Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons

Simmons Advances Bill to Increase Cyclist and Pedestrian Safety

Details: Category: Press Releases; Friday, May 02, 2025 01:31 PM

Bikes in a city - State Senator Mike Simmons

SPRINGFIELD – To provide the safest conditions possible for cyclists, State Senator Mike Simmons is moving legislation to update warning sign requirements on bike trails where there are known hazards.

“When someone chooses to ride their bike or walk as an alternative to motor transportation, or simply wants to get some exercise, they should know they are safe and protected,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Better signage around pathway hazards or emergencies is a simple way to keep everyone safe.”

Under Simmons’ legislation, House Bill 2675, local government and municipality-owned bicycle trails must contain signage or other warning markers alerting cyclists to known emergencies or hazards. If a highway crossing is already controlled by a stop light or stop sign, additional crossing signage for cyclists would not be required.

Simmons: New PrEP HIV prevention initiative supports healthy communities

Details: Category: Press Releases; Thursday, April 24, 2025 03:12 PM

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SPRINGFIELD – With lifesaving medication being one of the most effective means of preventing HIV diagnoses, State Senator Mike Simmons is proud to support the Illinois Department of Public Health’s initiative to allow Illinois residents to obtain HIV preventive medication known as PrEP directly from a pharmacist without requiring a doctor’s prescription.

"PrEP saves lives, and removing the prescription barrier means more people – especially in the LGBTQ+ community – will be provided with lifesaving care,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This is a major step forward in health equity in Illinois.”

In June 2022, Simmons passed House Bill 4430 into law, which allows pharmacists to dispense and administer drugs, order laboratory tests, and consult individuals on HIV pre-exposure drugs and post-exposure drugs like PrEP.

Simmons bills would ease restrictions on cyclists in Illinois

Details: Category: Press Releases; Monday, April 14, 2025 04:55 PM

Bike Riding

SPRINGFIELD – An avid cyclist himself and supporter of bike riders, State Senator Mike Simmons passed two bills through the Senate that would remove current prohibitions on bicyclists in Illinois.

“Current rules prevent cyclists from doing what is safe in favor of what is required by law,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We want to remove and clear up language surrounding bike riders to give all travelers better and safer options when cycling.”

Under the new legislation, Senate Bill 2111, bicyclists would be able to treat stop signs as yield signs only when it is safe to proceed if they give a signal, slow to a reasonable speed and yield to the right of way. This would not apply to railroad crossings or youth under age 18.

Simmons bill to remove barriers to housing passes Senate

Details: Category: Press Releases; Thursday, April 10, 2025 08:48 PM

Senator Mike Simmons

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons is continuing his push to remove barriers to accessing housing and state resources for unhoused Illinoisans.

“Unhoused individuals often have no form of legal identification, affecting their housing, job prospects, transit options and more,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “To get an identification card, these individuals are required to have a signature from a notary, which comes at a cost. This legislation will ease the requirements to make the whole process easier.”

Currently, application fees for standard Illinois state IDs are waived for unhoused individuals, but their application must be accompanied by a notarized affirmation. This can be difficult for individuals with little financial resources, as notary fees vary but can cost up to $25. Under Senate Bill 1173, notaries would no longer be able to charge a notary fee to unhoused individuals trying to apply for and obtain a state ID.

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Sincerely,

Sen. Mike Simmons