Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – In the fight for affordable housing for all people in Illinois, State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to provide human rights protections to prospective tenants who are survivors of gender-based violence passed the Senate Executive Committee.

“When we talk about housing, we are not just talking about buildings or leases,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We are talking about safety. We are talking about dignity. We are talking about whether people have a real chance to rebuild their lives.”

Senate Bill 330 would provide that it is a civil rights violation to unlawfully discriminate against a prospective tenant because of a person's history of experiencing domestic or sexual violence. According to Illinois Legal Aid, people who have survived domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault might also face barriers to their housing because of these abuses. People who rent their homes are three times more likely to face violence than people who own their homes.

SPRINGFIELD – In the face of sky-high rental costs in Chicago and across Illinois, Senator Graciela Guzmán is working to crack down on price fixing schemes landlords conduct using AI algorithms.

“Renters deserve a fair, transparent and accountable housing market,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “AI algorithms allow landlords to rig the market in their favor and gouge every dollar from families looking for a place to live. We need to crack down on AI-driven rent fixing schemes that hurt competition and renters.”

SPRINGFIELD –Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to monitor private equity in our health care system passed the Senate.

“Health care is not a luxury to be profited off of, but a human right,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We have seen private equity take over portions of our economy and sell off whole industries for parts. We need to understand how much of Illinois’ health care system is controlled by private equity and how it affects both care and access to it. .”

Guzman’s measure would require health care facilities and health care provider organizations, which are parties to a transaction involving a merger or acquisition (i.e., a "covered transaction") to provide notice of the transaction to the Office of the Attorney General. This includes parties to the transaction that are not a health care facility or provider organization but own or control, directly or indirectly, one or more of the two or more health care facilities or provider organizations that will be under common ownership.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to disconnect Illinois adult education funding from federal rules passed the Senate Thursday.

“Adult education programs need to be seen as necessary, not optional,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Education institutions continue to be pressured by the Trump administration and Illinois needs to stand up for its adult learners.”

The measure comes as the Trump administration continues to threaten education funding and demand an unprecedented role in university admission, curriculum and operations. Without action from the state, federal threats to education programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act could limit Illinois residents’ access to higher education and key adult education programs.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s push to allow mammograms under all health insurance policies regardless of the person’s age has passed the Senate.

“If a health care provider or a patient has a concern, there should not be an arbitrary age limit for proper care,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Issues addressed sooner can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer and that will bring more effective treatment and better survival rates for those diagnosed.”

SPRINGFIELD – Many residents in Illinois are struggling to keep up with their medical debt in the face of corporate greed. State Senator Graciela Guzmán has advanced legislation through the Senate to protect those burdened by health care debt from having a lien placed on their home during a health care debt collection.

“Housing and health care are human rights that Illinois must strive to protect and provide for its residents,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “While health care corporations make massive profits, they are attempting to threaten the homes of people who need treatment but cannot afford it. This practice cannot go on.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s legislation to preserve contraceptive services or supplies for minors through legislation recently passed the Senate.

“Illinois has been, and must continue to be, a protector of contraceptive care,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We have to create safeguards so that we have a choice when it comes our bodies.”

Senate Bill 3341 would provide that any minor may give effective consent for contraceptive services or supplies and the consent of no other person is required. According to KFF, several states require parental consent to obtain contraceptive care and many states do not guarantee the rights of minors to consent to contraceptive services.

SPRINGFIELD – In the face of sky-high rental costs in Chicago and across Illinois, Senator Graciela Guzmán is working to crack down on price fixing schemes landlords conduct using AI algorithms.

“This measure is about restoring fairness, transparency and accountability to our housing market by cracking down on AI-driven rent fixing schemes that undermine competition and exploit renters,” said Guzmán. “I’m proud to have worked alongside partners at the city, state and local levels to confront the growing abuse of algorithmic pricing tools and put people ahead of corporate greed.”