Castro fights to keep cellphones, social media out of the classroom

Teenagers who spend five or more hours per day on electronic devices are 71% more likely to demonstrate risk factors for suicide — an alarming phenomenon State Senator Cristina Castro is determined to change.

“My legislation takes social media out of the classroom so students can focus on what’s important: learning,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This measure sets a standard to limit cellphone use during class time but prioritizes flexibility, letting schools take the lead in deciding how it should be implemented in their local community.”

Studies have shown that the mere presence of a smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity — especially for young people who are highly dependent on the devices. Research from over 70 countries and regions with strict school cellphone policies has found that the restrictions resulted in decreased instances of bullying, better attention and focus, and increases in standardized test scores.

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Castro advances plan to improve firefighter safety

State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a plan to give more transparency in firefighter death records.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to partner with firefighters across Illinois on legislation that would improve our service to first responders,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “We owe it to the firefighters who gave their lives in service to their communities.”

Nearly 2,000 firefighters have died in the line of duty over the past 20 years, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In addition to injuries and deaths that occur in the line of duty, firefighters are at a higher risk of cancer and other illnesses – highlighting the need for state-level data to guide interventions that protect their health and safety.

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Castro represents Illinois during trade mission to Mexico

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State Senator Cristina Castro joined Governor JB Pritzker, state lawmakers, agriculture officials and business leaders on a trade mission to Mexico this week.

“Countless benefits are the result of a successful economic partnership between Illinois and Mexico — stability for public and private sectors, a strong workforce, environmental sustainability, agricultural and economic growth and more,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “With so much at stake given the federal administration’s hostility toward one of our strongest trade allies, this trip could not have come at a more prudent time.”

On Monday, Castro stood alongside Governor Pritzker and State of Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez as they signed an expansion of the 1990 Illinois-Mexico Sister State Memorandum of Understanding. The expansion builds on the initial MOU, which focused heavily on research and higher education, by promoting strategic alliances between state governments, universities and research centers, and highlighting the importance of bilateral trade, agriculture and manufacturing. The MOU also focuses on the importance of efficient and sustainable water usage and the biotechnology necessary to support a clean water future — a critical issue for agricultural communities in Illinois and Mexico alike.

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New Castro law strengthens One Day Rest in Seven Act

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Illinois law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report illegal activity, unsafe working conditions, discrimination, harassment or other violations. Thanks to a new law led by State Senator Cristina Castro, workers exercising their rights to break and rest periods are also safeguarded from retaliation.

“Most employers do the right thing — but when the bottom line drives supervisors to create a culture of fear and intimidation, it discourages vulnerable workers from exercising their rights, including their right to go home and be with their families after a week’s work,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Strengthening the state’s labor laws will help put an end to threats and intimidation in the workplace and improve conditions for everyone.”

Castro’s new law strengthens the One Day Rest in Seven Act, which entitles workers to at least one full day of rest for every seven consecutive work days, by explicitly barring employers from firing, taking adverse action, or discriminating against workers who exercise their rights under ODRISA, such as filing a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor.

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