Buckner Ends Legislative Session with Balanced Budget, Equitable Criminal Justice Reform, Progress for Affordable Prescription Drugs

CHICAGO – State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, finished a productive spring legislative session with a fiscally responsible budget, numerous major criminal justice reforms and new measures to cut costs of prescription drugs.

“As a budgeteer this year, I was proud to take the lead on crafting a fiscally responsible budget that made smart cuts to redundant government administration to help fund vital expansions, including more afterschool programs,” Buckner said. “We’re going to continue to work on building the world-class education system our kids deserve, while creating more safety net hospitals and clinics for underserved communities across Illinois.”

Buckner has been a driving force behind major progress for equity in criminal justice, and this session saw major victories in that area. Buckner helped advance the Clean Slate Act, which will update petition processes for court record sealing procedures to remove barriers to success for formerly incarcerated people. He also led the passage of Senate Bill 1953, which made major law enforcement hiring fixes to ensure more clarity in the process and help keep unfit people from carrying a badge and gun.

“All Illinoisans deserve accountable and transparent law enforcement,” Buckner said. “The work is far from over, but I was proud of the progress we made this year to make hiring processes for policing more responsible and to help formerly incarcerated people get a fair second chance after they have paid their debt to society.”

Buckner also played a substantial role in the fight for more affordable prescription drugs for years. He continued that work by helping pass House Bill 1697, or the Prescription Drug Affordability Act. This legislation will make progress in the effort to lower the price of vital medications by cutting out unnecessary middlemen that pad prices for big insurance and pharmaceutical companies and at the expense of patients.

“Without healthcare that’s affordable and accessible, families will continue to face enormous obstacles to stability and success,” Buckner said. “By getting rid of unnecessary redundancies in the prescription drug system—that are only designed to pad the profits of insurance corporations—we are helping millions of Illinoisans get the better futures they deserve.”