My proudest moments from this session + more rent assistance
Dear Neighbor,
Before I get into my last update from Springfield: today's the first day that renters can apply for a new round of assistance. If you need help paying back rent due to COVID, or know anyone who does, please scroll to the bottom of this email for details, or click here to apply.
Anyhow, in the last couple of weeks I've sent you updates on some of the biggest developments from this legislative session: budgeting, redistricting, affordable housing, clean energy, and an elected school board. Today, I want to describe a few of the legislative projects I championed this session that we were able to pass. (If you've been following along these newsletters throughout the spring, these might look familiar!)
Prescription drug recycling
Right now in Illinois, unused medications have to be destroyed. That means tens of millions of dollars of safe, unopened, unexpired drugs get thrown out (or worse yet, flushed into our waterways) every year. So we passed HB 119 to create a drug repository program, where people and healthcare institutions can donate unused drugs, and they can be redistributed for free to low-income patients. Dozens of other states have programs just like this, and I'm excited for Illinois's to get off the ground!
Early release for terminally ill inmates
In 2019, Joe Coleman, a decorated Vietnam veteran, died in Illinois prison at the age of 81. He'd been diagnosed with terminal cancer after serving nearly 40 years for armed robbery. His family tried desperately to secure clemency for him to spend his final days at home, but the process took too long. I was proud to work with his son and a coalition of criminal justice reform advocates to pass the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act. It will allow permanently disabled and terminally ill inmates to access an expedited petition to leave prison and get end-of-life care in their communities.
Helping small food businesses grow
Illinois's "cottage food" laws allow small businesses to make jams, jellies, pickles and breads and sell them directly to consumers without a commercial kitchen. But right now, cottage foods can only be sold at seasonal markets. With COVID shuttering those markets last year, many businesses were stuck with no legal avenue to sell their product. Our new legislation, the Home-to-Market Act, will allow these products to be sold at fairs, festivals, in home, and online. This will help the over 500 existing cottage food businesses in Illinois expand, and should allow hundreds more to start and grow!
I passed eleven other bills, on everything from affordable housing to retirement savings, wage protections to COVID benefits, workplace discrimination to inclusive athletic uniforms. Each of these measures, in its way, will protect those in need and make Illinois a stronger, fairer, and more just state.
As always, I'm happy to answer any questions about these measures or other policy initiatives you may be curious about. Send us an email, or give us a call at 773-853-2570.
Take care,
-Will
*Haga click aquí para ver este mensaje en Español*
Rent Assistance Now Available
IHDA has released its second round of rental assistance. Tenants can initiate applications for up to $25,000 of assistance. Applications are open today through Sunday, July 18. If you need help with your application, please call our office at (773) 853-2570 or email us at will@repguzzardi.com
