SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura is voting against the re-appointment of Illinois Department of Corrections Director Latoya Hughes amid ongoing health issues, human rights violations, and safety concerns in Illinois prisons.

“Director Hughes’ leadership at IDOC has failed to prioritize the health and safety of both staff and incarcerated populations in our prison system,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “We have seen too many alarming incidents during her tenure that have gone unaddressed, from human rights violations to the deaths of incarcerated individuals.”

SPRINGFIELD — An initiative from State Senator Rachel Ventura aims to provide resources to minors involved with the juvenile justice system, making it clear the state is prioritizing rehabilitation.

"It is vital that we view every young person as a child first and an offender second," said Ventura (D-Joliet). "Whenever possible, children should be diverted from the justice system early and provided with appropriate, trauma-informed supports, with removal from the home used only as a last resort."

JOLIET — State Senator Rachel Ventura is calling for the federal administration to end the ongoing government shutdown to prevent the cessation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, come Nov. 1. Almost two million Illinois residents rely on SNAP to provide basic nutrition for themselves and their families.

"The food assistance SNAP provides keeps millions of people, including families with children, from going hungry," said Ventura (D-Joliet). "The fact that these benefits are now in jeopardy because of partisan infighting is unacceptable. I am calling on the federal administration to reinstate funding for SNAP before vulnerable people in Illinois and throughout the country are made to suffer."

SPRINGFIELD – A Senate Resolution sponsored by State Senator Rachel Ventura would discourage the act of ‘bovine tailing,’ a popular practice seen at rodeos, and would make April 23, 2026 Animal Welfare Day.

“We must ensure all animals involved in rodeo events are treated in an ethical and humane manner, even as we respect the cultural significance of the rodeo for many members of the Illinois community,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “I’m proud of the important step the Illinois Senate has taken in protecting the welfare and dignity of the animals.”