LOMBARD, Ill. – Major affordability measures addressing hidden junk fees and price gouging schemes are now law due to the work of state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard.

“The cost of living is at the forefront of everyone’s minds,” said DeLaRosa. “Basic necessities keep getting more expensive, and family budgets keep tightening. Relieving some of that financial burden was our number one priority in the General Assembly this year, and a big part of that is price transparency and business accountability. I look forward to seeing how these bills will benefit the people of Illinois.”

Often disguised as “convenience” or “processing” fees, hidden junk fees cost families over $3,000 every year, according to consumer reports, driving the affordability crisis and making everyday purchases more expensive.

DeLaRosa worked to crack down on these hidden fees by co-sponsoring House Bill 228, which is now law. The measure requires businesses to display all mandatory fees and charges they are adding on top of a purchase price and gives the attorney general’s office more authority to hold businesses accountable for not disclosing surprise fees.

DeLaRosa also worked to expand protections for people buying tickets to concerts and sporting events. In response to high-profile reports of abusive practices perpetrated by ticket resellers and AI-powered “bot farms” purchasing mass amounts of event tickets to be resold at two or three times the face value, she passed House Bill 4984, which bans resellers from offering the sale of tickets they do not actually possess. Additionally, Senate Bill 318 bans the use of bots to buy tickets in excess of posted limits of online ticket sales or to circumvent electronic queues and other waiting periods. 

These measures are now law.

LISLE, Ill. – State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, invites her district to participate in a free community shred event, co-hosted with state Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, on Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to noon.

“Documents that have sensitive information can be hard to get rid of, and before you know it, you have boxes full of papers you no longer need, but can’t just toss in the bin. Protect your privacy by stopping by our shred event,” said DeLaRosa. “You can shred up to two banker’s boxes full of documents, and we’re also collecting paper product donations. Doing some spring cleaning and giving back to our community sounds like the perfect Saturday to me. I hope you’ll join me!”

The free shred event will take place at the Lisle Park District Recreation Center parking lot, located at 1925 Ohio St. in Lisle. Attendees are asked to bring no more than two banker’s boxes of documents to shred. DeLaRosa will also be accepting paper product donations, such as paper towels and toilet paper, for the Lisle Township Pantry.

For more information, please contact ILHouse42@gmail.com. 

Who: State Representative Margaret DeLaRosa and State Senator Laura Ellman

What: Free Community Shred Event

When: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 9 a.m. – noon

Where: Lisle Park District Recreation Center Parking Lot

1925 Ohio St. Lisle, IL, 60532

CHICAGO — A state budget focused on affordability is now law thanks to state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, who helped pass a balanced budget prioritizing direct relief for Illinoisans and investing in the resources Washington is trying to slash.

“Every year, it’s our responsibility to create a state budget that prioritizes the needs of Illinoisans. This year, with increasing prices and tightening budgets, providing relief was my primary goal. Basic necessities like food and housing should not be financially draining families, but they are,” said DeLaRosa. “I’m proud to have championed a budget that supports communities across the state, and I am excited to see the real relief this budget will bring.”

DeLaRosa’s work this legislative session concluded in passing a fiscally and socially responsible budget that relieves the cost-of-living crisis while making key investments in food security and other state services at risk of federal funding losses or total elimination.

The budget takes a number of smart steps to help families make ends meet, including:

• Nearly $100 million to help families afford groceries and put food on the table. As Washington slashes nutrition assistance for more than over 100,000 Illinoisans, DeLaRosa’s budget includes a new FRESH Program, which provides a one-time credit of up to $500, giving families a lifeline while they work with providers to reactivate benefits. Additionally, the DeLaRosa-backed budget expands free and reduced-cost school lunches ensuring children affected by SNAP cuts have a sustainable meal, and funding for the Illinois Grocery Initiative to expand access to fresh food in food deserts.
• Making back-to-school shopping more affordable by cutting the state sales tax on clothes, supplies, and other essentials for students, families, and teachers beginning in August.
• Freezing the gas tax to give families a break at the pump.
• Restoring property tax relief grants for schools so communities statewide can get relief.
• $500 million focused on affordable homes for working families, including investment in new home construction to meet the needs of working families who do not qualify for traditional assistance, but still face a significant lack of quality homes in their price range—a growing population known as the “missing middle.”

This budget keeps families safe and strengthens communities. As families face healthcare access threats like Medicaid cuts, the new state budget delivers full funding to maintain and operate critical safety-net hospitals, with an additional $10 million dedicated to support Federally Qualified Health Centers for the most vulnerable families. Public safety initiatives including homelessness prevention and community-based violence prevention will also receive full funding.

