SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- Looking to address energy and water usage concerns, state Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago, has introduced legislation to create regulations on the development and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers within Illinois. 

Data centers are defined as facilities that house networked computers, storage systems and IT infrastructures that support AI, internet connectivity and corporate services.

“As AI becomes more widely used, data centers needed to run these programs are opening across the country,” said Andrade. “However, data centers have become a strain on vulnerable communities and the utilities and infrastructure they depend on. Our state’s approach must always strike a balance between lowering costs and supporting the industries of tomorrow, and my bill does precisely that.”

Andrade’s House Bill 5513 creates a new regulatory framework for the construction and operation of AI data centers, including energy usage and emissions monitoring and permitting processes that include greater oversight from communities housing these data centers. 

Under Andrade’s bill, new construction of AI data centers will be required to: 

• Meet strict emissions and water usage standards and reporting if operating based on natural gas or diesel power and drawing on local water sources;
• Contract with utility companies to reduce their stress on the electrical grid during peak operating hours;
• Conduct a Cumulative Impact Assessment if a data center will be operating in an Equity Investment Eligible community; and 
• Work in close coordination with local governments on matters related to workforce development, community oversight and more. 

“Costs are at an all-time high for groceries, utilities and housing, and this responsible legislation ensures that data centers do not add an additional burden,” said Andrade. “Illinois can benefit from burgeoning AI industries, but we need to do things right and make sure our communities have their voice heard. My bill will ensure people can participate in the AI future, without paying for the costs these companies should be covering for the construction and operation of their data centers.” 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- Looking to address energy and water usage concerns, state Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation to create regulations on the development and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers within Illinois. 

Data centers are defined as facilities that house networked computers, storage systems and IT infrastructures that support AI, internet connectivity and corporate services.

“As AI becomes more widely used, data centers needed to run these programs are opening across the country,” said Andrade. “However, data centers have become a strain on vulnerable communities and the utilities and infrastructure they depend on. Our state’s approach must always strike a balance between lowering costs and supporting the industries of tomorrow, and my bill does precisely that.”

Andrade sponsored House Bill 5513 which creates a new regulatory framework for the construction and operation of AI data centers, including energy usage and emissions monitoring and permitting processes that include greater oversight from communities housing these data centers. 

Under Andrade’s bill, new construction of AI data centers will be required to: 

• Meet strict emissions and water usage standards and reporting if operating based on natural gas or diesel power and drawing on local water sources;
• Contract with utility companies to reduce their stress on the electrical grid during peak operating hours;
• Conduct a Cumulative Impact Assessment if a data center will be operating in an Equity Investment Eligible community; and 
• Work in close coordination with local governments on matters related to workforce development, community oversight and more. 

“Costs are at an all-time high for groceries, utilities and housing, and this responsible legislation ensures that data centers do not add an additional burden,” said Andrade. “Illinois can benefit from burgeoning AI industries, but we need to do things right and make sure our communities have their voice heard. My bill will ensure people can participate in the AI future, without paying for the costs these companies should be covering for the construction and operation of their data centers.” 

​

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- As part of an effort to maintain transparency, state Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago, has introduced new regulations governing the data collection of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in Illinois, requiring law enforcement agencies to document and report when they access or obtain ALPR system data as part of a criminal investigation. 

“The possibility of misuse of the sensitive information contained on license plate reading systems is far too high; we cannot allow it to be used for the wrong reasons,” said Andrade. “This legislation creates a process of transparency by creating a trail of information on the who, what and why for the access of Illinoisans private data.”

Andrade’s House Bill 5231 requires that law enforcement agencies facilitate public reports anytime the ALPR system is used and what it is used for in relation to criminal and civil cases. The measure is intended to promote accountability while maintaining the effectiveness of investigative tools used by police in Illinois. 

Currently, the ALPR system can only be used by law enforcement agencies as a part of a criminal investigation, as part of an active investigation of a missing or endangered person, and for tracking a person associated with human trafficking. The bill also lists any penalties for a law enforcement officer who uses this system not for its intended purpose. 

“Every year I work to constantly protect Illinoisan’s privacy, and this year is no different,” said Andrade. “License plates hold a person’s driver’s license, their address, birthdate, insurance policies and any personal information tied to that. It’s important we ensure that access to this data is for good and necessary reasons, approved by the ALPR system, to make our neighborhoods safer.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- To help protect the privacy and data of Illinoisans, State Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago, has introduced the Social Media Data Clean Slate Act that changes the account deletion process on social media accounts and would permanently delete accounts and all data and information connected to it with the click of a button. 

