Welcome to Senator Graciela Guzmán's legislative website

Guzmán fights for survivors and tenants

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.

Guzmán fights to preserve contraceptive access alongside Planned Parenthood

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán is working with Planned Parenthood to preserve contraceptive services or supplies for minors through legislation that recently passed the Executive Committee.

“Contraceptive rights are under attack across this country,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Illinois needs to preserve and protect access to contraceptive care and keep reproductive choices in the hands of the individual.”

Senate Bill 3341 would provide that any minor may give effective consent for contraceptive services or supplies and the consent of no other person is required. According to KFF, several states require parental consent to obtain contraceptive care and many states do not guarantee the rights of minors to consent to contraceptive services.

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education.

"In recent years, we have seen a concerted effort to stigmatize birth control use and spread misinformation,” said Marissa Jackson-Donnell, senior manager of legislative affairs at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action. “As these attacks on reproductive health care continue on the national level, Illinois must do more to protect the bodies, lives and futures of our youth. Illinois can protect the current level of access in our state by removing antiquated language and explicitly affirming that the right to consent to care includes the right to consent to contraception."

Senate Bill 3341 has passed the Executive Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

###

Guzmán effort to accommodate sanitary options for women on jobsites passes Senate

CHICAGO – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill, in partnership with Chicago Women in Trades to provide sanitary conditions, reasonable accommodations and menstrual products on job sites has passed the Senate.

“Women and anyone who menstruates have a right to care for their bodies in a dignified and sanitary way,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Whether in the office or on the job site, we need commonsense accommodations for those who menstruate and those who are lactating. This legislation uplifts women which in turn will support the trades and their hard work.”

Senate Bill 3465 would advance health, safety and economic participation for workers on Illinois construction sites — especially those who are menstruating or lactating. The bill is about safer, more humane workplaces and about ensuring our skilled Illinois workforce can participate fully in our state’s economy.

The measure would provide that if a woman or individual who menstruates is present on a worksite and there are 10 or more workers of any gender present, then a separate toilet facility shall be provided and designated for use by women and individuals who menstruate.

The bill would establish minimum sanitary conditions and require menstrual hygiene products to be available at no cost. It would further require employers to provide construction workers who are lactating with reasonable accommodations needed to express breast milk upon request and other reasonable accommodations. It also allows construction employees to call the certified local public health agency to request an inspection and prohibits retaliation by employers for such calls and provides for fees for violations of the proposal.

"For too long, the basic needs of tradeswomen and their families have been ignored by the industry,” said Cristina Barillas-McEntee, Journeyworker Plumber with Local 130 and Director of Tradeswomen Initiatives with Chicago Women in Trades. “Clean washrooms, menstrual products, and private space for nursing mothers are not special requests — they are what an inclusive worksite requires. This bill makes that the standard in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 3465 passed the Senate and heads to the House for further consideration.

-30-

March Town Hall