The Fiscal Year 2027 Illinois State Budget was signed into law Tuesday morning.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, will speak at the Lombard Lagoon on June 26, 2026 at 1 p.m. as a part of the Lombard Garden Club’s centennial celebration.

“The Lombard Garden Club is a staple in our community. It’s not only where generations of members have connected over a shared love of gardening, but it’s a hub for community service, conservation, and education,” said DeLaRosa. “For the past 100 years, their continued dedication to the village of Lombard has resulted in a better environment, support for students and new gardeners, and of course, beautiful landscaping.”

DeLaRosa will be in attendance at the Lombard Garden Club meeting, taking place at the Lombard Lagoon. She will speak in honor of the Garden Club’s 100th anniversary. Centennial celebrations have been ongoing since April with a handful of local events, including the annual Lilac Sale held around Mother’s Day and the Lilac Parade.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, wraps up this year’s spring legislative session by passing significant reforms to provide relief for working families and build a brighter future for Illinois.

“After several long nights passing bills on the House floor, hearing from expert witnesses in committees, and collaborating with my colleagues through it all, we’ve officially adjourned for the summer,” said DeLaRosa. “I’ve learned a lot my first year of session, and I look forward to continuing the hard work back at home.”

DeLaRosa sponsored and passed a couple of important bills this year, primarily focused on safety. House Bill 4361 streamlines the process of achieving certification for building inspectors to enhance our ability to ensure buildings are up to code. And, House Bill 4768 allows state entities to prohibit the use of low-speed electronic bicycles on any path within state jurisdiction, prioritizing pedestrian safety, as well as the safety of manual cyclists.

In addition to her own legislation, DeLaRosa co-sponsored, supported, and helped pass a number of significant bills—from cracking down on fraud schemes and junk fees, to adding protections from aggressive debt collection actions, to expanding educational opportunities across the state.

“I’m proud of what I have accomplished this year. It has been a joy to pass legislation that I know will benefit Illinois. I’ll be back in the district for the summer, where I’m excited to have productive conversations in our community, especially at some of the great events we have lined up. I hope to see you there!” said DeLaRosa.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, ends this year’s spring legislative session by passing a comprehensive state budget for Fiscal Year 2027 that meets the needs of Illinoisans, without any extreme funding cuts or tax impositions on Illinois residents.

“It was really important to me that we pass a state budget that accurately reflects the needs of communities across Illinois,” said DeLaRosa. “There were a lot of negotiations, but I’m confident that the budget we passed will deliver for the hard-working people of our state—especially those who have been disproportionately affected by decisions made at the federal level.”

DeLaRosa passed a compassionate state budget with the goal of delivering where Washington isn’t. While the federal agenda seems set on increasing everyday expenses and cutting essential programs, DeLaRosa is prioritizing the needs of her community through…

• Greater food security and resources for those affected by SNAP cuts.
• More accessible housing opportunities, including fully funding homelessness prevention.
• Healthcare access for our state’s most vulnerable by investing in federally-qualified health centers and safety net hospitals.
• Providing local governments and school districts with tools needed for property tax relief, including full funding for the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF).
• Supporting a back-to-school sales tax holiday and investing in affordable school lunches.
• Pausing a new increase in the state gas tax that would have taken effect this summer.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty around federal aid, so we’re focusing on what we can control through this comprehensive, compassionate budget. I see how hard the families in my community work every day. Their needs were my top priority through session and budget negotiations, and will continue to be at the forefront of my mind as I return home,” said DeLaRosa.

The state budget for Fiscal Year 2027 passed early in the morning on June 1.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fighting to restore affordability for Illinois households, state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, is advancing a series of bills to the governor’s desk cutting costs on everyday purchases and utilities, banning gimmicks that raise prices, and requiring businesses to fairly compensate consumers.

“Affordability and the cost of living is the main thing on everyone’s minds right now. Our expenses seem to keep increasing, while our budgets grow smaller and smaller,” said DeLaRosa. “Our goal is to provide relief for Illinoisans wherever we can, especially when it comes to basic necessities like groceries and utilities. ”

While federal policies and international instability are making everything more expensive, DeLaRosa is taking charge of what Illinois can control, and championing policy to provide some immediate relief.

DeLaRosa worked to pass the following cost-cutting measures:

• 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 to disclose all mandatory fees and charges added on top of an advertised purchase price.
• House Bill 4044: Strengthening consumer rights by banning no-return policies that limit customers to store credit for unused, unopened items for most purchases.
• House Bill 4514: Allowing residents to voice opposition to general rate increases byrequiring public utility companies fully inform residents of their rights prior to a rateproposal.

