General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons
Dear Neighbor,
First, thank you to everyone who came out for my town hall last Thursday at Truman College! Making sure folks hear from me first-hand is important, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to attend and engage. I was glad to provide direct updates about bills that passed during veto session, including the hard-fought passage of House Bill 1312 - a comprehensive immigration and constitutional rights protection package in response to ICE and CBP presence in Illinois, and the passage of Senate Bill 2111, a historic transit funding and reform bill. I also provided updates on advancing a bill to protect renters from egregious junk fees. I am already looking ahead to the 2026 spring legislative session and have a very productive agenda planned, with over 59 bill ideas already in the works. With the veto session fully wrapped up, we are now waiting for Governor Pritzker to sign HB1312 and SB2111!
A huge shout out to the resource providers and small businesses that participated to make last week’s town hall truly unique, supportive, and welcoming! We had therapy dogs from Canine Therapy Corps, tea from local Edgewater small business DMApothecary, art activities led by The Chicago Mosaic School, CMAA, SEAC, Centro Romero, and ECA with us as well at the veto session recap town hall.
I also want to take a moment to honor Trans Day of Remembrance. I had the privilege of lifting up and honoring all of the resplendent achievements of trans people all throughout history at a press conference on the corner that is named in memory of our sister, Elise Malary. Elise’s life – and every trans life – MATTERS, and we must continue to show up, take up space, and fight for trans rights more than ever before.
Caption: Senator Simmons, alongside Alderperson Bennett and Equality Illinois advocates honor Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20 in Andersonville.
As we enter the beginning of the holiday season, THANK YOU to everyone who has donated food and goods to the food pantry we set up in my district office as a result of federal SNAP cuts earlier this month. To-date, we have provided food and necessary items for over 198 people. Even though SNAP funding has been reinstated, the need continues. My office will continue to receive and distribute donations throughout December!
Caption: Generous donations received to the district office food pantry!
Finally, to all of you, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for our incredible community who has come together this past year to keep each other safe, feed one another, provide safe passage for students, serve our seniors, house one another, and so much more. The 7th District is a strong and welcoming place, and I could not be more grateful.
My district office will be closed for Thanksgiving from Nov.26 - 30, and will reopen Monday, Dec. 1. As always, please reach out if you need anything - you can always call 773-769-1717 and leave a voicemail or email
Sincerely,
Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District
Senator Simmons District Updates
Veto and Wellness Town Hall Recap
Caption: Senator Simmons speaks at his Town Hall at Truman College on Thursday, November 20.
Last Thursday, neighbors from all areas of the 7th District joined me for a Veto and Wellness Town Hall at Truman College. I provided updates on legislation that passed both chambers during the veto session.
I spoke in detail about what I am doing to fight against the violent and unnecessary presence of ICE in our communities including the passage of House Bill 1312, a comprehensive immigration and constitutional rights protection package in response to ICE and CBP presence in Illinois. A key measure in the legislation would allow Illinois citizens and residents to bring civil actions (lawsuits) against any person who deprives them of their constitutional rights while conducting civil immigration enforcement, including ICE or Border Patrol personnel. Unfortunately, we have recently seen countless incidents of federal agents impeding on constitutional rights, such as due process and the fourth amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
HB1312 would also codify long-standing common law protections to ensure parties, witnesses, and their family members can access the justice system without fear of civil arrest. The legislation creates a 1,000-foot safe zone around courthouses where federal authorities cannot conduct immigration enforcement, including parking facilities and surrounding streets. Violations would carry civil damages for false imprisonment.
HB1312 would also require public colleges and universities to establish procedures for reviewing law enforcement access requests and would prohibit unauthorized disclosure of immigration status. All Illinois hospitals and licensed daycare centers would also be required to develop policies for interacting with immigration enforcement officers. Daycare centers would need to provide parental notification when immigration enforcement is conducted nearby.
House Bill 1312 passed the Senate and House and awaits the governor’s signature before becoming law.
Additional major pieces of legislation discussed at the Town Hall included the passage of Senate Bill 2111, a historic piece of transit legislation I championed and helped get over the finish line. The final transit bill includes the People Over Parking initiative I sponsored, which would remove parking requirements for new housing construction near transit hubs and corridors. The broader bill fully funds and reforms transit in Northern Illinois. After more than two years of Senate Transportation Committee hearings, visits to transit hubs and facilities, thousands of emails and phone calls advocating for transit, Senate Bill 2111 passed both chambers on Thursday, Oct. 30. Next, we eagerly await the governor’s signature on this major step forward for Illinois and for our beloved transit systems.
