My first few bills 📄
The 2023 spring legislative session got underway last week, and I introduced several bills at the outset of the year that I wanted to share with you all.
This is by no means my entire legislative agenda - there are lots more bill ideas we'll be introducing in the coming weeks. But I wanted to give you a sense of the scope of topics I'm working on, and some of the issues that are high on my priority list
As usual, many of my bills have to do with workers rights. Regular readers of this newsletter will remember two of these bills from last session — one that requires charter schools to allow their employees to unionize free from interference; another that adds protections against gender-based violence.
This year we're also leading on the Freelance Isn't Free Act to provide new and enforceable protections for freelance workers, too many of whom get mistreated by clients with no recourse.
Other bills in the queue touch on a variety of topics. We're working to make sure the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority board (known as ICJIA or eye-SEE-juh) has people with lived experience in the Department of Corrections serving on it. We want to expand access to those fentanyl test strips that we legalized last year to prevent overdose deaths. We're making sure toxic chemicals aren't used in the production of ethanol. And we're hoping to launch a new task force to oversee the state's implementation of the 9-8-8 crisis hotline for people experiencing mental health challenges.
We'll write in more depth about several of these issues as the session unfolds. I send this today just to give you a little insight into some of the topics we deal with in the legislature.
If you have any questions about any of these bills, or any ideas for future legislation I should consider, please write back and let me know!
Otherwise, have a great week, and we'll be in touch soon—
Representative Will Guzzardi,
39th State District
JUSTICE IN ACTION EXPO
Join me at the Justice in Action Expo this Saturday to get connected to resources on housing and voting, and to read experiences of community members who are directly impacted by local issues.
When: Saturday February 11th, 9am - 1pm
Where: Lucy Gonzales Parsons Apartments, 2614 N Emmett Street
SECRETARY OF STATE POP-UP IN THE PARK
Join us for a Secretary of State Pop-Up at Kilbourn Park (3501 N Kilbourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60641) on Saturday, Feb. 25th from 10am to 2pm.
The following DMV services will be provided to constituents with appointments:
Renewing or correcting driver's license
Applying for a new state ID or correcting a current ID*
Purchasing license plate renewal stickers
Completing motor voter registration
Updating organ donor registration information
Please fill out this Google Form to request an appointment. >>>
FREE PROPERTY TAX APPEAL WORKSHOP
Join us on Thursday February 9th for a free workshop on how to appeal your property tax assessment.
The workshop will offer a brief bilingual (English and Spanish) presentation and analysts will be available to answer your questions following the presentation.
Make sure you have your 2nd installment property tax bill or property index number (PIN) on hand.
When: February 9th, 6pm
Where: Nixon Elementary Auditorium, 2121 N Keeler Ave. Chicago
VALENTINE'S DAY BINGO SOCIAL
Join the Hermosa Neighborhood Association for Bingo prizes, community resources, and goodies on February 11th. Meet with community organizations and leaders!
When: February 11th, 1-4pm
Where: Hermosa Park Fieldhouse, 2240 N Kilbourne Ave