SPRINGFIELD —State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s latest initiative, which would collect and publicize data on contraband found in each Department of Corrections  facility, passed the Senate, making it one step closer to becoming law and preventing overdose in facilities throughout the state.

“Looking at the recent rates of overdoses in state-run prisons, it is clear that contraband drugs are being proliferated, putting thousands of people who are incarcerated at risk of exposure and death,” said  Guzmán. “To prevent these tragedies, we need to better understand where contraband is coming from, and this initiative will work to study the source of these materials and publicize it so that we can create a plan grounded in evidence to prevent overdose.”

Senate Bill 2201 would require the Illinois Department of Corrections to collect and publish data concerning contraband found in their facilities, including the type of contraband, where in the facility it was identified, and the method of entry into the facility. It would also make public the consequences for people in custody for possessing or attempting to procure contraband to ensure any disciplinary actions meet ethical standards and do not include excessive force.

SPRINGFIELD — A task force on climate displacement and its impacts on Illinois may soon be established, thanks to legislation led by State Senator Graciela Guzmán.

“Whether we like it or not, climate change is real, and has started to displace thousands of folks from their homes because of the destruction it has brought globally,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “This task force will help our state better prepare for an influx in residents fleeing environmental disaster so we can welcome new arrivals and not disrupt the lives of long-term Illinoisans.”

Climate displacement is the forced or voluntary migrations of people due to climate change or environmental degradation. With rising global water levels and more extreme weather events, Midwestern states like Illinois will see an increase in the number of people trying to escape these situations, both from other states and other nations. Without a plan in place to support the displaced individuals, there may be destabilizing impacts on the state’s infrastructure.

SPRINGFIELD —More people may soon have the opportunity to become homeowners through community land trusts, thanks to a new initiative from State Senator Graciela Guzmán that passed the State Senate on Thursday.

“Community land trusts are a people-first plan driven by communal power that help give everyday folks the opportunity to become homeowners and build generational wealth,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “It’s important for us to make this model more commonplace, and continue to build on its ingenuity, and this legislation will help us on that path.”

Community land trusts, or CLTs, are community-based, nonprofit organizations that manage a parcel of land to preserve long-term affordability of homes created through subsidies. CLTs sell homes on the land they manage at affordable prices to a qualifying homebuyer. Oftentimes, they place limits on the incomes of people looking to purchase homes to ensure affordable housing is going to people in the most financial need. Driven by constituents, for constituents, this model aims to keep folks in the community that may otherwise be priced out by corporate rent and mortgage rates. 

Senate Bill 1261 would further incentivize prospective homebuyers to invest in CLTs by making the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Access Forgivable, Access Deferred, and Access Repayable mortgage programs available to people seeking property owned by a community land trust. These programs offer more flexibility for buyers to pay their mortgage, which may encourage people to invest in property with CLTs. The measure would also continue the Community Last Trust Task Force to continue to build a pathway for more CLTs across the state. 

SPRINGFIELD — In a recent initiative passed through the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee, State Senator Graciela Guzmán would create a task force studying the impacts of climate displacement, and develop plans to better support the communities most impacted.

“Nearly every week on the news, there are reports of a severe environmental disaster that is devastating communities around our country and across the world,” said Guzmán. “From tornadoes and blizzards that impact us in Illinois, to fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes that wreak havoc throughout our country, we are all impacted by climate change, and may be displaced by the resulting damage from these extreme storms. We need to start planning for how to best support folks who will become displaced by climate change, and work on ways to prevent damage from volatile weather in our own communities, and this initiative will help lay the ground work to address these issues.”

Climate displacement is the forced or voluntary migrations of people due to climate change or environmental degradation. With rising global water levels and more extreme weather events, Midwestern states like Illinois will see an increase in the number of people trying to escape these situations, both from other states and other nations. Without a plan in place to support the displaced individuals, there may be destabilizing impacts on the state’s infrastructure.