Welcome to Senator Mike Simmons' Legislative Website

Senator Simmons Champions New Laws, Student Mental Health Council Accepting Applications, and New Small Business Grant Opportunities

General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

I am happy to announce that work on my district office is now complete! We made some changes that I believe will make the space even more welcoming for constituents, including an outside space for folks to meet and enjoy the warm weather. Please stop by and say hello soon. We are here for you.

In other updates, I tested positive for COVID-19 last week and had to quarantine and spend a few days recovering. I want to encourage everyone to keep healthy in the weeks ahead, and remember to follow health department guidelines if you feel ill or think you may have had a recent exposure. Free testing is available at many local stores and pharmacies. As always, feel free to call my office if you need help finding healthcare or lack a primary health care home. We will help guide you.

On another topic, I have great news: I passed a youth mental health bill last year, Senate Bill 4028 that creates the first statewide Student Mental Health Council. I encourage young people aged 14–25 to apply for the council before the Sept. 22 deadline.

A handful more of my bills were signed into law recently. Read on for details on those as well as key community updates and new resources.

Finally, a huge THANK YOU to our summer interns Ochii, Justin, and Byron who are wrapping up their internships soon.

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

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Legislative Updates

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons led passage of three bills signed into law this July.

This month, several bills I authored and supported were signed into law, including Senate Bill 1710 and Senate Bill 2014.

Additionally, I helped advance multiple House Bills through the Senate, including House Bill 2131, House Bill 1342, House Bill 2297, and House Bill 3631.

Bike and pedestrian safety improvements: Senate Bill 2014 improves coordination of bike and pedestrian safety upgrades during state road maintenance projects.

Warning signs on bike trails: Senate Bill 1710 adds advance warning signage near bike crossings to improve safety.

Public transportation improvements: House Bill 1342 expands transit accessibility, youth programs, and service improvements.

Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force: House Bill 2131 creates a task force to reduce traffic fatalities statewide.

Inclusive workforce policy: House Bill 2297 improves inclusion tracking for state workforce diversity.

Pharmacy protections: House Bill 3631 protects pharmacists who report legal violations.

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Senator Mike Simmons In the News

• Crain’s Chicago Business coverage on rent control policy discussions
• State Journal-Register reporting on Illinois prison labor system
• The Daily Line coverage of prisoner voting rights legislation
• Chicago Tribune reporting on transit accessibility for seniors and disabled riders

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Senator Mike Simmons’ Updates

Portrait by Megan Williamson – “ZOOM”

Caption: Portrait of Senator Mike Simmons, painted by Megan Williamson for her solo exhibit “Zoom.”

I am honored to be featured in artist Megan Williamson’s solo exhibit “Zoom,” on display at the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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Illinois Launches the First Statewide Student Mental Health Council

Senate Bill 4028 created a statewide Student Mental Health Council to elevate youth voices in mental health policy.

Applications are now open for the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership Youth Council.

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Read the full newsletter

Simmons' pedestrian and cyclist safety plan signed into law by the governor

CHICAGO – Pedestrian and cyclist safety will improve thanks to a new law led by State Senator Mike Simmons which will require infrastructure improvements to roads whenever routine maintenance is conducted.

“It can be stressful to bike along a path or road with cars, especially when going on a bike ride with kids,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This initiative will help ensure bike and pedestrian safety improvements are efficiently completed in tandem with routine work such as pothole or street lighting repairs.”

These new sets of laws will require the Illinois Department of Transportation to develop a policy that focuses on installing pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure on State roadways in Illinois. Potential infrastructure improvements that can be made include higher-visibility signage, crosswalk upgrades, curb bump outs, lower speed limits, barrier-protected bike lanes, and improved bus shelters. These improvements can be made if they are located within 500 feet of the routine maintenance work. This law applies to any state roads, whether it is located within or outside a municipality.

