SPRINGFIELD – Residents of mobile home parks could see improved financial transparency and more dependable clean water access under two measures proposed by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“There are a number of mobile home parks in the Northwest Suburbs and surrounding communities. Our friends and neighbors live in these parks, and they need someone to advocate on their behalf,” Murphy said. “These initiatives are meant to increase transparency for mobile home buyers and improve conditions in mobile home parks.”

A loan for a mobile home located in a mobile home park is different from a mortgage: Mobile homes are assessed and taxed as personal property, not real estate; interest rates are often much higher than those for typical home loans; and refinancing options are limited. To ensure residents are well informed when purchasing a mobile home, Senate Bill 1779 would require lenders to disclose these differences to prospective mobile home buyers.

Murphy has also introduced Senate Bill 1780, which calls for the owner of a mobile home park to provide water to residents if the normal water supply has been disrupted for more than three days. Murphy was inspired to introduce the legislation after a weeklong water shortage in 2019 at the Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines, which left residents unable to shower, do laundry or wash dishes.

“Mobile home owners are part of our community,” Murphy said. “Like any other property owner, they deserve to know the terms of their loan agreements, and they deserve to be able to depend on a basic standard of living.”

Senate Bills 1779 and 1780 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and now head to the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – To offer homeowners some relief from hefty property tax burdens, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) introduced legislation to establish a property tax credit for middle-class earners.

“To put it simply, working families are overburdened by property taxes,” Crowe said. “Creating a homestead exemption for working families is an important step toward allowing these families more financial freedom to support loved ones as well as local organizations, restaurants and small businesses.”

Starting in 2022, Crowe’s measure would allow homeowners to deduct 5 percent, or up to $5,000, from the assessed value of their home. Any Illinois household with an income of less than $131,772 would qualify for the homestead exemption.

The initiative is part of a long-term effort by Crowe to reduce property tax burdens on Illinois families.

“When considering locations to buy a home, open a business or raise a family, residents look for lower property taxes,” Crowe said. “Working families are critical to building our infrastructure, economies and opportunities throughout the state. We should encourage them to plant their roots in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 1745 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Revenue Committee Thursday.

URBANA – In an effort to promote wellness and improve recreational opportunities in the Urbana area, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) has secured $2.5 million through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) grant program, which will be used to construct the Urbana Indoor Recreation and Fitness Center.

“I’m thrilled that Urbana has been selected to receive a PARC grant to provide more recreational opportunities for our community,” Bennett said. “This funding shows the state’s continued commitment to invest in public recreational spaces so more families and individuals can maintain their health.”

The new facility will feature a gymnasium, walking track, exercise equipment room, multipurpose meeting and rental room, office space for facility staff, locker rooms, and parking. The project also includes the installation of rain gardens in the parking lot medians and additional tree planting. 

The PARC grant program provides up to 90% of project costs to help build, renovate and improve recreational buildings used by the public, with local governments matching the value of the grants awarded. The grant to Champaign-Urbana was one of 17 grants awarded across the state Wednesday.

A full list of grantees is available on IDNR’s website.

KANKAKEE – Kankakee County will receive more than $635,000 in construction funding over the next three years, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) announced.

“Transportation infrastructure is crucial to our community’s economic growth and quality of life,” Joyce said. “This funding from the Rebuild Illinois program will allow our community to address some much-needed infrastructure improvements throughout Kankakee County.” 

Rebuild Illinois has allocated $1.5 billion in funding specifically for municipal- and county-level projects. Infrastructure investments improve safety, quality of life and the economy, which contributes to the revitalization of communities across the state.

“These vital infrastructure investments have a significant impact on the health and well-being of a community,” Joyce said. “This investment will ensure Kankakee County’s infrastructure remains in good shape.” 

Projects are selected and managed locally in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Transportation, and may include road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacements and other long-term maintenance needs.

A complete list of local agencies and awards can be viewed here.

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is horrified by the shooting of eight people – six who were Asian Americans – in Georgia-based massage parlors last night. She released the following statement:

“My heart goes out to all the families of the victims that were senselessly murdered in Atlanta last night. It appears that the shooter was targeting women of Asian descent, which is deeply troubling.

“White nationalism is on the rise in this country, and we must begin to take this ideology as a serious threat. We cannot normalize behavior that spews hate and bigotry toward people of Asian descent.

“Reports have shown that violence against Asian Americans has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we must all do our part to prevent race-baiting rhetoric that leads to violence.”

CHAMPAIGN – To improve transparency around prescription drug costs, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) reintroduced a measure requiring pharmacies to post a notice informing consumers that a consumer may request current pharmacy retail prices at the point of sale.

“Retail prices at pharmacies generally bear no relationship to the actual market prices of the medications,” Bennett said. “Patients deserve to know the ‘real’ price of the medication they intend to purchase so they can make an informed decision about where they buy their prescriptions.”

SPRINGFIELD – People who have lived in an apartment might have noticed they typically only have one option to dispose of their waste: a large trash can. To give tenants a more sustainable way to get rid of garbage, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is leading the charge to require recycling options at apartment complexes.

“We all know recycling is the right thing to do, but not everyone has readily available access to it,” Bush said. “The best way to be environmentally friendly and reduce waste is to make recycling more accessible.”

Any apartment building with more than four units would be required to offer a recycling service and the building owner would have to provide tenants with recycling bins if Senate Bill 1676 becomes law.

SPRINGFIELD – In order to increase employment opportunities for women, minorities and people with disabilities, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) is sponsoring a measure to change the job interview process at state agencies.

“It’s essential for agencies to have diversity in mind when they interview job applicants,” Belt said. “People tend to hire applicants that look like them, which means interview panels that lack diversity can be less likely to produce a diverse workplace.”