General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons
Dear Neighbor,
First, HAPPY PRIDE, EVERYONE! I was thrilled to kick off June by celebrating pride in Niles this past weekend. This is their third Pride celebration, and there were lots of friends and familiar faces - faith leaders, librarians, historians, immigrants, parents, young people, grandmothers. I look forward to many more celebrations this month!
Caption: Senator Simmons kicks off Pride Month last weekend with friends from across the north side!
Next up - the Spring 2026 legislative session has finished! We had a very productive session with progressive revenue and some legislative wins, and I have lots to share in this edition of the newsletter.
We are taxing the mega-rich with some major progressive wins included in the FY27 state budget! Hundreds of constituents wrote in to my office this year asking that we tax the mega-rich to make sure they pay their fair share for affordable housing, high-quality public education, accessible public transportation, safe multimodal infrastructure, expansive food access, expansive healthcare access, living wages for all, and so much more we are striving to achieve.
The progressive revenue wins we achieved this session include…
- Social Media Platform Fee: This fee will apply to social media platforms like Meta and X with more than 100,000 Illinois users. Companies are prohibited from passing this cost along to the consumer or reducing access to features to Illinois users.
- Digital Asset Excise: This measure adds a 0.2% fee on digital asset transactions – such as cryptocurrency transactions – if the customer is in Illinois starting January 1st, 2027.
- Targeted Digital Advertising Tax: A long priority of progressive revenue advocates, the digital ad tax could soon be implemented in Illinois. It will create a 10% tax on providers of targeted digital advertising services on gross receipts exceeding $1 million during a 12-month period while exempting legitimate news media entities.
- Sports Wagering: A new progressive revenue tax on sports wagers placed on predictive market platforms is also moving forward.
I see this as a solid beginning for enacting progressive revenue in Illinois. There is still so much more we need to do. I look forward to continuing the fight to tax the rich to provide education, transit, housing, fully-funded human services, and healthcare for all in Illinois.
The budget also includes tax relief for working families, including a pause on the sales gas tax increase and a back-to-school sales tax holiday. Given the increased price of gasoline due to the war in Iran, my colleagues and I approved a 6-month delay for a scheduled gas tax increase that would have gone into effect on July 1st, 2026. Additionally, the legislature approved a back-to-school sales tax holiday that will take place from August 7th through August 16th, 2026. Make sure to get school supplies during this 10-day period with a much lower sales tax !
On education, I am thrilled to share that evidence-based funding for K-12 schools received a $350 million increase from last year’s state budget. MAP funding for undergraduate financial aid also received maintained funding levels to continue an 80% increase for MAP funding since 2019. Education funding was one of the top priorities constituents and advocates spoke to me about during the final days of session, so an increase of $350 million for EBF and substantial MAP funding is great news .
On housing, I wanted to touch on the BUILD Plan. I am a big proponent of the BUILD Plan and support each of its measures to increase housing supply in Illinois. No bills included in the BUILD Plan were passed this Spring, but discussions are continuing over the summer with stakeholders so we can figure out a path forward for all six bills. The legislature faced a lot of opposition from local municipalities, and discussions are ongoing regarding the future of the BUILD Plan. I remain a major proponent of the plan, and I will continue to use my role to push for the passage of all of its bills through the legislature.
After a long weekend in Springfield, Michael and I visited the Obama Presidential Center and Library for the first time.
Caption: Senator Simmons and his partner Michael (seated) pose for a photo at the Obama Presidential Center in a reproduction of President Obama’s oval office.
It was a profound honor to get a tour of the center and museum ahead of its opening on Juneteenth. It was an especially potent visit for me as I started off my career by interning for President Obama when he was a U.S. Senator, and I previously was Deputy Director of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance at the Obama Foundation. President Obama was and still is an important figure for his generation. He led a presidency that championed multi-culturalism and reflected Chicago values. As a son of immigrants like Obama himself, he continues to be a major inspiration for me as I serve as your State Senator. I recognize the privilege of my role as State Senator, and I look forward to continuing the work that needs to be done while carrying Obama’s legacy by championing multi-culturalism and a politics that brings people together!
