SPRINGFIELD — As a champion of free speech and the right to protest, State Senator Graciela Guzmán released the following statement in support of House Bill 2723 and Senate Bill 2462, also known as the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act, which would lift state pension investment restrictions placed on companies engaged in boycotts of Israel, following a press conference hosted by the Illinois Coalition for Human Rights (ICHR) on the legislation:

“It is unconscionable that in Illinois, we are punishing businesses that are expressing their basic constitutional rights. Boycotting is an expression of free speech, and limiting that through legislation is dangerous. Overturning this law is long past due, and with it Illinois can live up to its legacy as a state that champions freedom, human rights and basic principles of decency.

“Moreover, it is our duty as moral people to call out any person, organization or state for violating human rights, and the state of Israel should not be protected in Illinois from this scrutiny. It is important now more than ever for our state to take a stance against the actions of the state of Israel, and this humanitarian crisis, which has cost the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians.

SPRINGFIELD — People requiring laser hair removal due to a medical condition may soon be able to get this procedure covered by their insurance plans, thanks to a measure led in the Senate by State Senator Graciela Guzmán.

“Folks deserve to be able to undergo medically necessary procedures without paying massive bills out of pocket. Their insurance should do their due diligence and cover these treatments to improve their health and quality of life,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “I am proud to sponsor legislation that makes this treatment more accessible, because for many folks it is essential to their physical and mental health.” 

Since laser hair removal is currently considered a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by many health insurance plans. However, there are cases in which laser hair removal is considered medically necessary, including for people with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by blocked hair follicles, severe hormonal disorders that may lead to excess hair growth, and gender dysphoria. For people with these conditions, going through life without laser hair removal causes immense physical and mental discomfort, but unfortunately cannot be addressed by all insurance plans currently available. 

SPRINGFIELD —To ensure constituents feel comfortable bringing a complaint if they believe they are facing unlawful discrimination with AI, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is leading legislation that would codify the Illinois Department of Human Rights' present interpretation of the law.   

“As technology continues to evolve, our laws also need to evolve,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “I want my constituents and Illinoisans at large to feel comfortable bringing a complaint if they believe they are subject to unlawful discrimination, regardless of whether the instance is related to housing, employment, or any other means.” 

Senate Bill 613 would make it clear that violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act that are conducted using artificial intelligence are unlawful discrimination.

SPRINGFIELD — To ensure people with disabilities no longer have to choose between higher pay and receiving essential disability services, State Senator Graciela Guzmán introduced legislation to remove the income and asset limits currently on the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program.  

“People with other ability levels are not expected to pass up on job opportunities because they would lose access to essential health care coverage,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program does amazing work to support individuals with disabilities, but could be an even better asset if it was expanded to support folks making a higher income.” 

The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities was created in 2002 so that people with disabilities can work without fear of losing access to Medicaid coverage or being denied health care for preexisting conditions. Currently, this program is only available to individuals who make less than 350% of the Federal Poverty Level and have less than $25,000 worth of non-exempt assets. For an individual, this means making $4,564 a month or $54,775 annually.