SPRINGFIELD, – IL. – As the fall veto session approaches, State Representative Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is urging the House Rules Committee to release House Bill 473, legislation that would give Illinois high school student-athletes greater flexibility when transferring schools.

“High school is a time for students to grow, discover their strengths and prepare for their futures. Student-athletes should have a fair opportunity to pursue the educational and athletic environments that best support their success,” Lilly said. “House Bill 473 would give students greater flexibility while helping ensure they have opportunities to succeed both in the classroom and in competition.”

Under current Illinois High School Association (IHSA) rules, transferring schools can affect a student-athlete’s eligibility to compete. Sponsored by Lilly, House Bill 473 would require the IHSA and other organizations that regulate interscholastic athletics to allow students in grades 9 through 12 to transfer schools up to two times before additional transfer restrictions apply.
Over the summer, Lilly met with the IHSA executive director and members of the IHSA Board to discuss House Bill 473 and work with interscholastic athletic coaches to determine how to move forward. The discussions focused on exploring a path forward that considers the needs of student-athletes while addressing concerns surrounding transfer eligibility.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Our policies should recognize that students’ circumstances can change and ensure they have a fair chance to pursue opportunities that support their growth and development,” Lilly said. “I am calling on the Rules Committee to release HB 473 so lawmakers can consider this proposal and work toward a fairer process for Illinois student-athletes.”

Lilly is urging the Rules Committee to advance House Bill 473 during the upcoming veto session, giving the legislation an opportunity to move forward in the legislative process.

CHICAGO – State Representative Mike Crawford, D-Chicago, was honored with the 2026 House Champion Award on Saturday, Oct. 24, by the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishment for his efforts to address the lasting barriers people face after serving their sentences.

The award recognizes Crawford’s work to advance policies that promote second chances and help individuals move forward after fulfilling their obligations to society. As part of that effort, Crawford introduced House Bill 5091, which would establish the Permanent Punishments Task Force to examine barriers to employment, housing, education and professional opportunities and develop meaningful solutions.

“Nearly 30 years ago, my chemistry teacher, Dr. Karen Lewis, taught me something I have carried with me ever since: ‘I don’t believe in throwaway people,’” Crawford said. “Those words still guide my work today. If we believe people deserve the opportunity to change and rebuild their lives, our laws and policies must reflect that belief. Accountability matters, but so do redemption, opportunity and second chances.”

Permanent punishments can continue to affect people long after they have served their sentences, creating obstacles to securing stable housing, finding employment and pursuing educational and professional goals. House Bill 5091 seeks to address these challenges by bringing stakeholders together to examine existing policies and identify opportunities for reform.

“I accept this award with gratitude and a renewed commitment to this work,” Crawford said. “I believe people should have a fair opportunity to move forward after serving their time. There are no throwaway people, and our state policies must reflect that.”

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Representative Yolonda Morris (D-Chicago) is recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month by highlighting the importance of supporting survivors, connecting families with critical resources and promoting access to safety and healing.

 “Every survivor deserves to feel safe, supported and heard,” Morris said. “We must ensure survivors know they are not alone and have access to the resources and support they need.”

As chief co-sponsor of House Bill 4949, Morris helped advance legislation establishing a framework for Family Justice Centers across Illinois. Signed into law as Public Act 104-0780, the Family Justice Centers Act allows state and local governments and community-based nonprofits to coordinate services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking. The law emphasizes survivor privacy, confidentiality and coordinated, trauma-informed services.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month reminds us that awareness must be accompanied by action. Morris encourages residents to learn about resources available in their communities and support organizations working to protect survivors and prevent domestic violence.

CHICAGO – State Representative Mike Crawford, D-Chicago, is recognizing Illinois’ inaugural Disability History Month by reaffirming his commitment to ensuring students with disabilities have the support they need to learn, grow and succeed.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and reach their full potential,” Crawford said. “Parents should feel informed, supported and confident when advocating for their children. Every family deserves access to the resources they need, and every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.”

Crawford championed House Bill 1366, which became law as Public Act 104-0047. The law strengthens parental notice and participation in the special education process, helping families better understand their rights and access the resources they need to advocate for their children.

Disability History Month celebrates the history, achievements and contributions of people with disabilities while highlighting the importance of accessibility, equal opportunity and inclusion in schools and communities.

“Disability History Month is also a reminder that we must continue working to remove barriers and expand opportunities for everyone,” Crawford said. “Every person deserves to feel valued, respected and included, and that commitment must be reflected in our schools and communities.”

CHICAGO – State Representatives Lisa Davis and Mike Crawford, D-Chicago, hosted their second annual Fall Fest on Saturday, October 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Commissioners Park, located at 8100 Beloit Ave. in Bridgeview. The event welcomed approximately 1,200 constituents for an afternoon of family-friendly activities and access to community resources.

This year’s event served three times as many constituents as last year and featured horseback riding, a costume contest and opportunities for residents to connect with state agencies and local municipalities. Representatives from these organizations were on hand to share information about available resources and services.

“Fall Fest is a great opportunity to bring our community together while connecting residents with resources available to them,” Crawford said. “We’re excited to see the event continue to grow and appreciate everyone who came out to celebrate with us.”

“It was great to see so many families come out and enjoy the festivities,” Davis said. “Serving approximately 1,200 constituents this year is a testament to the importance of creating opportunities for our community to come together and access valuable resources.”