I also touched on the Clean Slate Act, which passed both the Senate and the House, and would automate the sealing of criminal records that are already eligible for sealing under current Illinois law. This helps returning citizens get employed and secure housing, and it is a major step in progressive criminal justice reform.
Additionally, an initiative to strengthen mental health parity, House Bill 1085, has finally passed out of both the House and Senate! This bill will improve reimbursement rates for mental/behavioral health services to be on par with other forms of health care, improving insurance network adequacy for behavioral health.
Below are full recaps of the Town Hall, including the legislative run down and link to the YouTube livestream recording.
Post-Veto 2025 Legislative Rundown
Full Town Hall Recording - Linked Her
Town Hall Wellness Organization Partners
Caption: Apna Ghar resource table at Senator Simmons’ Town Hall.
Caption: Layla, a service pup from Chicago Canine Corps provides a warm hello to constituents at the November 20 Town Hall.
Caption: Deirdre Austin, owner of DMApothecary provides healing tea and Senator Mike Simmons at the November 20 Town Hall.
Please take a moment to check out all of the organizations that partnered with me to put on the Veto and Wellness Town Hall!
Apna Ghar
Canine Therapy Corps
Centro Romero
The Chicago Mosaic School
Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA)
DMApothecary & Tea Shop
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago (ECAC)
South-East Asia Center
Senator Simmons Speaks at Trans Day of Remembrance Press Conference
Caption: Senator Simmons speaks at the Trans Day of Remembrance press conference in Andersonville.
Last Thursday was Trans Day of Remembrance, and I had the honor of lifting up all of the resplendent achievements of trans people throughout history at a press conference with Equality Illinois on the corner of Clark and Farragut in Andersonville, which is named in memory of our sister, Elise Malary. Elise’s life – and every trans life – MATTERS, and showing up, taking up space, and fighting for trans rights is more necessary than ever before.
I am so proud to be the first openly LGBTQ+ senator to represent the 7th District, and I am proud to have introduced and passed legislation to make sure Illinois remains a safe haven for trans individuals. I will continue to walk through the fire and fight for our trans community every day, and thank our community for creating spaces where we can celebrate one another.
56+ Bill Ideas for the Upcoming Spring Legislative Session!
Caption: Senator Simmons on the floor of the Senate Chamber in Springfield.
Ahead of any Spring legislative session, my Senate colleagues and I are asked to submit our bill ideas to Senate leadership for peer review and research purposes.. I am thrilled to share that I am working on over 56 legislative ideas for the upcoming 2026 spring session!
It is important for lawmakers to be aggressive in filing legislation that serves and protects constituents and tackles problems proactively. My primary focus in the upcoming spring session is to further prevent the expanded use of ICE in our communities and demand accountability measures for law enforcement when complicit in aiding ICE. ICE has no place in our communities!
I am also working on measures to protect SNAP recipients from fraud, safeguard renters from rental price fixing, protect our environment from pollution and misuse, prevent patient data from being shared with the federal government, preserve and protect gender-affirming research and care, protect commuters through e-moto regulation, and measures to provide statewide recovery funding to small businesses and rapid responders in response to the negative impact of ICE.
These are just a handful of ideas that I plan to bring forth this spring. Many of these are directly informed by constituents, and as always, I welcome further ideas from you!
Senator Simmons’ Recap of “Join the Fight” 2025 Town Hall with ONE Northside
Caption: Senator Simmons sits alongside fellow elected officials and ONE Northside leadership during a presentation by LaTanya Lane.
Last week I attended ONE Northside’s “Join the Fight” 2025 Town Hall with over 400 northsiders in attendance at Senn High School! ONE Northside is an organizing juggernaut, and it was amazing to see hundreds of you in attendance at their town hall.
Shoutout to LaTanya Lane who led an inspiring and informative presentation on how community organizing can truly change working conditions and how corporations operate. In particular, it has been found that AT&T has multiple contracts with ICE, DHS, and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and LaTanya led a great presentation on how neighbors can come together to make it clear to AT&T that they should not be contracting with these government agencies that are completely out of control.
I will continue to champion ONE Northside priorities in the Illinois Senate, including housing justice, violence prevention, environmental justice, and putting people over profits by taxing the rich! Check out ONE Northside’s website linked here.