“Everyone has a right to be safe, whether they choose to walk, bike, or drive,” Simmons said. “This common-sense and efficient new law will prevent future accidents and tragedies, and make our roads safer for all methods of transportation.”

Senate Bill 2014 was signed into law on August 4, 2023 and went into immediate effect.

Simmons Attends Gun Safety Event with Vice President Kamala Harris as Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Assault Weapon Ban

CHICAGO – As a tireless advocate in the fight against gun violence, State Senator Mike Simmons attended the annual Everytown for Gun Safety gathering in Chicago on Friday, August 11 where Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about the urgency of the fight for stronger gun laws; the same day the Illinois Supreme Court decided to uphold the assault weapon ban.

“Today is a historic day - the Illinois Supreme Court has upheld the Protect Illinois Communities Act which bans the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and high capacity magazines, a law I strongly supported and helped pass in January. Coinciding with Vice President Harris’ visit to address the epidemic of gun violence, today we have made progress in making our communities safer.” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Gun violence has left us all traumatized from neighborhoods in Chicago to suburbs and small towns. Collectively we must step up our efforts to advocate for and pass stronger legislation to get weapons of war off our streets and impose enforcement mechanisms that will help us make our communities safer. We also have to step up our investments in community-based programming that we know helps our neighbors recover from the emotional trauma that grips communities hit by the gun violence epidemic.”

Alongside thousands of activists, volunteers and survivors of gun violence, Simmons listened to Vice President Harris discuss the commitment of The Biden Administration to reduce gun violence during a moderated conversation with Moms Demand Action’s Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala.

The gun safety legislation upheld Friday bans the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and places a ban on rapid-fire devices and increases the duration of a Firearm Restraining Order from six months to up to one year.

Studies show that approximately one-third of public mass shooting events include the use of an assault weapon, and nearly 40% involve a high-capacity magazine.

“I will continue to be aggressive in supporting stronger gun control legislation. I want our children to be able to walk to school and feel safe, moms and dads to see their children grow up and become adults, and for our schools, places of worship, public transit, and nightclubs to be places where we can live and gather in peace,” said Simmons. "Thank you to so many of my constituents whose lives have been directly impacted by gun violence who have partnered with my office to make our advocacy efforts on gun control more robust and directly responsive to the lived experiences of 7th District residents and people all across Illinois.”

Simmons celebrates signage of comprehensive public transit bill

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons served as chief co-sponsor and led passage of a newly signed law, House Bill 1342, which will accelerate the rollout of electric buses under the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace. This law will also boost accessibility to public transportation through reduced ride fares for young people and survivors of domestic violence and their dependents. The new law also will review extending these same benefits year-round to returning citizens and veterans by July 1, 2024.

“As a lifelong user of Chicago public transit, and as a Chicagoan who believes deeply in public transit, I am happy to see this package become law,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “It simultaneously addresses many issues in our public transit system. It requires all buses purchased by CTA, and all RTA systems including Metra and PACE, to be electric by 2026. Transportation remains our largest sector for carbon emissions. This is a huge step forward for sustainability. This new law will also help improve accessibility, reliability, and ridership of our cherished transit systems at a time when it is desperately needed.”

The measure – House Bill 1342 – includes many positive initiatives including reduced ride fares for young people and survivors of domestic violence. It requires the RTA to distribute preloaded fare cards to service providers of survivors of domestic violence and their dependents, as well as requires the CTA to provide reduced fares for youth-involved jobs programs. It also requires PACE and Metra to create or participate in a youth jobs or internship program. The law further initiates a study looking into reduced ride fares for returning citizens and veterans. Lastly, it provides the CTA with flexibility on the farebox recovery ratio to help the agency recover and regain ridership to pre-pandemic levels.

“So many people rely on public transportation,” said Simmons. “This law not only helps everyday people like the communities I fight for everyday, but also puts us on the path toward clean energy. I am proud to have helped lead and secure its passage.”

House Bill 1342 was signed into law Friday, July 28, 2023.

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