CHICAGO —Two measures co-sponsored by State Senator Graciela Guzmán to secure more supports for high school students when applying for college and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA, were signed into law recently.

“Growing up as the eldest daughter in an immigrant household, it was incumbent on me to fill out the FAFSA forms myself, and navigate this difficult and confusing process alone at 17 years old,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “By establishing time for students to fill out their FAFSA during school, we are giving working students more opportunities to be able to fill out this form and get questions answered.”

House Bill 3096 requires high schools to designate a member of their staff to serve as a point of contact for students on matters concerning the application. This creates clarity on who young people can turn to if they have questions or need assistance with the process.  

CHICAGO — Following several U.S. Supreme Court rulings on June 27, which expose a concerning shift toward authoritarianism, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is speaking out against the decisions and raising alarm around their restrictions of civil rights.

“I am horrified the Supreme Court has emboldened the federal administration’s efforts to further undermine and dehumanize immigrant families in our country through their most recent ruling on Trump v. CASA,” said Guzmán  (D-Chicago). “America is a melting pot of so many diverse, beautiful cultures. It goes against our history, our fundamental values and long standing statutes to withhold the right to citizenship — which is guaranteed in our Constitution — simply because of the identity of a child’s parents.”

Despite being an established right in the U.S. for centuries under the 14th Amendment,  the Supreme Court upheld the executive order withholding the right of birthright citizenship from children born in the U.S. to individuals on short-term visas or without legal status in the case of Trump v. CASA. 

“The Court’s refusal to take a stand against the federal administration leaves the future of birthright citizenship up in the air and opens the doors to different interpretations among states. Not only is it heartbreaking to imagine a reality in which immigrant families could have fewer civil rights depending on which state’s borders they reside in, it is nonsensical,” said  Guzmán. “Maintaining a state-by-state approach to citizenship would cause significant bureaucratic issues that would make navigating everyday systems like health care and license registration a nightmare for all involved. It would also mark one of the largest rollbacks in civil rights protections in our country’s history — a detrimental outcome for both the people it will impact and the morality of this nation.”

Additionally, the Supreme Court ruled that schools must give children the chance to leave the room if their teacher plans to read books out loud that feature gay and transgender characters in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor. As an  outspoken leader for LGBTQIA+ rights in Illinois, Guzmán is deeply saddened by this decision, and concerned for what it means for LGBTQIA+ youth around the country.

“Under the guise of protecting children, LGBTQIA+ youth will be even more at risk for bullying, which can lead to mental health struggles, and even suicide if they are able to be barred from hearing stories about LGBTQIA+ people in their developmental years because of their family’s prejudice,” said Guzmán. “My heart breaks for the children around our country who will find their light stifled by this ruling. To all the LGBTIQA+ youth in my community, my district, my state, and this nation–your identity is nothing to be ashamed of or censored, and I will continue to fight for more protections for you in the face of these attacks.”

CHICAGO— State Senator Graciela Guzmán is excited to announce a local Logan Square manufacturer was selected to participate in and receive state funding through the Made in Illinois Grant Program.

“I am a staunch supporter of building up small businesses, which are at the forefront of innovation and directly contribute back to their local economies,” said Guzmán. “Investing in small businesses are investments in the community at large, and I am grateful that the Made in Illinois program ensures these smaller manufacturers have a chance to compete against corporate giants.”

The Made in Illinois Grant Program provides matching grants of up to $50,000 to help small and mid-sized manufacturers invest in strategic projects that fuel innovation, increase productivity and enhance competitiveness. In 2025, the program awarded $1.35 million to 29 manufacturers employing a combined 1,120 individuals supporting projects that represent a total investment of over $38.3 million statewide.

CHICAGO — Following the U.S. Supreme  Court ruling on U.S. v. Skrmetti which upheld a Tennessee law banning certain medical treatments, such as puberty blockers and hormones for people under age 18 experiencing gender dysphoria, State Senator Graciela Guzmán (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“I am devastated by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold this regressive law. It is heartbreaking to imagine the thousands of transgender youth growing up across our country without the ability to access lifesaving care because their mental and physical health are dismissed. These are real people’s livelihoods that are disregarded, and I am furious this ruling has reinforced outdated, transphobic ideologies.

“I am proud that here in Illinois, we have laws protecting our transgender and LGBTQIA+ community. We have fought to include LGBTIQA+ folks in the Illinois Human Rights Act, protecting them against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and more based on their perceived or real sexual orientation or gender identity. We actively fight transphobic and homophobic ideologies interpersonally and in our education system, passing legislation in 2019 to include LBGTQIA+ history in public school curriculum. All of these measures and more help young people in Illinois discover who they are and embrace their identity without fear of retaliation, shame or hate.