SPRINGFIELD – Continuing his work to remove barriers when accessing housing and state services, State Senator Mike Simmons is moving legislation that would remove a notary requirement for unhoused residents who apply for a free state identification card.

“A major barrier for unhoused folks is that they often have no form of official identification, which means they cannot apply for a job, a transit card, housing, and much more. In order to apply for a free state ID, the person is currently required to get the signature of a notary. This is simply too difficult,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Easing the requirement for unhoused residents to get ID cards means they can get back on their feet sooner.”

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, the notary requirement for unhoused individuals to apply for and obtain a state ID would be lifted.

“This is a simple fix to allow our unhoused neighbors in Illinois to get their ID cards without the burdensome process of finding a notary,” said Simmons. “Many daily tasks may require identification and we want to make sure all members of our communities can easily obtain IDs so they can access the services they need.”

Senate Bill 1173 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

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