Caption: A packed Senn High School theatre for ONE Northside’s Join the Fight town hall.
Inside Government Panel at Loyola University Chicago
Caption: Senator Simmons with Loyola Chicago students part of the “Inside Government” student organization.
I recently sat on a panel hosted by Loyola Inside Government on their lakefront campus to share my experience becoming a member of the Illinois State Senate. State Rep. Gong-Gershowitz and State Rep. Olickal also participated on the panel, and it was great to connect with them after our pretty successful veto session.
It was a powerful opportunity for me to connect with young constituents and share my personal, ever-evolving journey as an elected official. I do not come from a background of wealth and privilege, and I prioritize my constituents in co-governing and passing legislation that reflects the needs of the 7th District. Being an elected official is an enormous responsibility that I appreciate greatly and I enjoyed sharing some highlights of the work I do and why I serve. Many thanks to my fall interns, Cullen and Emma for staffing me at this panel, and thanks to all the Loyola students who came and engaged in meaningful conversation!
Veterans Day Program at Complete Care Margate Park
Caption: Senator Simmons with veterans and staff at Complete Care Margate Park.
On Veterans Day, I visited the veterans living at Complete Care Margate Park for a full Veterans Day program with a posting of colors, performance of the national anthem, presentation of certificates and pins for the veterans in attendance, and remarks by myself, Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth, and Complete Care leadership. It feels more important than ever to remember our veterans and honor them for selflessly serving our country.
My family has a history of military service. My great-great-grandfather fought in the Civil War to throw the shackles of chattel slavery off of four million Americans so they could walk free, and my Uncle Sam, who helped raise me, left home when I was five to serve in the military at Great Lakes Naval Base and then fought in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
Our veterans deserve to be adequately housed, cared for, fed, and supported after the sacrifices they have made to defend and protect our nation. I am dedicated to fighting for them, as they fought for us. Thank you to Vera and all the staff at Complete Care for including me and to the people present who have served our country.
Senator Simmons in the News
- NITA celebrate? Hailing a historic win: the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and $1.5B in funding to save and upgrade service by StreetsBlog Chicago
- Illinois Senate passes bill banning rent junk fees, House ends session without voting on plan by WAND News
- $1.5 Billion Funding Bill Passed for City Transit Systems by Loyola Phoenix
- An integrated system, improved security, no rate hikes in 2026: Lawmakers detail transit rescue plan by Daily Herald
Senator Simmons Mutual Aid - New Update and Requests
I am pleased to report that the Illinois Department of Human Services is working to distribute full SNAP benefits now that the federal government shutdown has ended. SNAP recipients should have received the full benefit amount for November on their EBT card by Thursday, Nov. 20. However, my office is still acting as a mutual aid hub, and we have seen a high level of need. If you have not received your benefits by now, please contact IDHS for SNAP assistance at 1-833-234-6343 or visit the ABE Illinois website for more information.
Over the course of the federal government shutdown, around 130 neighbors have stopped by my office to utilize all of the donations so many of you have brought in. While the shutdown has ended, I have made the decision to continue running my office as a mutual aid hub throughout the holiday/Winter season. With the level of demand my staff and I have seen, we want to keep this resource going as long as necessary.
Pictured above is a new list of highly requested items that folks have been asking for. We are still accepting non-perishable food. Additionally, SNAP does not pay for personal hygiene items, so my office would gladly accept donations of laundry detergent, toilet paper, toothbrushes, and any personal hygiene items you would like to donate.
Thank you to every one of you who has donated to the effort so far! The support of those impacted by SNAP cuts has been very inspiring, especially in a time where the federal administration is turning its back on our communities.
Important Resources
The Resurrection Project (TRP) Immigration Justice - Weekly Know Your Rights Trainings
The Resurrection Project trainings are designed to ensure that immigrants know what to do if they encounter ICE or federal agents — from understanding your rights, protecting family members and assets, to getting legal help. TRP hosts ‘Know Your Rights’ trainings in English on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. and trainings in Spanish on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. Learn more on their website linked here. You can sign-up for scheduled trainings linked here.
How to Report ICE - DIY Zines
Check out this printable guide on ‘How to Report ICE’ linked here created by New York City-based illustrator Megan Piontkowski. There is a guide specifically for Chicago and a crafting guide included in the Google folder.
Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter! If you ever want to reach out to our office, please call us at 773-769-1717, and we will respond promptly. We can also be reached at