I have so much more to share about the legislative session, including key legislation and budget provisions we passed over the final long weekend. See below for a comprehensive breakdown of this session, and news on our Summer priorities. Thank you to everyone who continues to reach out to my office and engage in the democratic process! I’ll see you out in the district this Summer!
With Gratitude,
Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District
Post-Session Legislative Updates
Senator Simmons Passes Legislation to Provide Tenant Right of First Refusal through Senate, House Bill 957
My bill to provide tenants with the first opportunity to purchase their residential building passed the Senate in the early hours on June 1st as House Bill 957. The bill is now in the House. Tenants deserve the opportunity to become homeowners if the opportunity presents itself, and HB957 will make sure that opportunity is available to most long-time residents and renters. The legislation will also slow down scenarios where multi-family rental properties are getting flipped by private equity firms and turned into hyper-expensive luxury rentals.
Senator Simmons Passes January 1st Implementation Date for Ban on Rental Junk Fees
House Bill 3564 is headed to the Governor’s desk! Led by Rep. Syed and myself, HB3564 establishes a $50 cap for rental application fees, bans 11 types of junk fees, caps move-in fees at 20% of rent, and requires move-in fees to be itemized, among more protections for renters. During the last weekend of session, we passed HB5234 to set a January 1st, 2027 implementation date for these initiatives.
Simmons Votes Yes as Rideshare Drivers are Granted the Right to Organize, Appeal Unjust Deactivations, and Secure Benefits
The end of the legislative session marked the passage of the Transportation Network Driver Labor Relations Act, a bill that I am proud to Chief Co-Sponsor. This is a landmark bill that will give Illinois rideshare drivers the right to appeal unjust deactivations and the right to unionize, allowing them to fight for the wages they deserve. It was a pleasure to work alongside the Illinois Drivers Alliance and Chief Sponsor Sen. Villivalam in their efforts to give rideshare drivers the same rights as any working-class Illinoisan. I’m glad to have worked with Senator Villivalam, Senator Cervantes, Senator Peters, Representative Johnson, union leaders, as well as supporters from across the state. Together, we were able to ensure that rideshare drivers are given a voice.
Simmons Votes Yes for New Reproductive and LGBTQ+ Healthcare Data Protections
House Bill 5295 creates the Reproductive Health Privacy Act to protect anyone seeking reproductive care in Illinois, whether they are Illinois residents or visiting Illinois specifically for reproductive care. This bill allows patients to request medical records regarding abortion services or LGBTQ+ healthcare to be electronically separated from their main medical record. If a patient chooses this, information on specific types of healthcare will be shielded from out-of-state entities and only be shared in certain circumstances with a patient’s consent. HB5295 passed the House and Senate during the end of session, and I voted in strong support of this legislation. I support Illinois being a safe haven for high-quality, accessible healthcare, including reproductive care that supports a person’s right to choose. HB5295 is a great piece of legislation that should further protect long-time Illinois residents and visitors seeking reproductive healthcare in Illinois.
Update: Moratorium on Data Center Tax Incentives
Last week I shared that I signed onto a letter in collaboration with the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) calling for a moratorium on tax credits for data centers in Illinois. Less than a week ago on June 5th, Governor Pritzker shared he will “pause the processing of data center agreements while we continue working with the General Assembly and stakeholders on a comprehensive framework that protects affordability, safeguards our natural resources, and ensures responsible growth across Illinois.”
Data centers pose a major threat to our clean water supply, electrical grid, and job security. With all of these downsides, Illinois should not be offering tax incentives to bring data centers to our communities, forcing Illinois residents to pay the price through taxes or increased utility costs. The General Assembly continues to consider legislation like the POWER Act to establish vital environmental and energy regulations for data centers, and I will continue to prioritize curbing data center impacts in my legislative agenda.
Read more on the pause of data center tax incentives linked here.
Restock The Block Act Passes Senate
In our ongoing effort to create expansive housing policy across the state, I am extremely proud to say that I voted YES on the Restock the Block Act, House Bill 2873. This bill aims to change housing policy by placing an annual fee on private equity real estate investment firms that own at least 10 properties in the state. Fees collected are placed into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which will be allocated to public housing projects, developments, and rental and mortgage assistance. This bill is a big step forward toward creating more affordable housing in Illinois. It now awaits action in the House.
