SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, introduced, sponsored and passed a bill ensuring overpayments made to a government entity are included in the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (RUUPA), increasing government transparency and accountability.

“We have really great programs in our state, like ICASH, that allow Illinoisans to access and obtain their unclaimed property,” said Blair-Sherlock. “By adding overpayments made to government entities to the definition of ‘property,’ we’re making sure that our constituents have every chance to claim the money available to them.”

RUUPA was established in the 1960s, allowing Illinoisans access to unclaimed property. Under the current law, “property” includes checks, credit balances, bonds and even customer overpayments. Overpayments made to government entities, however, are not explicitly defined as “property” that can be claimed. House Bill 4541 ensures that overpayments to government entities are subject to RUUPA and that monetary returns can and will be made available to the payer, where necessary.

“Affordability is a major issue across our state and across the country. People are struggling to make ends meet. No one can afford to pay any more than is absolutely necessary. Overpayments happen; mistakes happen. But if those mistakes can be reversed, they should be. And that’s what I’m trying to do with this bill. Your money is just that: yours. It belongs in your pocket,” said Blair-Sherlock.

House Bill 4541 is now heading to the Senate for consideration.

VILLA PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, is one of over 200 lawmakers from all 50 states to sign a comprehensive letter organized by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), and the Child Care for Every Family Network urging the federal government to restore childcare funding.  

“This administration continues to cut funding and withdraw support for vital resources like childcare across the country, while falsely claiming to care about young families and children,” said Blair-Sherlock. “Actions speak louder than words. And in this first year, Trump has taken no action to actually help the people who need it most.”

In January, the Trump administration announced its intention to cut childcare funding in five states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. Additionally, the federal government’s “Defend the Spend” policy targets social services and childcare programs by forcing agencies servicing these vital resources to provide excessive and unnecessary documents before receiving any kind of funding, causing nationwide delays.

Blair-Sherlock has been integral to championing legislation supporting young families, children, and education access. Recently, she helped pass House Resolution 621, calling for the immediate release of the $10 billion in child care funds frozen across democratic-majority states, including over $1 billion to Illinois families and children facing poverty, chronic illness or disability.

“The Trump administration may say whatever they want to defend these decisions, but we know the truth: This is a politicized attack that will hurt our children, hurt our constituents, and hurt our economy,” said Blair-Sherlock.

The collaborative letter can be read here and was entered into the record during last Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary Hearing.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, is speaking out about the illegal and corrupt actions undertaken by the Trump Administration, passing official condemnations of Trump’s reckless tariffs and misguided foreign policy, drastic cuts to child care and familial life lines, violating the Constitution and the deadly immigration force employed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that has resulted in the deaths of 50 individuals, including U.S. citizens.

“This federal administration has inflicted great harm in just their first year. Their warped view of immigration policy and foreign policy threatens the very values this country was built on. Not to mention the affordability crisis that only seems to grow as Washington continues to make funding cuts,” said Blair-Sherlock.

The Blair-Sherlock backed resolutions call out Trump’s unchecked military operations that span from Venezuela to threatening a forceful seizure of Greenland, as well as, the surmounting costs it would take to stabilize SNAP benefits for more than 310,000 Americans back home, expired subsidies from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), child care, education  and hundreds of millions of additional dollars for working families that the federal administration has unilaterally cut across democratic majority states. Blair-Sherlock also called out the domestic, lethal extremism led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that has scarred U.S. cities nationwide through unfounded shootings, illegal detainments and  the refusal of due process and 4th Amendment rights that are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Blair-Sherlock voted to:

• Urge Congress to reinstate the healthcare subsidies within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to keep healthcare affordable and accessible for over 500,000 Illinoisans who depend on the ACA marketplace.
• Call for the immediate release of the $10 billion in child care funds frozen across democratic-majority states, including over $1 billion to Illinois families and children facing poverty, chronic illness or disability.
• Call on Congress to hold Donald Trump accountable for his illegal use of military action and American dollars to fund illegitimate operations, including in Venezuela, unprovoked attacks toward Cuba and Iran, and threats of forcefully pursuing Greenland’s autonomous territory.
• Condemn the excessive and deadly force deployed by civil immigration agents under the direction of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, by calling for her immediate resignation and an independent investigation into committed, directed or covered up acts of violence, violations of the Constitution, killings and deaths in immigration custody.

