Hernandez Lays Out 2024 Legislative Priorities

MELROSE PARK, Ill. — State Rep. Norma Hernandez, D-Melrose Park, is announcing her goals for the 2024 legislative session—highlighting issues such as housing, healthcare access, government transparency, education and addressing the difficulties posed by the ongoing spike in migrant arrivals.

“This year, I’m continuing to embrace our focus on getting the state back to work for working families,” Hernandez said. “Part of that is working to ensure that families have access to housing, access to care, public administration they can trust and rely on and good schools for their kids. At the same time, we’ve all seen the situation unfolding in Chicago and the suburbs, with families just like ours continuing to arrive from Texas and elsewhere.

One bill Hernandez is continuing to pursue is House Bill 1377, which would create a 50% property tax exemption for newly constructed homes in eligible areas of Cook County, or any other Illinois county that chooses to participate, for the first ten years that it is occupied by the original owner. The intent of the bill is to encourage the construction of new housing, which Hernandez and others hope will help increase supply and counteract rising home prices.

“Families are the bedrock of the communities that make up Illinois, and concentrating on making sure they have their needs met and access to opportunities is good for everyone,” Hernandez said. “When families thrive, so do communities. And that’s how we keep Illinois moving forward.”