Mussman Passes Comprehensive, Compassionate Budget and Sends A Dozen Bills to Governor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—  State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, has been hard at work in Springfield passing a budget making life easier and more affordable for Illinois families while passing her own initiatives.

“When writing our budget, we have so much to consider—we must balance the needs of everyone in our community with a real, tangible way to provide them with resources,” said Mussman. “This balanced budget works to maintain and expand the services so many rely on without a single additional tax to working class families.”

Across the board, federal funding cuts have decreased social service support and increased costs for many Illinoisans. Mussman is fighting to restore the support that people in her community rely on, and giving everyone a general boost in support.

This year’s budget fully funds:

• Homelessness prevention programs,
• Safety net hospitals, providing care regardless of health insurance status,
• the Local Government Distributive Fund, creating more tools for property tax relief.

Highlights of the budget include investments in:

• The Fresh Act, giving Illinoisans who lost SNAP benefits a one time SNAP credit,
• State social services by reducing government operational costs to makeup federal funding losses,
• Restoring property tax relief grants for school districts, and
• Working class people by temporarily freezing the gas tax, beginning in July.

Additionally, Mussman is sending 12 bills to the governor to be signed into law.

Some of the legislation Mussman led included:

1.  Expanding language acquisition education for children under five-years in the Deaf community.
2.  Establishing the Blue Envelope Program, creating a new tool to help neurodivergent drivers feel safer and more comfortable interacting with first responders. 
3. Creating a new avenue for schools to support unhoused students, and more.

“In this session, my legislation has been focused on accessibility and opportunity, making sure everyone in our community and across the state have the chance to thrive,” said Mussman. “I’m proud of the steps we’ve taken, creating new programs and strengthening existing ones. I truly look forward to continuing to work with devoted advocates on these important issues to keep making an impact.”