SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons has been sworn into the 103^rd General Assembly. Simmons’ inauguration marks the start of his second full term in the Senate. Senator Simmons is a lifelong resident of the 7^th Illinois Senate District, the first Black person to serve the 7th District, the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate, the first Ethiopian-American to serve in either chamber, and the third openly gay, black state senator in the nation. In his first term, he secured passage of 16 pieces of legislation and helped shape dozens more including banning hair discrimination in Illinois schools, improving access to mental health for diverse youth, providing economic relief for struggling parents, requiring lead abatement in buildings, and expanding protections and healthcare for LGBTQ+ people in Illinois to name a few. 

“It’s a towering honor to continue serving the people of the 7th district in the 103rd General Assembly. The district, which includes the far north side Chicago, is one of the most diverse in the nation with well over 100 languages spoken and ethnicities represented from every corner of the world. I look forward to centering the voices, lived experiences, and needs of these diverse communities and every single one of my constituents in my office. In my first term we put the people of the 7th district at the center of all my legislative work — single moms, longtime residents, youth, LGBTQ+ people, returning citizens, the disabled, survivors of gun violence, seniors, and so many others who have been unheard for too long.” 

“In my new term I will continue to focus on introducing and passing far-reaching policy that makes a difference for everyday people, delivering excellent and proactive constituent services, and making sure 7th district residents feel seen, heard, understood, and helped by my office. I will also continue to fight for legislation that provides affordable housing to those who need it, expands access to health care, expands the rights of our LGBTQ+ communities, improves our transportation systems, protects our diverse immigrant communities, protects reproductive rights, supports our schools, addresses gun violence, and so much more.”

Simmons was first sworn in to the Senate in 2021, after previously serving as Founder and CEO of Blue Sky Strategies & Co., a firm that develops anti-racist public policy. He also previously served as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development for the City of Chicago and was Deputy Director of the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, a national Obama Foundation initiative. Prior to that he served on the legislative staff of US Senator Dick Durbin. 

Simmons looks forward to working hard, leading on progressive issues, collaborating with his colleagues, and being an outspoken voice for the people of his district in the 103^rd General Assembly. 

SPRINGFIELD – A measure supported by State Senator Simmons that advances protection to abortion and gender-affirming care passed the Senate on Tuesday, January 10. 

“The Supreme Court’s overturning of a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion has denied millions the right to choose, as well as transgender and non-binary people’s right to health care,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “While Illinois has worked hard to enshrine abortion and gender-affirming rights, many other states are working to strip those rights away. This legislation will ensure Illinois is a safe place, where the reproductive rights and health care of millions of people – women of all backgrounds, transgender people, and nonbinary people - retain the right to make a decision about their own body.” 

While Illinois has some of the most extensive reproductive health laws about abortion and gender-affirming care in the country, more work had to be done to further enshrine protections in Illinois as many neighboring states have acted to diminish the rights of women, transgender youth, and the LGBTQ+ community broadly. With House Bill 4664, Illinois health care providers will not be able to be penalized for providing care, including abortion care and gender-affirming care that has been outlawed in another state but remains legal in Illinois, and people in Illinois won’t be punished for seeking reproductive health care or gender-affirming care that is lawful here. “There is a movement right now targeting trans youth, LGBTQ+ people, and women’s reproductive rights in our country. We must stay vigilant and pass strong, far-reaching legislation that protects women’s reproductive rights and protects access to gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary people, and trans youth” said Simmons. 

The bill also protects the right to choose by establishing a counterclaim for individuals who have a judgment entered against them in another state for reproductive health care that is legal in Illinois, protecting in vitro fertilization, and permitting birthing centers to provide clinical reproductive care.

“We are taking prudent steps to ensure the right for individuals to make their own decisions about their bodies and health care,” Simmons said. “We have more work to do. I will continue to fight for those who are seeking abortions and gender-affirming care so they receive the necessary and often lifesaving health care that they need quickly and affordably. I will continue to be a staunch advocate and fight around the clock to ensure Illinois has the resources to provide reproductive health care for the countless medical refugees who will no doubt need to come to our state to receive it. We must make it clear that we will not allow the Supreme Court to undo hard-won generational rights.”

HB 4664 passed the Senate on January 10.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons sponsored legislation that will allow individuals in certain groups to file for a name change for the reasons of marriage, transgender status, religious beliefs or status as a victim of trafficking.

“The rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ communities have been under attack by other state legislatures and right-wing media, especially the rights of trans-youth,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I want all those in Illinois who identify as transgender or non-binary to have the ability and access to have their government names reflect who they are.”

House Bill 2542 allows those on certain criminal registries to change their name due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act. Those granted a legal name change must report the change to the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction of their current registration. Both former and current names will continue to be available to law enforcement in the registries.

“A name is an important thing,” Simmons said. “It is how others identify you, so it is important that identity reflects the one you want the world to recognize you as.”

Senator Simmons has always been an advocate for transgender and non-binary people’s rights. He also championed House Bill 9, which makes it easier for an individual to change the gender on their birth certificate by no longer requiring a declaration by a medical provider.

House Bill 9 passed the Senate Friday and heads to the governor for final consideration.

House Bill 2542 passed the Senate on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

SPRINGFIELD – On Monday evening, Senator Simmons voted in favor of legislation which passed in the Senate that bans the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Senator Simmons is a tireless advocate against gun violence and has fought for years against the deadly shootings that have plagued Illinois communities.

“We have taken a monumental step forward in passing HB 5471, the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which will save lives and rebuild communities,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). The gun safety legislation also places a ban on rapid-fire devices and increases the duration of a Firearm Restraining Order from six months to up to one year. “Gun violence has rocked our society - from neighborhoods in Chicago, to suburbs and towns all across Illinois. Today, we have made historic progress by passing one of the strongest assault weapon bans in the country in partnership with community advocates including Moms Demand Action - Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady United Against Gun Violence, Giffords PAC, as well as constituents from my district who are survivors of gun violence who we convened to help shape my advocacy on this gun legislation. Collectively we have worked together to advocate for and pass strong policy to get weapons of war off our streets and impose enforcement mechanisms that will help us make our communities safer.”

Studies show that approximately one-third of public mass shooting events include the use of an assault weapon, and nearly 40% involve a high-capacity magazine. The Highland Park shooting, which occurred only six months ago, was part of a six-week period in which mass shooters using semi-automatic weapons killed more than 40 people in Buffalo, New York, Uvalde, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Highland Park, Illinois combined. House Bill 5471 bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being manufactured or sold in Illinois.

“I want children in our community to walk to school and feel safe, moms and dads to see their children grow up and become adults, and for our schools, places of worship, public transit, and nightclubs, to be places where we can live and gather in peace. Thank you to so many of my constituents whose lives have been directly impacted by gun violence who have partnered with my office to make our advocacy efforts on gun control more robust and directly responsive to the lived experiences of 7th district residents.”

Senator Simmons has and will continue to be aggressive in supporting strong gun control legislation. He was also chief cosponsor of HB 4383, a bill signed into law in April that requires all guns to be serialized. He also sponsored HB 4729 which developed a statewide safe gun storage public awareness campaign. 

House Bill 5471 passed the Illinois Senate on January 9, 2023 and now goes to the House for further consideration.