Welcome to Senator Graciela Guzmán legislative website

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.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s latest effort to decouple Illinois adult education funding from federal rules passed the Senate Higher Education Committee Wednesday.

“Many Illinois residents benefit from adult education courses and Illinoisans should have control over how our state funds these programs,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Higher education continues to be under assault while the Trump administration is in power – and this is not a path we will willingly follow.”

The measure comes as the Trump administration continues to threaten education funding and demand an unprecedented role in university admission, curriculum and operations. Without action from the state, federal threats to education programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act could limit Illinois residents’ access to higher education and key adult education programs.

Guzmán’s legislation would clarify and strengthen the administration of state-funded adult education programs in Illinois. The bill would ensure that Illinois law, not the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, governs state-only adult education programs. The state’s matching portion of WIOA funds – currently 25% – would continue to be subject to federal requirements.

Under Guzmán’s initiative, community colleges and educational institutions could use funding for additional purposes, including digital literacy education. The measure would further update eligibility for community college adult education programs to students age 17 and up.

“By preserving access to adult education programs we can continue to bring benefits to adult learners and local economies,” said Guzmán. “Illinois needs to be able to weather the storm of politicization and chaos from the federal administration. Our responsibility is to ensure services are not disrupted for people trying to make themselves and their community better.”

House Bill 5135 has passed the Senate Higher Education Committee on Wednesday.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán presented measures to the Senate Executive Committee Thursday that would enshrine protections for survivors during real estate transactions and protect renters in the event they go to court with their landlord.

“Illinois must not tolerate any discrimination against survivors,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Housing is a right that must be guaranteed to all people. As someone who has lived through domestic violence, I know how hard it is to rebuild when everything has been taken away from you; safety, stability and a sense of home. To be denied housing because of that past is not only unjust, but deeply dehumanizing. Survivors deserve dignity, protection and a real chance to start over. Illinois should recognize this harm for what it is and refuse to allow it.”

Senate Bill 3461 would provide that it is a civil rights violation to unlawfully discriminate because of a person's history of experiencing domestic or sexual violence. According to Illinois Legal Aid, people who have survived domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault might also face barriers to their housing because of these abuses. People who rent their homes are three times more likely to face violence than people who own their homes.

Illinois presently has protections for survivors when it comes to housing. These protections allow them to request new locks on their doors, end their lease early or assert an affirmative defense if an eviction action is based solely on the tenant's status as a survivor of domestic or sexual violence or due to an incident of domestic or sexual violence occurring in the unit. However, there is no housing protection for a prospective tenant who has experience or is perceived to have experience as a survivor of domestic, sexual, or gender-based violence during a real estate transaction.

Guzmán is also pushing for protection of tenants accused of a Class X felony.

“Tenants have the right to be innocent until proven guilty. If they are accused of a Class X felony, their eviction should not be an obstacle to finding housing in the future,” said Guzmán. “If housing is a human right then it is also a right to the accused.”

In the case of a landlord terminating a lease and beginning eviction proceedings against a tenant who has been charged with having committed a Class X felony on the rental property, Senate Bill 3753 would require the eviction file to remain sealed if the tenant had otherwise been in compliance with the lease agreement and had been paying rent on time. 

Guzmán was joined at Committee by Northwest Side residents and constituents who provided testimony on amendments and improvements to the proposed BUILD legislation. “I am proud of the community members that lifted up testimony and lived experience that we hope will help avoid unintended consequences and further displacement,” said Guzmán.

Senate Bills 3461 and 3753 were heard in subject matter hearings on Thursday.