Crawford and Davis thanked the participating agencies, local municipalities, community partners and volunteers who helped make the event a success. Both representatives look forward to continuing to host events that bring residents together and connect them with resources throughout their communities.

CHICAGO – State Representatives Mike Crawford and Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, hosted their second annual Fall Fest on Saturday, October 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Commissioners Park, located at 8100 Beloit Ave. in Bridgeview. The event welcomed approximately 1,200 constituents for an afternoon of family-friendly activities and access to community resources.

This year’s event served three times as many constituents as last year and featured horseback riding, a costume contest and opportunities for residents to connect with state agencies and local municipalities. Representatives from these organizations were on hand to share information about available resources and services.

“Fall Fest is a great opportunity to bring our community together while connecting residents with resources available to them,” Crawford said. “We’re excited to see the event continue to grow and appreciate everyone who came out to celebrate with us.”

“It was great to see so many families come out and enjoy the festivities,” Davis said. “Serving approximately 1,200 constituents this year is a testament to the importance of creating opportunities for our community to come together and access valuable resources.”

Crawford and Davis thanked the participating agencies, local municipalities, community partners and volunteers who helped make the event a success. Both representatives look forward to continuing to host events that bring residents together and connect them with resources throughout their communities.

SPRINGFIELD, – Ill. — With preeclampsia continuing to pose serious risks for mothers and babies, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is being recognized for her work to raise awareness of the condition and expand access to preeclampsia biomarker testing for women across Illinois. 

“These efforts are about giving women the information they need to understand their risks, advocate for their health and make informed decisions throughout pregnancy,” Lilly said. “When we can identify risk earlier, we give women and their doctors a greater opportunity to act before a serious complication occurs. At the end of the day, every woman deserves access to the information, care and tools she needs to protect her health and the health of her baby.” 

Lilly championed legislation to expand insurance coverage for preeclampsia biomarker testing, including House Bill 3706, which addresses coverage for women with private insurance. The Medicaid coverage provision was included in an omnibus Medicaid package, Senate Bill 3365, ensuring women covered by Medicaid also have access to preeclampsia biomarker testing. Together, these efforts help remove financial barriers to testing that can provide important information about a woman’s risk of developing preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure that can threaten the health of both mother and baby. It can contribute to preterm birth, costly NICU stays, long-term health consequences and avoidable health care costs. Approximately 13,000 babies are born preterm in Illinois each year, according to the March of Dimes, while the Illinois Department of Public Health reports that approximately 1 in 8 pregnancies in Illinois experiences hypertension. Preeclampsia also disproportionately affects Black women, occurring approximately 60% more often among Black women and contributing to persistent maternal health disparities.

“There are many leaders across our Illinois communities who share my commitment to improving maternal health, and this progress has been possible because we have worked together,” Lilly said. “Through innovation and collaboration, we are finding new ways to identify a woman’s individual risk of developing preeclampsia before symptoms appear and making sure that women have access to the information and care they need to have healthier pregnancies.” 

Lilly’s continued work on preeclampsia awareness and maternal health reflects a broader commitment to giving Illinois women the information, resources and access to care they need to advocate for themselves and their babies. By supporting earlier identification of risk and expanding coverage for testing, Illinois can give patients and health care providers more opportunities to act before serious complications occur.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL – State Representative Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, is celebrating the enactment of House Bill 5284, the Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act, which is now law in Illinois.

House Bill 5284 passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and became Public Act 104-0793 on August 7, 2026. The new law advances menopause education, expands access to menopause-related care and strengthens workplace protections for individuals experiencing menopause and related conditions.

“For too long, menopause has been overlooked in conversations about health care and the workplace,” said State Representative Yolonda Morris. “This law ensures that people experiencing menopause have greater access to information and care and are treated with dignity and respect. I am proud to have championed this legislation and to see it become law for people across Illinois.”

The Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act represents an important step toward greater awareness, access and support for people experiencing menopause throughout the state.

CHICAGO – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, issued the following statement as Illinois’ smart and responsible budget tools are delivering $20 million to protect access to food security ahead of Donald Trump’s SNAP cuts: 

“Since President Donald Trump has been in the oval office, he has put our vulnerable communities at risk and his decision to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is no different. His actions will leave almost 2 million Illinois residents who depend on SNAP benefits to feed their families malnourished. That’s why I am beyond grateful that my colleagues and I passed a state budget that protects Illinoisans from the Trump administration by allowing us to support them in their time of need. The allocation of $20 million in state funding, made possible by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursements and Governmental Emergencies (BRIDGE) Fund, will support food banks across the state beginning November 1. We know that this is the first step and we will continue to do everything in our power to make sure everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has access to basic necessities, like food so they don’t face a multitude of health issues simply because the man who took the oath of office to fight for everyone in this country is starving them.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits will come to an end Nov. 1 during the ongoing federal government shutdown: 

“As Chair of the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee, I have dedicated my career to ensuring that vulnerable communities throughout the state have access to fresh and healthy food. Never did I believe that my fight to advocate for healthy food would expand into a battle to preserve food access as a whole for millions of vulnerable Illinoisans. Donald Trump has spent his time in office working to undermine vulnerable communities and this is no different – he is telling Illinois families that depend on SNAP that he doesn’t care about them. He doesn’t care that mothers and fathers may not be able to feed their children or that those children may suffer permanent developmental harm as a result. There is absolutely no justification for his
actions. My colleagues and I will continue to do everything in our power to protect our families from the heinous actions of this administration.”