Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán is working with Planned Parenthood to preserve contraceptive services or supplies for minors through legislation that recently passed the Executive Committee.

“Contraceptive rights are under attack across this country,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Illinois needs to preserve and protect access to contraceptive care and keep reproductive choices in the hands of the individual.”

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.

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education.

CHICAGO – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill, in partnership with Chicago Women in Trades to provide sanitary conditions, reasonable accommodations and menstrual products on job sites has passed the Senate.

“Women and anyone who menstruates have a right to care for their bodies in a dignified and sanitary way,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Whether in the office or on the job site, we need commonsense accommodations for those who menstruate and those who are lactating. This legislation uplifts women which in turn will support the trades and their hard work.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Guzmán’s bill to support survivors and strengthen higher education requirements when addressing sexual violence passed committee.

“We cannot allow sexual harassment to go unaddressed on our college campuses,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “If student survivors experience digital sexual harassment or otherwise, there must be protections for them.”

SPRINGFIELD – In the face of growing threats to higher education from the Trump administration, State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to establish academic freedom at Illinois universities passed committee.

“Places of higher education learning should be sanctuaries of free learning, debate and challenging ideas,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Students and faculty should not be pressured to suppress their political or academic opinions.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán spoke at a press conference Wednesday to advocate for her measure to boost funding to human services organizations.

“I come to this work not just as a legislator, but as someone whose family and community have relied on human services to survive and to heal,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “I have seen what happens when care is delayed, when programs are understaffed, and when the people doing the most essential work are stretched past their limits.”

SPRINGFIELD—In solidarity with home health workers, teachers, homelessness advocates, and other state officials, State Senator Graciela Guzmán advocated for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget to utilize progressive revenue measures, ensuring essential programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid do not face cuts from a shortage of federal dollars.

“Parents are anxious about being able to afford food on the table while billionaires are ordering catering to their fleet of yachts,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “This gross disparity between our lived experiences is not okay. We need to make sure our most wealthy are paying their fair share, because cutting essential programs for the working families that make up the heart of Illinois isn’t an option. We cannot balance this budget by cuts to working class people that are already hurting.”

SPRINGFIELD —A new measure supported by State Senator Graciela Guzmán to prevent overdoses in Department of Corrections facilities was signed into law on Friday.

“In order to prevent tragic overdose deaths, we need to better understand where contraband drugs are coming from, instead of enacting policies without evidence demonstrating it will be effective in stopping the proliferation of banned goods,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago).  “Thanks to our work with this legislation, we will soon have a better understanding of how these goods get into DOC facilities, so we can begin work to prevent their movement and consumption.”

Senate Bill 2201 requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to collect and publish data concerning contraband found in their facilities, including the type of contraband, where in the facility it was identified, and the method of entry into the facility. It also makes public the consequences for people in custody for possessing or attempting to procure contraband to ensure any disciplinary actions meet ethical standards and do not include excessive force.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Graciela Guzmán joined colleagues and advocates from Healthy Illinois to reaffirm their support for health care for immigrants, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities – which has historically been inaccessible and is now facing new threats from the federal administration.

“We are grounded in the belief that health care is a human right,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We will not listen to bullies who try to tell us otherwise, or to prioritize profit over people’s lives. Here in our great state, we uphold our morality and values in our legislation, and have enshrined protections for many people who have historically been excluded from basic access to health care.”