Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus continue their efforts to improve affordability for all Illinois families by implementing a back-to-school state tax holiday. From Aug. 7 through Aug. 16, state sales tax on back-to-school necessities will be waived. By taking advantage of this ten-day initiative, parents and students alike can enter the school year confident, prepared, and well-equipped for the year ahead.

“The data shows that costs for common school supplies, from scissors to lunchboxes and even glue sticks, is on the rise, and that doesn’t even begin to account for the increases residents are seeing at the grocery store, at the gas pump, or on their health care and utility bills,” said State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This state tax holiday is about recognizing families’ needs for assistance on affording everyday necessities and ensuring their focus can remain on their student receiving the best education possible – not the price of notebooks and pencils.”

Enacted under the FY27 state budget package, the 10-day period is expected to provide an estimated $10 million in savings to online and in-store consumers on essential back-to-school items inducing clothing, footwear, and school supplies. During the tax holiday, the state will waive its 5% sales tax on qualifying purchases.

“Every dollar matters for Illinois families, especially as they prepare for a new school year,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. “The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is about putting money back in the pockets of working families when they need it most. By lowering the cost of essential school supplies and clothing, we're helping parents focus on preparing their children for success in the classroom – not worrying about how to make every paycheck stretch.”

Qualifying clothing and footwear with a retail selling price of less than $125 per item are eligible for the reduced tax rate. Examples of qualifying items include shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, and other everyday clothing items. Qualifying school supplies, including items such as notebooks, folders, binders, pens, pencils, and calculators, are also eligible for the reduced tax rate. There is no price limit on qualifying school supplies.

“For families already balancing the rising costs of everyday life, school supply expenses can add significant pressure to the household budget,” said State Senator Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “Through the Back-to-School sales tax holiday, we are relieving some of that burden and giving parents a little more breathing room.”

A complete list of qualifying and non-qualifying items can be found here.

New Castro law to ban cell phones in classrooms

ELGIN — To strengthen student engagement and support academic success, a new law championed by State Senator Cristina Castro will create a statewide school cellphone ban, helping schools foster distraction-free learning environments.

“Teachers should not have to compete with a cellphone for a student’s attention,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “By removing this distraction from the classroom, we are giving educators a better opportunity to engage students and help them succeed.”

Read more.

Feigenholtz: Everyone has a right to self-determination

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois will soon join a growing list of states that have maximized independence by expanding alternatives to traditional guardianship under a new law spearheaded by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz.

“Individuals should be able to make independent choices regarding their personal and financial life decisions,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This new law will support that goal, giving people the freedom to decide for themselves, while ensuring guidance is there when they need it.”

Read more.

Simmons expansion to Jett Hawkins Act protecting religious hairstyles becomes law

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Simmons’ new law expands the 2022 Jett Hawkins Act to include protections for religious hairstyles in private schools throughout the state.

“We are expanding protections for students across Illinois,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This expansion ensures that individuals expressing their identity through religious hairstyles can continue in school without the fear of persecution.”

Read more.

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SPRINGFIELD ─ State Senator Ram Villivalam led a new law that will ensure mental health support for educational staff – tackling the ongoing mental health crisis.

“Everyone deserves access to mental health care – including educational staff,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Education staff need additional support and access to resources to receive the care they deserve. It’s time we step up and break down barriers to access to quality, compassionate mental health care.”

SPRINGFIELD – Studies find that work release programs can play a crucial role in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals. However, there is a lack of rehabilitation credit opportunities for individuals in pretrial detention, leading State Senator Laura Ellman to champion a new law, Senate Bill 3333.

“There are few greater contributions to society than empowering people through education and my hope is to see more opportunities being created to reduce recidivism and improve public safety in the long run,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “While Illinois is a leading state in creating opportunities for incarcerated individuals, we still have many avenues we can improve.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons’ new law expands the 2022 Jett Hawkins Act to include protections for religious hairstyles in private schools throughout the state.

“We are expanding protections for students across Illinois,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This expansion ensures that individuals expressing their identity through religious hairstyles can continue in school without the fear of persecution.”

Simmons’ law requires private, non-religious schools to affirm they will not prohibit religious hairstyles or hair-related religious practices, including facial hair worn pursuant to a student’s or employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs, in order to register with the Illinois State Board of Education.

SPRINGFIELD– State Senator Christopher Belt’s measure to prohibit retailers from refusing cash payments up to $500 was signed into law.

“Cash is still necessary for many working people and seniors across our state,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This law ensures no one is turned away from making a purchase because they choose to pay with the money they have in their pocket.”

Belt’s law will prohibit retailers from refusing cash payments up to $500 or posting signage that cash is not accepted. The law includes reasonable exceptions, including retailers with self-service checkout but at least one staffed cash register, late-night sales after 10 p.m. and retailers offering prepaid card systems that allow cash conversion. 

SPRINGFIELD - A measure led by State Senator Rachel Ventura providing grants to local governments for planting native trees and grasses in communities was signed into law by the governor Friday.

“Planting native greenery in local communities is a small step that can have a massive impact in combatting the catastrophic effects of climate change,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Responsible stewardship of the environment starts right in our own backyards.”

The bill expands on an earlier measure led by Ventura passed in 2024, Senate Bill 2781, which established the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. That law allows for units of local government to submit their own grant proposal and receive funds to use for restoring degraded forest lands and native prairies and to promote the growth of native vegetation that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help mitigate the impact of climate change.

SPRINGFIELD — A measure spearheaded by State Senator Willie Preston to protect children from harmful and addictive online practices has been signed into law, marking a major step toward improving digital safety for young people across Illinois.

“Parents shouldn’t have to fight an uphill battle to keep their children safe online,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “For too long, tech companies have put profits ahead of young people’s well-being. Families deserve clear information about how these platforms operate, stronger safeguards for kids and accountability when companies fail to protect them.”