SPRINGFIELD – A new law championed by State Senator Christopher Belt will tackle the increasing number of food deserts in Illinois.

“Everyone should be close to fresh and affordable food ,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This new Grocery Initiative Act will provide crucial support to grocery stores in areas where they are needed most.”

Under the new law, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will be required to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to grocery stores located in or to be located in a food desert. This aims to help mitigate the issue of food deserts across the state. An area is considered a food desert when urban residents have to travel more than a half-mile and rural residents more than 10 miles to get to the nearest grocery store.

“When communities lack grocery stores, it can have a significant impact on the health and well-being of residents,” said Belt. “With this new initiative, we are heading in the right direction to ensure everyone has easy access to healthy food.”

Senate Bill 850 was signed Friday.

EAST ST. LOUIS – With support from State Senator Christopher Belt, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recently announced the latest round of Back to Business grants awarded to businesses in the restaurant industry.

“The Back to Business grants have had a major impact on local restaurants during their post-pandemic recovery,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “These grants have continued to help restaurants and other businesses rebuild and thrive after setbacks due to COVID-19.”

The Back to Business grant program provides recovery grants for small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on businesses in the hardest hit industries. Through the Back to Business and Business Interruption Grant programs, DCEO has provided more than $535 million to more than 15,000 businesses since the start of the pandemic.

Eleven area restaurants in Belt’s district will receive a combined total of $390,000 through this round of Back to Business grants.

“Local restaurants are what make different communities unique,” said Belt. “This program recognizes the contributions these businesses provide for their region and has allowed many restaurants to continue their operations, ensuring they stay open for years ahead.”

For more information about B2B grants visit DCEO’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt led a new law that will ensure fair compensation for teachers and protect school boards from undue financial burdens.

“Our state’s educators deserve a fair salary that keeps pace with the rising cost of living,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This shows that we care about all teachers in the state who are educating our future leaders.”

The new law will establish the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability as the agency responsible for adjusting the teacher minimum salary in accordance with annual increases in inflation rates. In addition, the law addresses concerns related to potential higher pension contributions resulting from increased minimum teacher salaries. It ensures that school boards will not be penalized for fulfilling their obligation to provide competitive compensation to teachers.

“I’ve always been a vocal advocate for education and a champion for teachers’ rights, and I’ll continue to work hard to support and value them,” said Belt.

House Bill 300 was signed Friday and takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt supported a new law that addresses race-related discrimination and harassment in Illinois schools.

“Schools have a responsibility to provide an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “By acknowledging and addressing these issues, schools can promote a more diverse and fair education system.”

This new law requires schools across the state to implement and maintain at least one written policy that prohibits discrimination and harassment against a person based on race, color and national origin and prohibits retaliation.

“Understanding race-related discrimination and harassment is important for the success of our students,” said Belt. “Schools play a crucial role in shaping students’ attitudes. Educating students on social issues such as this will help foster an environment that accepts and celebrates diversity, rather than rejecting it.”

The law also requires the Illinois School Board of Education to create a data collection system for schools to report the amount of discrimination, harassment and retaliation reported from their school and for the Illinois Department of Human Rights to develop a model training program on harassment and prevention for elementary and secondary schools.

Senate Bill 90 was signed into law Friday.