“People all over Illinois deserve to know they have real control over their personal information,” said Andrade. “Recently, the Department of Homeland Security has legally requested social media platforms to give over personal information from accounts that have spoken against ICE agents. While freedom of speech still exists, the federal government seems to think they can limit and threaten people for speaking their thoughts and warning others over the real danger: masked men with weapons. This legislation puts consumers first and prevents government and companies from hiding their attempts to get rid of our constitutional rights.” 

Andrade’s House Bill 5230 would modernize privacy protections on social media accounts by creating an easier process to be able to delete social media accounts and all the personal information attached to it. It would require social media platforms to be clear about the account deletion process as well as the deletion process for all personal information pertaining to that account, which can be emails, phone numbers, full name and birth dates, locations and pictures.  

The bill was introduced as a means to add additional safety precautions and protections to personal information from social media accounts. Shortly after the Department of Homeland Security started to subpoena social media platforms like Google, Meta and Reddit to hand over names, email addresses, telephone numbers and other identifying data from accounts that have criticized ICE raids and agents and given their locations to warn others online. 

“I introduced this legislation to protect people’s privacy and personal information,” said Andrade. “Now it’s more prevalent than ever that we need this to be law because of the federal government’s response. This is more than just a change in technology laws; this is about giving people the opportunity to control the privacy in their own lives and leaves that decision in their hands. The federal government should not get to choose when they want and don’t want to follow the laws for their own agenda to target innocent people. Personal information, whether it’s on the internet or not, belongs to the person it came from, not the platform that collected it.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- State Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago, has introduced new legislation that expands protections for tenants in Illinois and prevents landlords from submitting tenants credit agreement and rental history until the tenant agrees with written consent. 

“Tenants should not have their credit and rental history reported until they are officially moving into an apartment,” said Andrade. “Many landlords take advantage of receiving financial information about a tenant before they even give consent which creates a disadvantage in renting a property to someone. Private financial information should be left in the hands and discretion of the tenant, and my legislation would do just that.”

Andrade’s House Bill 5528, an amendment to the Landlord and Tenant Act, would prohibit a landlord from automatically reporting a tenant’s rental payment history until obtaining written consent and that a landlord not propose a credit building agreement to a tenant until a lease is signed. 

“Many times, we have people and families that cannot afford to make a rent payment on time due to prioritizing heat in the winter, food on the table, or light and internet for children to do school work,” said Andrade. “These events impact someone’s rental history and can even negatively impact their credit score. These protections are necessary for renters and future homeowners as it reduces housing discrimination and creates a fair opportunity for people.”

CHICAGO- Before the federal government took action, State Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago, passed an Illinois law making it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up for one—years ahead of the proposal of the federal Unsubscribe Act introduced in the United States Congress this January to create a nationwide “Click to Cancel” rule. 

“Applying for subscriptions is usually an easy process, but cancelling them is a different story. Consumers end up hassling with calls, emails and even going in person. It wastes time, money and effort,” said Andrade. “It’s about time that the federal government is learning from our example.”

In Illinois, State Rep. Andrade passed House Bill 3955 (102nd GA) in 2021, which provides consumers the ability to cancel online subscriptions if they have accepted and started that subscription online. It also requires businesses to have some form of contact information on their website if they offer any form of subscription. 

Similarly, Congress’s HR 7048, known as the Unsubscribe Act of 2025, allows consumers to cancel subscriptions online and be notified for approval about charges or any changes to free and reduced-cost periods. The main difference between the two is Congress’s legislation expands to all forms of subscriptions, not just those acquired online. 

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2024 there were an average of 70 consumer complaints daily of people not being able to cancel their subscriptions or not having a way to contact businesses to cancel. On average, adults spend over $1,000 on subscriptions while $205 of that is on subscriptions consumers no longer use.  

“This legislation was a common-sense solution to a pervasive problem, because that’s what good government should do for people,” Andrade said. “Illinois will always be on the forefront of protecting consumers from businesses trying to take advantage of them. I hope to expand this law and add additional protections for consumers, so that they can continue to save money and not deal with difficult businesses looking to take advantage of them.” 

For more information, visit Ilga.gov or for Congress’s legislation visit  https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7048

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- State Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr. issued the following statement responding to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s budget address this Wednesday and highlighted lowering costs and having a responsible fiscal budget this session:

“This year, we begin the process of creating another fiscally and socially responsible state budget where I will prioritize the needs of working families such as lowering costs of groceries, home energy and necessities and making healthcare more affordable and accessible. It’s important that Illinoisans know we are working hard to lower the costs of their bills that have been excessively high due to inflation and Washington chaos.

“During my time in office, I have prioritized helping families make ends and funding the services the federal government is working hard to get rid of. Together with my colleagues, we’ve doubled the Child Tax Credit to $2,000, expanded Child Care Assistance, eliminated the state’s grocery tax and erased more than $430 million in old medical debt for tens of thousands of people. I will continue to help families by lowering utility bill costs, regulating data centers and protecting fresh water resources that help our power grids.

