Grasse Ends Session Fighting for a Lower Cost of Living, Affordable Healthcare, Fiscally Responsible Budget

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, finished the spring legislative session with the passage of a fiscally responsible budget, new laws cutting the cost of living and a range of affordable healthcare expansions.

“Illinoisans have been battling the challenges of an affordability crisis for too long, and making life easier is my priority,” Grasse said. “I have fought to secure a range of new measures to cut the cost of living and do what’s right for Illinois to fix what’s wrong in Washington.”

Grasse’s support for affability legislation included:

• House Bill 45: Expands access to savings by requiring retailers to honor all advertised sales or coupons, even if customers cannot access an app or operate digital coupons.
• House Bill 228: Cracks down on junk fees and hidden costs by requiring businesses disclose all mandatory fees and charges added on top of an advertised purchase price.
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• House Bill 4044: Strengthens consumer rights by banning no-return policies that limit customers to store credit for unused, unopened items for most purchases. 
• House Bill 4514: Allows residents to voice opposition to general rate increases by requiring public utility companies fully inform residents of their rights prior to a rate proposal.

Grasse also backed a fiscally and socially responsible budget that funds afterschool programs, homelessness prevention, property tax relief grants for school districts and food security for people who lose their SNAP benefits. In response to instability in the global market, it also temporarily freezes the gas tax.

“Our budget is a reflection of our values, and, while we’re under attack by an uncaring federal government, preserving services for those who need assistance most has to be a priority,” Grasse said. “Without any new taxes on working people, we fully funded afterschool programs, food security for people facing SNAP cuts and property tax relief for Illinois schools.”

Grasse led the charge on numerous new measures including House Bill 4509, which expands mental health care requirements for seniors in long-term care homes; House Bill 4665, which brings transparency to hospice and palliative care costs in the Illinois corrections system; and Senate Bill 2921, which expands coverage for vital topical eye medication.

“While there is a lot more work to do, this session brought a great deal of progress for our community and vital assistance for vulnerable people across Illinois,” Grasse said. “I’m eager to continue the work of building a stronger future for us this summer.”