Dear Neighbor,

I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season and new year’s with family and friends. I started the year back in Springfield for the Lame Duck session running from January 2-7. The Lame Duck session is the final days of a General Assembly where legislators finish passing legislation before a reset of all legislation and those elected in November start their term on Inauguration Day.

I am thrilled to share that during Lame Duck, major pieces of legislation that I introduced and have been fighting for passed and will now be signed into law. The Safe Public Drinking Water Act (Senate Bill 727), as well as Senate Bill 899, a major traffic safety improvement bill both passed. Additionally, Karina’s Bill, of which I have been an outspoken advocate and co-Sponsor, has now passed the House and Senate. This bill empowers law enforcement to grant more protection to survivors of domestic violence and save lives.You can read about more details on these bills below. Additionally, the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act passed both chambers, a bill that I was proud to co-sponsor that will make it easier for children in foster care to live with their relatives or other people close to them. All of these new laws will make an immediate impact on the lives of folks living in the 7th District and throughout Illinois. To everyone who tirelessly advocated, wrote letters, attended rallies, did research, and shared your stories - thank you. We did it together and I am honored to have passed laws that come directly from our community.

Finally, on Wednesday, January 8, I was inaugurated into my third term as your 7th District Illinois State Senator. It is a towering honor to be given the opportunity to continue to serve you, and I am already hard at work for the upcoming four year term.

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

Letter from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

Tomorrow, December 17, as Chair of the Senate Human Rights Committee, I am holding a subject matter hearing on the topic “Housing as a Human Right,” at 10 a.m. I invite you to tune in via the Senate website, at ilga.gov. This hearing will include direct testimony from constituents and advocacy groups within the 7th District, and I invite you to listen in. 

I am holding this hearing in direct response to so many of you reaching out to my office to share your challenges in finding accessible, affordable, and habitable housing. Subject matter hearings like this allow for my fellow senators to hear and learn about what constituents are facing, and in turn, to collectively find solutions.

You can expect that I will continue to be focused on this area in the new year - preserving and creating affordable housing opportunities, supporting long-time residents, fighting for humane, clean, and well-kept residential buildings, addressing the strain of increased property taxes, and much more. Thank you for lending your voices and lived experiences on this topic, and I look forward to working hard together in 2025.

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

These past two weeks have been an intersection of so many things - a return to Springfield to reconvene the general assembly for Veto session, stakeholder meetings on legislation, community safety events, small business visits with Lieutenant Governor Stratton on Argyle, and holding space to celebrate and lift up our Trans siblings during Transgender Awareness Week.

A highlight that I want to share is that The Medical Debt Relief Act (HB 5290), a law that I passed earlier this year, awarded over 52,000 Illinoisans medical debt relief in October alone for households at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. I am proud that we are taking rapid action as a state to wipe out medical debt for families and individuals, and folks know that their financial future is more secure.
Also in the past week, I passed House Bill 814 out of the Senate which strengthens workforce recruitment and retention for educators and childcare providers in Illinois through surveying groups and individuals with relevant expertise and lived experiences. It just makes sense - we should be asking those who are directly impacted and within this sector for their input and expertise to inform a plan for Illinois families and childcare providers to be able to find the best employees possible.

As we enter into the holiday season this week, along with colder weather, I want to call out that this is a time of year for celebration for many, but also a challenging time for our neighbors who need a helping hand. I am so grateful for the many food giveaways, coat drives, gift drives, and community resource events happening all over the 7th District. Also, if you are able, don’t forget to support your small business local restaurants, shops, and services. Take a look at the community events section below for ways to help, shop local, and celebrate the season.

For Thanksgiving, my district office will be closed Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29. If you need assistance, please leave a message at 773-769-1717 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will reply when we return. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,




Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are well. It has been a challenging week for many in the community, and I want to reassure anyone who is struggling, that you are not alone. If you need help, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office or to a trusted community resource. Just below this letter is a list of resources.

I am heartened to reflect back on the events and updates below as they are an example of what is to come for the future. My office and I will remain focused on making sure that everyone in Illinois - whether your family has lived here for generations or just arrived for the first time - has access to the most basic of human dignities; food, housing, healthcare, childcare, wellness, and safety.

As I ender my next term as your state senator, I want to express that it is the honor of my life to serve you and the community that I grew up in. Your needs and lived experiences directly inform legislation, outreach, and advocacy from my office. As always, should you need to reach us please do not hesitate to call our office at 773-769-1717 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sincerely,

Senator Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District