“It’s my job to deliver for my constituents. It’s also my job to protect my district, and my state, from Washington’s senseless and degrading actions. We cannot and will not stand for this,” said Blair-Sherlock.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Focused on addressing issues facing families, state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, supported a veto session agenda this week that will lower electric bills, expand the senior property tax freeze, transform public transit and implement safeguards related to immigration raids.

“Residents shouldn’t have to worry if their energy bills are going to be too high or if they can afford their home or if federal immigration theatrics are going to escalate at their hospital,” Blair-Sherlock said. “Our focus this veto session was to make lives better for people, and while much work remains, these proposals are steps forward that can make a positive difference for families.”

Blair-Sherlock supported a comprehensive energy package that aims to lower home electric bills both immediately and over the long term. Dubbed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, the measure is expected to create thousands of jobs and further strengthen the state’s electric grid to meet the power demands of today and tomorrow.

She also voted for an expansion of the senior property tax freeze to address inflation and ensure more seniors qualify for relief. The maximum income limitation would rise from $65,000 to $75,000 in tax year 2026, and continue to gradually increase to $79,000 in tax year 2028.

After years of inefficiency at local transit agencies, Blair-Sherlock backed a transformative public transportation reform plan that will create a new overarching Northern Illinois Transit Agency (NITA) tasked with improving the rider experience. Additional reforms aim to strengthen service, improve rider safety, eliminate bureaucracy and crack down on financial issues with new independent auditors and reserve fund requirements.

With federal officials continuing to stoke unnecessary fear in communities with violent raids, Blair- Sherlock backed a commonsense, human-centered proposal implementing safeguards at hospitals, daycares, courthouses and higher education locations.

“This is a challenging time for many, and it’s important that the General Assembly steps up and takes action to reflect our values as Illinoisans,” Blair-Sherlock said. “I’m going to continue fighting for our families.”

For more information, please contact StateRep46@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, backed a responsible and compassionate budget plan Saturday that cuts bureaucracy and carefully prioritizes resources to support schools, public safety and essential services families rely on.

“The economic uncertainty we’re dealing with because of Washington made this a challenging budget process, but this is a balanced measure that focuses on family concerns and better prepares us to navigate future issues,” Blair-Sherlock said. “Regardless of what extreme politicians try to do, we’re going to prioritize our education system, support healthcare access and build toward a brighter future for everyone.”

The Blair-Sherlock-supported plan uses more than $190 million in government administrative cuts to direct greater funding toward schools, healthcare and family priorities. In anticipation of future issues caused by instability in Washington, the budget plan also responsibly sets aside reserve funds to be used in a contingency.

Throughout this session, Blair-Sherlock pushed for policy that reflects local resident concerns, spearheading updates to guardianship rules and further creating awareness regarding autism and deaf Illinoisans.

“Challenges remain, and our work will carry on throughout the summer,” Blair-Sherlock said. “We must continue to pursue smart policy that will drive down costs for residents, spark economic opportunity and put our community on a better path forward.”

For more information, please contact StateRep46@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, issued the following statement Wednesday after the governor’s annual budget address:

“I look forward to reviewing the governor’s proposal line by line, and seeing how we can maximize our resources to strengthen support for our schools, public safety and essential services residents depend on. I’m particularly interested in how we can continue to invest in successful early childhood initiatives, as well as lifesaving health care and programming for the disabled and older adults.

“There’s no question this will be a tough budget year, and we’ll have to consider fiscal challenges with our public transportation systems. It underscores why we must always pursue a balanced approach with our state spending so that we have the flexibility necessary to ensure support for issues facing families.

“With Washington increasingly hostile, our budget gives us an opportunity to reinforce our state’s values and priorities. There’s a lot of difficult work ahead, but I’m optimistic that we can build consensus and deliver a final document that works to uplift and create opportunity for every community.”

For more information, please contact StateRep46@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Concerned about the impact of reckless White House decisions on the wellbeing of Illinois families and businesses, state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, backed a series of resolutions Wednesday that condemn President Donald Trump’s actions on a number of fronts.

“I’m hearing from many in our community who are rightfully alarmed by what’s coming out of Washington, and how it may hurt families here in Illinois,” Blair-Sherlock said. “It’s critical that we stand up against harmful decisions that ignore the rule of law, target our economic stability and benefit only the privileged few. Let’s choose a better, more human-centered and responsible path forward.”

