SPRINGFIELD – To increase young voter engagement, State Senator Mike Simmons secured passage of an elections bill that will allow 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote so they may start voting as soon as they turn 18.

“Encouraging youth to vote is vital to our democracy,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “The younger generations show again and again how engaged they are in social issues — allowing them to pre-register sends a message to youth that their voices are important and allows them to take that activism to the polls.”

Senate Bill 2123, allows an individual to pre-register to vote on or after turning 16 years old, with the registration on file with the appropriate election authority until the individual reaches 18 years old.

The bill includes other election-related provisions to increase voter turnout across Illinois. The bill establishes a task force to study the feasibility of adopting a ranked-choice voting system in certain elections, requires proposed Constitutional Amendments to be published in a newspaper’s digital equivalent, requires curbside voting at vote centers and counties with 500,000 or more residents to have at least two vote centers, and creates the Security of Remote Vote by Mail Task Force.

“This broad piece of legislation addresses many issues within our election system and will help make it easier for more people to vote,” Simmons said. “I am proud to be a part of its passage and to be from a state that continues to make it easier for people to vote, not harder.” 

Senate Bill 2123 passed both chambers and now heads to the governor for final approval.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) and State Representative Kelly M. Cassidy (D-Chicago) issued the following joint statement after Target announced it would be removing certain Pride merchandise after employees claimed the items threatened their sense of safety following customer interactions:

“Target has sold and marketed Pride products for years, no doubt profiting well from their efforts. To pull these very products from their shelves in response to acts of bigotry, violence, and threats against the LGBTQ+ community is an act of cowardice. As the General Assembly’s only two openly LGBTQ+ legislators, we refuse to sit idly by as one of the country’s largest retailers fails to stand in solidarity for our rights.

“One of our country's largest big-box retailers, Target, has removed certain Pride Month products from its shelves and moved others to the back of its stores citing threats, vandalism and unsafe workplace conditions due to confrontation and backlash from patrons. 

“Target had an opportunity to stand in support with the LGBTQ+ community and denounce bigotry within its stores. By moving merchandise marketed to LGBTQ+ communities to the margins of their stores, it sends the wrong message to our communities and to those who are pushing hate and violence in oppressing the rights and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.

“We will not be moved to the back of the store. We will not be hidden in the shadows. We will not be intimidated by those who threaten violence or by those who cannot accept this simple truth — all humans are equal. To our LGBTQ+ communities - as we enter into the month of June, hold your head high, be proud of who you are, and know that we have your back.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after the Illinois Senate approved a Fiscal Year 2024 budget on Thursday:

“This budget provides first in a generation rate increases for hospitals, federally qualified health centers, community clinics, as well as provides rate increases for crisis response and critical support services. These across the board increases will be felt in our communities as our constituents broadly access health care. Our 7th District safety net hospitals will also receive significant funding boosts to support the delivery of quality health care while supporting our health care workers. I am also thrilled to have secured two new line items in the budget for a total of $2.5 million for HIV/AIDS reduction efforts targeted to helping communities access life-saving PREP medications as well as STI screening. 

“And by passing $85 million in increased funding to support homelessness prevention, permanent supportive housing, and outreach to those in need, we also are making progress in getting our unhoused neighbors housed. This is huge — having worked to pass legislation to shore up protections for affordable housing residents in our state, I am happy to see this timely new funding. Additional funding to help with teacher vacancies, higher education access, and additional EBF funding for our public schools is also a win for our communities. 

“More locally, our 7th District neighborhoods will see increased funding on a hyper-local level supporting street-level violence prevention and community safety, investments in early childcare facilities, culturally competent mental health care for LGBTQ+ communities, services for refugee communities, and new funding for enrichment and mentorship programs for 7th District youth. And we also secured additional capital dollars that we are investing directly in aging school buildings, cultural institutions, food pantries, and more right here in the 7th District. 

“I am thrilled with the passage of today’s budget. It supports our communities while putting our state on a path to long-term fiscal health and stability. ”

SPRINGFIELD – To bring awareness to those who are suffering or at risk for liver disease, State Senator Mike Simmons passed a resolution declaring May 2023 as Liver Disease Awareness Month in Illinois.

“Liver disease is a silent killer and leading cause of death in the United States,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “It is important to bring awareness to this issue so those who struggle with this chronic illness feel supported and obtain the resources they need to fight.”

Senate Resolution 294 sheds a light on liver disease and the impact it has on people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 4.5 million adults have been diagnosed with liver disease, resulting in over 50,000 deaths annually. Causes of liver disease can include infection, genetics or other risk factors like heavy alcohol use, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Increasing public awareness and understanding of liver disease could lead to an early diagnosis that can prevent the progression of liver disease to liver cancer, liver failure, or cirrhosis and other complications of liver disease. 

Simmons also passed legislation to increase liver disease screenings in Illinois. Senate Bill 1282 requires Medicaid, private insurance plans and government employee insurance plans to cover preventative screenings for liver disease for individuals who are at high risk for liver disease between the ages of 35 and 65. Those screenings can include high-quality preventative screenings such as liver ultrasounds, liver function tests and others that can help with early detection and management of liver disease. This bill passed both chambers on May 8 and now heads to the governor.

Senate Resolution 294 was adopted by the Senate on Friday, May 19, and May 2023 will officially be recognized as Liver Disease Awareness Month in Illinois.