Senate approves Loughran Cappel legislation to reduce vehicle registration fee for older Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD – A measure reducing the registration fee for older Illinoisans passed the Senate Thursday under legislation sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood).

“Rising prices are squeezing people’s budgets across the state, and putting an especially difficult financial strain on older residents,” Loughran Cappel said. “This legislation offers a reduction in cost for a vehicle fee for older adults living on a limited income.”

The measure would reduce the vehicle registration fee for vehicle owners and their spouses from $24 to $10 if they qualify or have been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability Property Tax Relief Act.

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Simmons sponsors measure to strengthen lead mitigation procedures passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To protect communities across Illinois from the deadly impact of lead, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) is leading a measure to strengthen lead mitigation procedures.

“Virtually every community across the state is affected by lead in our water supply,” said Simmons. “This bill provides a systemic response to a problem that is systemic in nature, is decades in the making, and often does the most injury to Black and Brown communities.”

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Hunter measure to create task force to resolve discrimination in the housing industry

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to create the Real Estate Valuation Task Force to combat discrimination in the housing industry passed the Senate Thursday.

“Discrimination in the housing industry goes back decades, and it has yet to be rectified today,” Hunter said. “Black and Brown people won’t have a fair chance at renting and owning a home until discrimination is addressed on a systemic level.”

The Real Estate Valuation Task Force is a response to an unresolved history of federal housing agencies, including the Federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation and the Federal Housing Administration, discriminating against Black and Brown people when underwriting real estate loans.

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Villivalam moves housing accessibility measure

­SPRINGFIELD – To make housing more accessible to low-income families, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) advanced legislation from the Senate Executive Committee to prevent property owners from discriminating against a prospective renter’s source of income.

“No one should be denied housing when they have the means to make the rent,” Villivalam said. “Too often, individuals on government assistance, single mothers receiving child support or seniors on fixed incomes are turned away solely based on where they receive their income each month.”

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