SPRINGFIELD — Thanks to legislation championed by State Senator Graciela Guzmán and State Representative Will Guzzardi, information about the lack of affordable housing options will soon be more easily accessible, promoting the development of more reasonably priced living options.  

“Thousands of renters in my district, including myself, struggle with the rising cost of living. Despite our testimony about these difficulties, we need more transparent data to back up our conversation about the housing affordability crisis in our state,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Under this law, we will have the information we need to form real policy solutions that will help alleviate the housing crisis in areas with the most need for homes working families can afford.” 

House Bill 3616 aims to illuminate the demand for affordable housing and the lack of housing inventory middle-income earners are facing. It requires IHDA to collect data on the inventory of affordable housing that is accessible to extremely low-income and middle-income households in each local government in Illinois. Every five years, IHDA is required to make this data available to the public and report the data to the General Assembly. From there, it can be used to influence policy to invest in more affordable housing options.

SPRINGFIELD — Thanks to a measure led by State Senator Graciela Guzmán and State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, schools across the state will soon receive incentives to expand dual language programs in grade schools at no cost to their school districts.  

“Expanding dual language programs in our state sets our young people up for a more successful future,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Research shows these programs not only improve their future prospects, they also foster more cross-cultural curiosity. Adopting programs like those outlined in HB 3026 helps ensure learners in Illinois also grow up to be well-rounded, understanding individuals of those that are different from them.”  

House Bill 3026 implements several proposals put forth by the Illinois Advisory Council for Bilingual Education, including adopting statewide guidance for dual language instruction, developing a recruitment and retention platform to attract potential bilingual educators, and expanding the Seal of Biliteracy recognition pathways to enhance students’ future opportunities. In addition, the measure enhances equity by integrating dual language programming into the State Board of Education’s broader framework of student learning and directs the agency to develop teaching standards for dual language education. 

CHICAGO — Thanks to advocacy from State Senator Graciela Guzmán, the 20th Senate District will see nearly $26 million coming to the community for infrastructure improvements. 

“It is imperative that we invest in our infrastructure to prioritize the safety of our residents,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “This latest round of funding is working toward making my community a safer place for commuters and visitors, while boosting our local economy at the same time.” 

The largest multi-year program to build and repair infrastructure in state history will invest $50.6 billion over six years, continuing an unprecedented investment in safety, mobility and quality of life made possible by the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. IDOT’s new multi-year program is both comprehensive and multimodal, with investments in roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations touching every Illinois county.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Graciela Guzmán backed a property tax relief package that increases property tax exemption thresholds for senior citizens in Illinois.

“No senior should be forced out of their home because our tax system hasn’t kept pace with economic reality,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “By raising income limits and modernizing protections, we’re taking real steps to correct inequities and ensure older residents aren’t carrying the burden of rising costs alone.”

Senate Bill 642 would deliver critical updates to help seniors on fixed incomes and help families facing economic challenges manage rising property tax costs. Under the measure, the maximum income limit for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption would increase substantially over the next several years, beginning at $75,000 for taxable year 2026, increasing to $77,000 for taxable year 2027 and settling at $79,000 for taxable year 2028 and beyond.