All four measures successfully advanced through House and Senate chambers. They await governor consideration before being signed into law.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Working to protect homeowners from medical debt, state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, is advancing a bill to the governor’s desk for consideration that ensures patients’ primary residence and property cannot be used in legal action by hospitals seeking to recover unpaid medical debt.

“Having any kind of medical debt is already a very stressful burden. The consequence of that burden should never be the loss of your home,” said DeLaRosa. “These liens placed on a patient’s home add to the anxiety of the situation; not only do you owe money to the hospital, but now you have lost control of your own property.”

Medical debt remains one of the leading causes of bankruptcy nationwide, according to the National Library of Medicine, with nearly half of U.S. adults finding it difficult to afford healthcare. DeLaRosa co-sponsored House Bill 4461, taking an important step to protect patient homes and property by changing the law to disqualify any Illinois hospital from pursuing liens on a patient’s primary residence during legal action should a patient have accrued medical debt. 

The initiative is driven by local resident reports of aggressive collection actions, including liens being placed on homes for medical debts as low as $2,000. 

“Not being able to pay medical bills is all too common. With this bill, we’re protecting patients, their families, and their property from facing extreme consequences for medical debt,” said DeLaRosa. 

House Bill 4461 passed out of both chambers and awaits the governor’s signature.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, is taking steps through a series of measures to secure direct property tax relief for Illinois working families, improve the state’s economy and protect our fundamental rights to representative government.  

“My main priority coming into office was to—and continues to be—to deliver for my constituents and our community,” said DeLaRosa. “I believe the measures we passed last week will do just that. We’re focused on property tax relief, but also on protecting the rights and liberties of Illinoisans from unfair practices and federal threats.”

House Bill 910, backed by DeLaRosa, delivers property tax relief to more communities by allowing local governments to negotiate Payments in Lieu of Taxation (PILOT) agreements for economic developments exceeding $100 million. In exchange for an agreed-upon assessment freeze, large economic development projects would pay into the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund. Of that deposit, 60% of the funds would provide tax relief to homeowners in proximity to the development site, while the 40% will be shared with homeowners state-wide as a property tax bill reduction.

DeLaRosa also backed House Bill 799 which fixes a broken element in the property tax system by aligning the state with the U.S. Supreme Court Tyler v. Hennepin County ruling, barring “home equity theft,” and ensuring no Illinois resident loses the equity in their home due to old taxes. This measure guarantees that any excess profits generated from a home sale for delinquent taxes—beyond the original tax debt—will rightfully be returned to the previous, indebted owner.

With potential threats from the U.S. Supreme Court to weaken essential elements of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, DeLaRosa worked to pass House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28 (HJRCA 28), enshrining equal protections into the State Constitution. The measure seeks to counteract nationwide gerrymandering schemes limiting minority representation and ensures that Illinois voices are never silenced due to race—reinforcing Illinoisans’ equal protection to vote for the representative of their choice.

“State government should reflect the diversity of our Illinois communities. I’m proud to have supported such comprehensive legislation, and I’m excited to see how our community will benefit from these new measures,” said DeLaRosa.

All three measures will be heard in the Senate chamber for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, filed, carried and passed a bill allowing state entities to prohibit the use of low-speed electronic bicycles on any path within state jurisdiction, prioritizing the pedestrian safety, as well as the safety of manual cyclists.

“E-bikes have become really popular over the past few years, and that popularity has caused a significant increase in constituent concerns about safety on their local walking and biking paths,” said DeLaRosa. “For those with pets and children, e-bikes are especially anxiety-inducing. It’s an accident waiting to happen, if it hasn’t already. Which is why this bill is so important to me and my district, as well as many of my fellow lawmakers who are receiving similar concerns.”

House Bill 4768 allows the state to regulate the use of low-speed e-bikes on paths within the state’s jurisdiction. Under the current law, e-bike regulations are decided by local authorities and municipalities. This bill expands that control to include the state, so that they may be able to respond accordingly to low-speed e-bike related pedestrian safety concerns—or in serious cases, e-bike related accidents or injuries. Specifically, state entities are given the right to prohibit the use of e-bikes on walking and biking paths for the protection of those on a walk or riding a manual bicycle. 

“E-bikes may not be as fast as cars, but they are fast enough to cause serious injuries with little warning. As the weather is starting to warm up, more people want to be outside. I highly encourage using these paths as they were intended: to walk or to ride a manual bicycle. And more than that, I encourage safe practices when doing so,” said DeLaRosa.

House Bill 4768 passed the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration.