Welcome to Senator Graciela Guzmán legislative website

Senator Guzmán calls for revenue reform in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Rising inflation, higher rent and increasing insurance costs are putting pressure on Illinois families across the state. To support Illinoisans during this time of economic uncertainty, Senator Graciela Guzmán has called for revenue reform in the state to tax the rich.

“People are feeling the price pressure in their lives from rising rent, more expensive groceries and rising insurance costs,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We need bold revenue reform in Illinois to support everyone in the state, not just the richest few. We can uplift the working and middle classes with the financial support to build a future for themselves at a time when the economy and federal administration are very unstable. Our communities are facing urgent need, we must take decisive action this month by taxing the rich to help our communities and move Illinois forward.”

Guzmán spoke on the need for revenue reform in front of the State Capitol on Wednesday. There are several bills being considered, including:

• Senate Bill 3376, which would apply Illinois’ personal income tax rate to the appreciation of assets for residents with a net worth of $1 billion or more.
• Senate Bill 3486, a measure that would strengthen corporate tax accountability by addressing how large, multinational corporations report income.
• Senate Bill 3353, which would apply a 10% tax on a digital advertisers’ annual revenue if the revenue earned exceeds $150 million.
• Senate Bill 3796, a proposal that would decouple Illinois from federal tax changes, end high-impact business credits and require a cost-benefit analysis of corporate tax incentives.

“These are policy proposals that we can put in the budget today to ensure that all of the things we need are in the budget this month.” said Guzmán. “The question we ask our peers is: will you vote on a just budget? Will you vote on a budget that feeds our communities? Will you tax the rich?”

Senator Guzmán is committed to supporting working families and constituents across Illinois.

May Virtual Town Hall

Guzmán cracks down on landlords and AI corporations

SPRINGFIELD – In the face of sky-high rental costs in Chicago and across Illinois, Senator Graciela Guzmán is working to crack down on price fixing schemes landlords conduct using AI algorithms.

“This measure is about restoring fairness, transparency and accountability to our housing market by cracking down on AI-driven rent fixing schemes that undermine competition and exploit renters,” said Guzmán. “I’m proud to have worked alongside partners at the city, state and local levels to confront the growing abuse of algorithmic pricing tools and put people ahead of corporate greed.”

AI-driven rental pricing platforms are known to facilitate rent price-fixing, causing artificial, double-digit rent increases in an era when people are already struggling to afford their day-to-day life. Under Senate Bill 343, landlords would not be able to coordinate pricing indirectly through a shared third-party service or software, such as an algorithm that sets prices across multiple competing landlords. This legislation would prohibit the use of rent-setting algorithms by banning:

• Fixing, controlling or maintaining rental pricing, fees, or any other rental term for residential rental units in Illinois
• Engaging in price coordination for residential rental units in the state, including through the sale, licensure, or provision of any service or product that involves price coordination of residential rental units.

• Makes it a violation to engage in price coordination or use, subscribe to, or contract with a service that involves price coordination for residential rental units in the state.

According to the Sanford Journal of Public Policy, rent across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods jumped 10% over the past year, and RealPage’s recommendations can translate into rent hikes 5 to 10% above market value. In Chicago alone, roughly one-third of multifamily rental units, about 100,000 apartments, are now influenced by RealPage’s algorithm.

“At a time when families are already struggling with rising costs, we cannot allow landlords to collude through software designed to maximize profits at the expense of our communities,” said Guzmán.  “Let’s be clear, this is not innovation, this is digital price fixing. Illinois is sending a clear message: our housing market should work for renters, not predatory corporations.”

Senate Bill 343 – which is part of the Senate’s AI protection package – was heard in the Senate Executive Committee.

Guzmán calls for funding after school programs in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – In order to support after school programs in Illinois, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is pushing to secure key after school program funding in the budget.

“I have seen what happens when young people find a program that makes a difference,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “They open up, they show up differently, they start believing they matter because they do.”

Two key programs regarding after school programs are facing cuts. These include a $1 million cut to Teen REACH and a $10 million cut to Illinois State Board of Education afterschool programs.

According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, many parents work away from home. Many young people lack adult supervision during the late afternoon and early evening hours on school days - hours during which, research has shown, most risk-taking behavior by youth takes place. Out-of-school-time programming has been identified as a key strategy for addressing these challenges and helping young people build upon their assets and become productive members of society.

“When we invest in afterschool programs, we invest in potential, prevention, and promise,” said Executive Director of Afterschool for Children and Teens Now (ACT Now) Coalition Susan Stanton. “These programs meet real needs every day for students and families. This is not the moment to cut. We need to grow what works.”

“Children deserve a safe place to go,” said Guzmán. “We cannot treat the people who are caring for our children like they are optional. We cannot treat our children as optional.”

Guzmán is committed to fighting for programs that benefit young people and the broader communities they live in.