 30,000 unique businesses statewide received outreach from a community navigator.

Businesses are encouraged to visit the DCEO website or call 1-800-252-2923 for more information on recovery programs and support.