Caucus News

Details: Category: Senator Paul Faraci News; Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 07:58 PM

CHAMPAIGN - State Senator Paul Faraci highlighted the start of construction on a new inclusive special recreation area that will serve people of all abilities – funded in part with a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that Faraci strongly supported.

“Open Space and Land Acquisition Development funding is essential not only for improving our communities’ local infrastructure, but also for ensuring residents have access to reliable outdoor recreation areas,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “I am proud to support the OSLAD program to continue securing state funding for projects in East Central Illinois, providing our community members with accessible, safe green spaces for families with a range of needs to enjoy.”

Details: Category: Senator Ram Villivalam News; Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 07:24 PM

SPRINGFIELD ─ State Senator Ram Villivalam is spearheading a measure through the Senate aimed at ensuring accessible, affordable housing in Illinois.

“Since 2024, cost of living has continued to rise, and now the Trump administration is continuing to make it harder for working families to access quality, affordable housing in their own neighborhoods,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “With residents potentially facing additional federal requirements to secure adequate housing, we must act now to ensure all Illinoisans have housing options within reach.”

Details: Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News; Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 06:57 PM

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a transformative proposal that aims to give faith-based organizations the tools to revitalize and redevelop closed and underutilized houses of worship into affordable residential housing.

“Many religious institutions already serve vulnerable populations through programs and outreach services,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “Extending these services to include permanent or supportive housing is a natural progression of their mission.”

Details: Category: Senator Kimberly A. Lightford News; Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 05:27 PM

SPRINGFIELD – Following years of steadfast advocacy and negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is leading Senate Bill 20 – a measure that brings critical consumer protections to Illinois’ hemp-derived CBD marketplace.

“From protecting a grandmother buying CBD oil for arthritis, to making sure a social equity transporter can build a real business, to guarding underage youth from harmful products — this bill is simply about people,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Effective regulation is about safeguarding public health and fostering a sustainable, trustworthy market.”

Details: Category: Member News; Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 02:42 PM

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SPRINGFIELD — As the nation grapples with a growing housing affordability crisis, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus stood together during a press conference Tuesday to outline their package of proposals aimed at making renting and owning a home more affordable, fair and accessible for working families across the state.

As the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development takes steps to slash funding for affordable housing and propose strict work requirements and time limits for people who rely on housing assistance, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is fighting to make sure Illinois does not turn its back on those who are already struggling under Senate Bill 608.

Details: Category: Senator Ram Villivalam News; Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 01:51 PM

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State Senator Ram Villivalam joined members of the Illinois Rideshare Alliance on Tuesday to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 2906 – a measure that would allow rideshare drivers in Illinois to unionize.

“With the increase in popularity of apps like Uber and Lyft, rideshare drivers have increasingly spoken out about their lack of rights, protections and little to no transparency about pay,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Every worker deserves the right to organize. Current laws exclude rideshare drivers from the right to organize ─ leaving more than 100,000 Illinoisans without a voice on the job while corporations like Uber and Lyft make billions.”

The number of adults who work as taxi drivers or chauffeurs for their primary job has tripled over the last decade thanks to app-based rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Since the increase in popularity of these apps for both consumers and laborers, rideshare drivers have increasingly spoken out about their lack of rights, protections and little to no transparency about pay.

Details: Category: Member News; Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 11:37 AM

JOLIET — Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus applauded the construction of new Interstate 80 bridges over the Des Plaines River.

The project began in early May, and marks the final phase of the $1.3 billion, multiyear I-80 rehabilitation and modernization, which is part of the Senate Democrat-backed Rebuild Illinois capital program. This year, 13 miles of additional lanes, reconstructed interchanges, safety upgrades and capacity improvements on the I-80 corridor will be completed, which will leave only about 20% of the project unfinished.

Details: Category: Senator Graciela Guzmán News; Published: Monday, May 25, 2026 03:06 PM

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.”