Update: The BUILD Plan
Although the proposals related to the BUILD Initiative were not called for a vote before the end of the legislative session, I will continue to support all BUILD initiatives because I believe that an increased housing supply will help contribute to lower housing costs during our present affordability crisis. Dozens of constituent letters have shown how important these initiatives are, especially as high housing costs remain the number one issue facing constituents seeking assistance from my office. I hear all of this support, and I am committed to remaining a major advocate for permanent, accessible, and affordable housing.
Keep an eye out as I continue to push for initiatives like shortening the review period for housing permit timelines to speed up construction and lower costs for developers. I remain committed to expanding housing developments through initiatives similar to SB4060 and other bills contained in the BUILD plan. I am proud to continue the fight for affordable, accessible housing, and as always, I will keep you posted via my newsletter or social media, so stay connected!
Additional Key Votes and Legislation
New Detention Center Restrictions
House Bill 5024 will prohibit the federal government from operating a new immigration center within 1,500 feet of any school, day care center, day care home, cemetery, public park, forest preserve, public housing, private residence, or place of religious worship. HB5024 passed the House and Senate with a vote of 72-35-2 and 39-17, respectively. I believe that ICE should be abolished and no immigration detention center should exist in Illinois. While we continue to protest the federal government’s crackdown on working-class immigrants and migrants, I am pleased HB5024 was passed by both chambers to curb detention center construction and operation in Illinois as much as we possibly can as a state legislature.
Medical Cannabis Expansion and Hemp Ban
Senate Bill 3222 includes several changes for cannabis and hemp in Illinois that focuses on expanding medical cannabis access and tackling the unlicensed hemp product market.
For cannabis, possession limits would be doubled and the minor offense threshold would rise from 30 to 60 grams, making more Illinoisans eligible for automatic expungement. Small operators earning under $50,000 would see license renewal fees waived entirely, with a 50% reduction for those earning up to $750,000, lowering barriers for independent and equity-owned businesses.
For hemp, SB3222 would establish mandatory licensing and uniform standards for CBD manufacturers while creating a responsible transition path for hemp businesses entering the licensed cannabis market with at least 45 infuser licenses reserved for social equity applicants.
SB3222 now heads to the Governor for final consideration. I voted yes for SB3222 because I support expanded medical access for cannabis and hemp regulation to ensure products are safe to use. I encourage you to read more about this bill online here.
Municipal Stadium Authority Act / Chicago Bears
As you likely already know, the General Assembly did not pass any legislation this Spring session related to the Chicago Bears. However, in the final hours of session , the Senate voted on House Bill 958 that would have allowed municipalities to establish a stadium authority. This authority would be able to facilitate a public-private partnership with the Bears to build a new stadium with a combination of public and private dollars.
While the bill passed the Senate, I voted no on this legislation for a number of reasons. First, I voted no because my constituents have consistently advocated no public dollars to be used to support the Bears’ stadium project. Moreover, public-private partnerships have time and time again not boded well for the taxpayer or for public goods. Finally, I am proud to stay focused on funding programs for housing, food assistance, violence prevention, and education instead of on a new sports stadium. As millions of Americans see food and housing access cut, we must remain focused on utilizing government funds to help those in need, not sports teams owned by billionaires.
$70 Million Included for FRESH Program, One-Time $400 Payments to Families Who Lost SNAP Access
Over 250 constituents wrote in to my office advocating for funding the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program to provide one-time emergency food assistance to families who have lost or might lose SNAP benefits due to changes in eligibility imposed by the recent Federal One Big Ugly Bill, HR 1, such as work requirements. I am proud to share that $70 million that I championed and helped build support for is allocated to the program in the FY27 budget passed by the House and Senate. This program will provide $400 payments to tens of thousands of Illinoisans who have lost or lose SNAP due to federal eligibility changes. We need to go further and implement a state-level universal basic income.
Please stand by for more information on the program as the Department of Human Services determines final implementation.
