Senator Castro honors Illinois State Scholars in the 22nd District

• State Scholars

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) recently honored 254 high school students from the community who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

Read more …

Castro champions measure to help online sellers in Illinois

• 102nd General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD – In order to clarify how taxes are collected from online sellers based in Illinois, State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) introduced a measure that corrects the double-taxation of Illinois sellers who sell their products through larger marketplace facilitators.

“This legislation provides a simple fix to something that has cost businesses in the state unnecessary taxes,” Castro said. “Big websites that act as a marketplace for smaller sellers provide an important service, but the way the Illinois Use Tax was interpreted by Department of Revenue in 2020 hurt some of these Illinois sellers.”

Read more …

Castro: Everyone should feel safe to report a crime regardless of immigration status

• VOICES Act
• 102nd General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD – To encourage victims of crime to make reports, assist law enforcements with criminal investigations and promote transparency in the criminal justice system, State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) has passed a measure to enhance the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors Act.

“The VOICES Act of 2018 was a good start in encouraging people to report crimes, especially violent ones, regardless of citizenship status,” Castro said. “These enhancements to the act will do even more to support both victims of crime and law enforcement in their investigations.”

Read more …

Castro issues statement in reaction to Floyd verdict

State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement on Tuesday’s decision to convict Derek Chauvin on the three charges brought against him for the death of George Floyd:

“While nothing will ever make up for the torture George Floyd experienced in the final minutes of his life and the loss his family will live with forever, I’m relieved that our court system worked the way it should today.

“Time and again, we see Black and Brown people harmed by the criminal justice system. Real reform is past due, and I’m hoping the outcome of this trial will be a step forward in providing accountability and preventing more tragedies like this in the future.”