As we recognize Rosa Parks Day, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford and Senator Adriane Johnson discuss the impact of Rosa Parks on the Civil Rights Movement, as well as their own lived experiences as Black women, community leaders, and their roles in the General Assembly.

In recognition of National Women Support Women Day, State Senators Laura Fine and Cristina Pacione-Zayas discuss how they support other women through their position as legislators.

In this episode, Senator Sara Feigenholtz discusses her experience as an adoptee, as well as work she has done in the General Assembly to improve access to information for adoptees and other positive changes to the adoption system in Illinois.

Senator Mike Simmons joins the Sound of the State to recognize Transgender Awareness Week, efforts he has led through the Senate to benefit the LGBTQIA+ community, and how allies can get involved.

State Senator Celina Villanueva discusses efforts led by Illinois Senate Democrats to ease burdens on families of young children by exempting breast pumps and related supplies from sales taxes, in this episode of the Sound of the State.

Senator Laura Fine and Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz discuss the importance of their recently passed Drug Take Back Act, which will help fight the opioid epidemic and preserve our environment.

State Senator Mattie Hunter and Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth discuss the importance of the CROWN Act in Illinois, efforts toward its adoption at the federal level, and their own experiences with discrimination based on their hairstyles over the course of their professional careers, in this episode of the Sound of the State.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford discusses legislative efforts she is leading to help ease the burdens of an increasing number of grandparents in Illinois who are raising their grandchildren.

In this episode of the Sound of the State, State Senator Robert Peters reflects on how his experiences have shaped his work in the disability advocacy arena prior to and since becoming a legislator, as we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.

State Senator Linda Holmes and The Humane Society of Illinois work together frequently in the interest of animal welfare. In this episode of the Sound of the State, Senator Holmes and Marc Ayers are talking about stopping pet stores from selling puppy mill pets who are often in poor health and vastly overpriced - plus a conversation about future animal legislation.