Senator Simmons in the News
- Illinois Senate Democrats present historic housing affordability plan, (Full Press Conference) Illinois Senate Democrats
- Simmons Passes Right of First Refusal for Tenants through the Senate, Illinois Senate Democrats
- Niles Pride celebrates with fourth annual Pride Rainbow Walk and picnic event, Windy City Times
Trending Topics
Every week, my office receives hundreds of phone calls, emails, and letters from constituents communicating what issues matter most to them, their ideas, and legislative requests. Here are the top trending correspondence issues our office has received from 7th District constituents since the previous newsletter!
- 182 supporting Taxing the Rich/Progressive Revenue Proposals
- Tax the Rich proposals championed by the Illinois Revenue Alliance, including tax on digital advertising, billionaire wealth tax, and closing corporate tax loopholes.
- 105 supporting SNAP access for lawfully-present immigrants
- 99 supporting the SNAP Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program
- 95 supporting funding for education.
- Stop CPS cuts, and secure funding for education with progressive revenue proposals.
District Events
TPAN Town Hall
Caption: Heather spoke at the “7 Days in June” Town Hall last week, a national grassroots campaign led locally by Vivant Health + TPAN in Chicago to advocate for healthcare funding and protect public health.
Last week Heather, my chief of staff, spoke at the Vivant Health + TPAN “7 Days in June,” Town Hall on my behalf. “7 Days in June” is nation-wide initiative that activates public health leaders, elected officials, advocates and community members, to reflect, share, and stand up for healthcare in light of the Trump administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget that would dismantle our public health systems and social safety net, increase the number of new HIV diagnoses and homelessness, and devastate our communities. Many thanks to Vivant+TPAN and the AIDS Foundation for including my office. Timothy Jackson, Director of Policy with the AIDS Foundation said it best - “We refuse to let power, bigotry, and hatred reverse decades of progress. Our voices are stronger together, and now is the time to fight back.”
McCutcheon Elementary Commencement
Caption: Congratulations to the 2026 8th Grade Graduating Class of McCutcheon Elementary School - we are so proud of you!
Congratulations to the 8th Grade class of McCutcheon Elementary School on your graduation! I and my entire team are so proud of each of you, and were honored to attend your commencement last week. We cannot wait to see what you accomplish next, and we are here to continue supporting you and your families along the way!
Upcoming Community Events
Glenwood Market Open for the Season
The Glenwood Market will be open every Sunday from June 7th through October 25th from 9am until 2pm. The market will be closed on Sunday June 28th and on Sunday August 16th.
Andersonville Midsommarfest
June 12th - 14th
Join me on Saturday, June 13 for Opening Ceremonies at 11 a.m. at Foster and Clark as Midsommarfest returns to Andersonville for its 60th year - I can’t wait to kick off Pride season with joy, visibility, and community. Kick-off celebrations include the annual Maypole raising dancing and music. My office will be in the community booth, so stop by for state services!
Join us for a full weekend with neighbors, friends, and chosen family! Monday through Friday, Enjoy live music across multiple stages, local food and drinks, unique vendors, and activities along Clark Street.
ONE Northside Juneteenth Celebration
Friday, June 19th | 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Join ONE Northside on Friday, June 19th from 1-7 p.m. at Pottawatomie Park (7340 N Rogers Ave) to celebrate Juneteenth!! Join us for our 6th annual Juneteenth celebration! Everyone is welcome to this fun celebration in the park, with games, music, activities for kids, and a cookout with food and drink. (All items and food are first come, first served.) Bring your own blankets or chairs and enjoy the summertime vibes with the ONE Northside Violence Prevention team!
Save the Date & Donate! Back to School Bash
Saturday, August 8th | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Our Annual Back to School Bash is back! Our Back to School Bash will be on Saturday, August 8th from 11am-2pm at Willy B. White Park located at 1610 W. Howard! Our office is partnering with State Representative Kelly Cassidy, Alderwoman Maria Hadden, and C24/7 to collect donations for our Back to School Bash. Please see the list above for what items we will be collecting. All donations can be dropped off at the following locations and times:
- State Representative Kelly Cassidy’s Office located at 1507 W. Morse Ave from 9AM-5PM Monday - Thursday.
- Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s Office located at 1447 W. Morse Ave from 9AM-5PM Monday - Thursday.
- C24/7’s Office located at 1543 W. Howard St from 9AM-5PM from Monday - Friday.
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