Blair-Sherlock sponsored and supported a series of resolutions that passed the Illinois House on Wednesday, including:

– House Resolution 115, which calls out Trump’s decision to double down on a broken
immigration system, his reliance on threats and dehumanizing language and his efforts to
circumvent the rule of law and make Illinois communities less safe;
– House Resolution 116, which notes Trump’s unlawful policies make it harder for families to
make ends meet and condemns his attempted funding freeze that would have stripped millions
of Americans of the services they depend on to live and thrive;
– House Resolution 117, which condemns Trump’s efforts to undermine equal pay, make
workplaces less fair and limit opportunity;
– House Resolution 118, which calls out Trump’s inexcusable pardons of Jan. 6 conspirators and
criminals convicted of attacking police, attacking our nation’s capitol and attacking our
democracy; and
– House Resolution 119, which calls upon Trump to abandon his reckless tariff plans that have
caused unnecessary economic instability and would raise costs on Illinois families and
businesses.

For more information, please contact StateRep46@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Responding to homeowner concerns about the cost of property taxes, state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, has introduced legislation to raise the senior homestead exemption’s income limitation, increase the persons with disabilities exemption and strengthen transparency requirements on tax bills.

“We should look to take responsible action to drive down costs for homeowners, especially for those who are on a fixed income,” Blair-Sherlock said. “These proposals are needed updates, and would be a good starting point to further build on with reforms to make our property tax system better for taxpayers.”

Blair-Sherlock’s proposals include:
– House Bill 61, which would require tax bills to clearly show how much of a taxpayer’s bill is going toward a local ballot initiative or referendum, as well as when that specific item will expire,
– House Bill 69, which raises the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption limitation from $65,000 to $75,000, and
– House Bill 70, which increases the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities from $2,000 to $4,000.

“Our existing exemptions must properly reflect the effect of inflation and changes to the cost of living,” Blair-Sherlock said. “Every dollar matters, so let’s take real action in Springfield to deliver real relief for local residents.”

For more information, please contact StateRep46@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, issued the following statement Wednesday after the start of a new legislative term:

“This General Assembly will need to tackle serious challenges, and it’s critical that we do so in a human-centered way that reflects the priorities of working families. It starts with responsibly investing in our education system from early childhood through college, strengthening our public safety efforts and driving down costs for consumers.

“In recent years we’ve made significant strides to improve our state’s fiscal standing – securing multiple credit rating upgrades, eliminating debt and positioning ourselves to better meet challenges as they arise. We must maintain this approach, and look to expand economic opportunities that will create and support jobs across Illinois.

“I’m also focused on what is happening in Washington, and the steps we may need to take in response. We’ve already seen extreme politicians take aim at reproductive freedoms and essential health care access, and it’s critical that Illinois is ready to reinforce protections.

“This is going to be an impactful legislative session. I’m optimistic we can deliver great things for the people of this state, and I’m excited to get to work.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Families would be able to more easily rollover money from a 529 College Savings account to a Roth IRA under a proposal introduced by state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park.

“This option would give parents and their children greater flexibility to decide how to save their money, particularly if they have funds no longer intended for education,” Blair-Sherlock said. “For those looking to help their child get a head start on retirement savings, this would be a helpful change.”

Blair-Sherlocks’ House Bill 5005, which she introduced in partnership with the Illinois Treasurer’s office, would allow rollovers from a 529 College Savings account into the beneficiary’s Roth IRA account without triggering income taxes or penalties. Rollovers would only go to the beneficiary’s Roth IRA, not the parent or guardian. College accounts must be opened at least 15 years before rollover, and up to $35,000 of leftover 529 College Savings funds can be rolled into the Roth IRA.

This update would reflect changes to federal law and expand existing practice in Illinois, which allows rollover from a 529 College Savings account into a qualified tuition program via an Illinois ABLE account.

House Bill 5005 also streamlines documentation rules for parents or guardians to provide proof of residence and birth or adoption.

“Before efforts to enable rollovers to a Roth IRA, families had limited options when it came to unspent money without facing tax consequences,” Blair-Sherlock said. “This measure would be a good path forward that helps families, and I appreciate the advocacy from the Illinois Treasurer on this topic.”

For more information, please contact StateRep46@gmail.com.