Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents are on track to receive much-needed financial relief, thanks to the efforts of State Senator Celina Villanueva, who passed a responsible revenue package Monday that bolsters new revenue sources without placing taxes on everyday people.

“All year long, my colleagues and I were told we had to ‘cut’ our way out of budget challenges, but we recognize that bulldozing the essential resources and services Illinois’ working families rely on is not the way to meet the ever changing demands of our economy,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “We know the wealth to fully fund programs in our communities exists; it’s just being hoarded. This revenue package steps up to the moment to ensure Illinois has progressive revenue policies centered around fairness and stability for all residents.”

Senate Bill 3019 – the revenue package – would implement a stream of equitable revenue enhancements that uplift working families across Illinois, including making corporations pay their fair share and reinstating the back-to-school tax holiday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura’s measure to curb the growing influence of private equity and large institutional investors in Illinois’ housing market passed the Senate Monday.

“As working families struggle to find affordable homes and rising demand continues to drive up prices, we have a responsibility to preserve our existing housing supply for people, not large corporate investors,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Unchecked investor activity is pricing Illinoisans out of their own neighborhoods, and we need clear guardrails to restore balance.”

House Bill 2783 would establish a graduated annual fee on institutional investors that acquire more than 10 residential properties, beginning at 10% of a property’s value and increasing for every additional 10 properties owned. The fee would be capped at 50% and be directed into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support public housing development, rental assistance, and pathways to homeownership.

SPRINGFIELD – Following years of tireless advocacy, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford passed a sweeping measure that brings comprehensive regulation to Illinois' hemp marketplace and makes long-sought improvements to the state's cannabis laws for patients, small businesses and social equity licensees.

"For years I have fought to bring order, equity and commonsense to these markets — and today, working hand in hand with our colleagues in the House, we delivered,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This bill is about protecting people, keeping promises and making sure Illinois remains a national leader.”

Senate Bill 3222 would establish mandatory licensing and uniform standards for CBD manufacturers while creating a responsible transition path for hemp businesses entering the licensed cannabis market, with at least 45 infuser licenses reserved for social equity applicants.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to create new protections for renters and prospective renters passed the Senate Sunday.
“When we talk about housing, we are not just talking about buildings or leases, we are talking about safety,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We are talking about dignity. We are talking about whether people have a real chance to rebuild their lives.”

House Bill 4377 combines several impactful measures to protect tenants in Illinois. First, the measure would prohibit federal housing assistance providers from establishing or implementing any rules, policies or procedures that impose time limits or work requirements as a condition of initial or continued eligibility for any rent subsidy or assistance provided to qualifying tenants. This portion of the bill was spearheaded by State Senator Ram Villivalam.

“By implementing protections against rigid work requirements, we are re-affirming basic human rights and ensuring vulnerable Illinoisans don’t have to work unsustainable hours just to have a roof over their head,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago).

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

“The ways students experience harassment and abuse have changed since 2015,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Harm can happen through repeated unwelcome electronic communications, sexually explicit material being sent or weaponized, or the actual or threatened sharing of private or digitally altered sexual images without consent. Our law has to recognize the ways students are being harmed now.”

Guzmán’s bill would add definitions for sexual harassment and digital sexual harassment, requiring higher education policy regarding gender-based violence to address these major issues. The bill would provide guidance and gives examples of supportive measures, while ensuring that a particular course of study or major cannot be a reason to deny such measures. If an institution willfully fails to act in accordance with the policy, this legislation would create a civil cause of action, thus providing a mechanism of enforcement for survivor rights.

SPRINGFIELD — People who have been exonerated in Illinois would have a clearer path to financial stability and support under a landmark measure led by State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. that has passed the Senate.

“For three out of the last four years, Illinois has led the nation in the number of wrongful convictions that have been overturned,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “When a system continues to fail individuals, families and entire communities, we need to step up and provide the accountability and support they need to begin to heal.” 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Omar Aquino led an initiative to increase government efficiency and transparency within the health care system by maximizing state dollars to fund the essential services vulnerable communities depend on.

“Access to health care and behavioral health services should not depend on your ZIP code,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “This package will ensure that communities across the state, whether in the city, the suburbs or rural farm towns, have access to care.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman passed legislation belonging to a comprehensive housing package through the Senate that includes multiple consumer provisions. One key provision protects renters from unfair housing costs by prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to pay broker and leasing agent fees for services hired by the property owner.

“Finding a place to live is expensive enough without being charged for services you never asked for,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “If a landlord hires a broker to market a property and manage the leasing process, that cost should remain with the landlord – not be added to a renter’s bill.”