“Washington continues to make confusing and unpredictable policy choices that hurt working people, but I will continue to find new ways to help families make ends meet and fund services targeted by Trump’s budgets. The governor’s budget address is a first step, and now the real work begins.” 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- State Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr. passed a resolution on Wednesday condemning the excessive violence and deadly force committed by federal agents under the Trump-Noem immigration raids resulting in multiple deaths nationwide.

“Not too long ago my district was tear gassed by ICE agents – while many kids were attending a parade – in order to detain a construction worker,” said Andrade. “We are in a crisis where masked men in unmarked vehicles and no identification terrorize our communities, families, children, while the Trump administration sits back and watches. I will not sit back and watch. That is why it’s important we continue to stand up for the voiceless and stand against the killings going on around us.”

Andrade’s House Resolution 622 condemns the Trump Administration and calls for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and others operating under the direction of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be investigated and prosecuted for their actions. It calls attention to the pattern of murders from September 2025 with Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in Franklin Park, IL to the very public murders of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minnesota just this past weekend. The resolution also calls for the impeachment of Kristi Noem or her immediate resignation.

“Just this weekend, a 37-year-old ICU Hospital nurse was murdered on video by federal agents. Lies were spread by DHS about why he was attacked, but like all, the truth always comes to light. Alex Pretti, a person who saves lives, has just lost his own for trying to help two women in distress, who were attacked by ICE agents. These agents and this administration have become despicable with their actions and lies and it needs to stop now.”

There have been 35 deaths committed by ICE in 2025. All those injured and murdered did not receive due process and many of them were U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, or had a form of residency identification that they were not given the opportunity to provide.

“As a Hispanic father, and a son of immigrants, I am worried for my family and my community, which is full of hardworking, immigrant or mixed-status families,” Andrade said. “The Trump Administration has been too comfortable sending masked agents to hurt our communities, neighbors, and families. We are demanding an end to these deadly acts of violence, and we hold Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and these agents responsible for their actions.”

For more information, visit Ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To better protect consumers, state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is backing a measure to require online business platforms to disclose if the advertised price of goods or services is generated by algorithms or AI using prior browsing history and demographic information inferred by a consumer’s digital footprint. 

“It’s bad enough that costs continue to go up on food, rent and everyday purchases, but now companies are getting even more conniving by price gouging their own consumers,” Andrade said. “I’ve dedicated years to making our state’s legislation effective at counteracting the threats posed by emerging technologies and AI, including passing legislation to prevent AI models from predicting and impacting hiring processes. This legislation is a continuation of our state’s broader efforts to make sure that the latest advances in technology truly serve Illinoisans, not make them secondary to corporate greed.” 

Illinoisans taking advantage of online platforms to shop for groceries, clothing and household appliances are facing higher risks of their personal and online data being used against them by AI and other algorithms. The Andrade-backed House Bill 4248 requires businesses and retailers to disclose their algorithm-based pricing practices. Consumers will then have the option to opt out of the practice and pay a baseline price. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of sensitive personal information, like race, religion and immigration status, to determine pricing.

Any and all bill requirements will be enforced through existing Illinois consumer fraud laws.

“Illinoisans are facing economic uncertainty, and they’re struggling to make ends meet with less and less buying power each day; the last thing they need is to have their online data used against them for the goods and services they depend on,” Andrade said. “I am proud to join my colleagues in advancing this legislation, because consumer protection has to be our priority when it comes to making our state more affordable.” 

CHICAGO – A “clean slate” bill backed by state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, was signed into law on Friday and will expand housing, employment and education opportunities for Illinoisans. The legislation creates an automatic sealing process for thousands of non-violent arrest records, which will automatically seal many minor criminal records, ensuring these records are accessible only to law enforcement, prosecutors and sensitive employers, such as daycares and schools.

“More than 2 million Illinoisans continue to be excluded from quality housing, a good-paying job and needed child and healthcare services because of mistakes made decades ago: this represents a critical loophole in our restorative justice system,” Andrade said. “Creating an automatic records sealing process for minor and low-level offenses, we can truly provide the second chance that these individuals fought hard for and deserve. The ‘Clean Slate’ Act is another, in a series, of steps Illinois is taking to create new opportunities for those that have served their time and paid their debt to society.”

The Andrade-backed House Bill 1836, known as the Clean Slate Act, will automatically seal many minor criminal records, ensuring these records are accessible only to law enforcement. Arrests resulting in an acquittal or dismissal will be sealed immediately, while misdemeanor convictions will be sealed after two years. The most serious felonies, domestic abuse convictions, and other violent crimes against persons will not be eligible for sealing.

The Clean Slate Act was signed into law by Governor Pritzker today and will take effect on June 1, 2026.