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.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, is taking action to lower home and auto insurance costs by passing a new bill that ensures Illinois customers are not paying to pad the profits of big corporations or cover corporate losses in high-risk states like Florida or Texas.

“Insuring our homes and cars is meant to protect us as consumers, but instead, we’re seeing everyday ratepayers with good credit scores and little to no accident history paying outrageous amounts,” said DeLaRosa. “States across the nation, from California to Connecticut, are implementing similar legislation, with the intention of protecting ratepayers from undisclosed junk fees that only benefit the corporate side.”

Homeowners across Illinois have seen insurance plans rise by nearly 30% in the last year, raising concerns that Illinois residents are footing the bill for other states at high risk of natural disasters. In an effort to reduce costs for Illinois customers, DeLaRosa passed Senate Bill 1486, which takes several steps to rein in rising insurance costs by:

• Empowering the Illinois Department of Insurance to reject unfair rate increases by subjecting all Illinois homeowners insurance, fire insurance, and auto insurance policies to a comprehensive rate review process.
• Requiring insurance companies give customers 60 days’ notice before double-digit rate increases, giving customers more time to make informed decisions.
• Shrinking auto insurance premiums for drivers over the age of 55 who complete a 4-hour defensive driving program or e-learning course.

“Homes and cars are not small purchases. Many pay off these purchases for years, in addition to insurance bills. Ratepayers should never be paying more than is absolutely necessary; that’s the intention of this bill,” said DeLaRosa.

Senate Bill 1486 passed the House yesterday, and will head back to the Senate chamber for consideration. If signed into law, changes will go into effect July 1, 2027.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Pritzker’s Budget Address this afternoon, outlining next steps in the budget process and priorities for her community:

“It was great to hear from the Governor about the state budget for this year. Now, I’ll be spending the next couple months going through the proposed budget line by line to ensure we are doing everything we can to serve working families. Nationwide, people are struggling to make ends meet and the federal government’s continued funding cuts aren’t helping. At the state level, I am focused on supporting the services and programs that families rely on and providing relief where possible.

“Even in my short time as a representative, I have had so many productive, inspiring conversations. During my first legislative session, as I rework and revise the budget with my colleagues, I carry those conversations with me. I look forward to going through this process for the first time and making sure the needs of my district are accurately reflected in the final budget,” said DeLaRosa.

LOMBARD, Ill. – State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, 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.

“Childcare is one of the biggest costs young families face, and the cost of living is so high that most families can’t afford to have a parent stay home to care for the children,” said DeLaRosa. “When the federal government cuts funding like this, they are actively making people’s lives more difficult and less affordable.”

In January, the Trump administration announced its intention to cut childcare funding in five states, including Illinois. 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.

DeLaRosa has been integral to championing legislation supporting young families, children, and education access. Recently, she helped to 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.

“I, along with hundreds of my fellow lawmakers across the country, will not stand for this blatant disrespect of our social services and childcare programs. The care and education of our children is not political. This is not a difference between right and left. This is a difference between right and wrong,” said DeLaRosa.

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

LOMBARD, Ill. — State Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Lombard, joins more than 600 state legislators from over 48 states across the country to release a joint national statement regarding the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) occupation of Minneapolis, MN, and the killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, and others at the hands of DHS and ICE:

“We, the undersigned state legislators from across this country, contend we are at a decisive moment in our nation’s history. For a nation founded 250 years ago on the basic and fundamental principles of freedom, liberty, and inalienable rights, having armed masked federal agents on our streets engaging in a campaign of wanton destruction threatens to destroy these foundational values that underpin our democracy.

“We are stepping into extraordinarily dangerous territory in this country and have reached an unimaginable point where ICE and Border Patrol agents have now, twice within one month, killed US citizens on camera while the federal government tells us not to believe our own eyes.

“Further, the vast majority of ICE arrests in our cities and suburbs are of those with no criminal record, while due process and search and seizure rights guaranteed by our Constitution are not just being violated daily: chillingly, per a leaked memo, these violations are sanctioned by the Department of Homeland Security.

“We stand with the people of Minnesota and demand that ICE and Border Patrol leave Minnesota immediately.

“We demand a full and independent investigation into the shootings and deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as others, over the last year.

“Finally, we demand the restoration of our American values and principles to our federal government, an end to the abductions and killings, an end to the occupation of our towns and cities, and an end to Congressional funding for ICE.”

State Rep. DeLaRosa is one of 629 elected officials nationwide to sign on to the statement. Other supporting legislators represent states including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C.

“This federal administration is prioritizing their prejudiced agenda over the lives and livelihoods of the hard-working, contributive people in this country,” said DeLaRosa. “I stand with my fellow lawmakers and government officials, especially in Minnesota, who are doing everything they can to protect the people in their state. I stand with the peaceful protestors nationwide who have had enough of the violence from the hands of people that claim to protect us. Demanding due process and freedom of speech is not rebellion. Protecting our neighbors is not a crime. These are fundamental human rights given to all people in the U.S. If the federal government continues to ignore those rights, then we will continue to fight back.”

In Illinois, DeLaRosa also recently passed House Bill 1312, protecting people from ICE violence at locations including hospitals, courthouses and daycares; as well as House Resolution 622, echoing many of the statement's points in condemning federal violence and lawlessness, and specifically calling for DHS Secretary Noem’s immediate resignation, or impeachment.

The full joint statement can be found here.

LOMBARD, Ill. – Buses and trains will be safer, more reliable, and more efficiently managed under a major transit reform package law backed by state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Glen Ellyn.

“A strong transit network is critical to the economic health of our region,” DeLaRosa said. “We’re not simply investing in transit agencies; we’re requiring significant and necessary reforms that will make rides safer and more reliable for local travelers.”

Across our state, public transit takes people to work, takes people home, and connects people, businesses, and communities more than 400 million times every year. But that system has faced major challenges; fragmented governance, uneven investment, and post-COVID ridership losses have left transit struggling with unreliable service, delayed trains, canceled routes, and a looming fiscal cliff that’s threatening to derail it all.

House Democrats worked to save and improve transit by passing Senate Bill 2111, a transformational package of reforms that brings Pace, CTA, and Metra together into one modern, efficient system. The new Northern
Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) is a major step toward a transit system that gets people where they need to go affordably, protects taxpayers, and offers a better experience for riders and workers.

Senate Bill 2111’s highlights include:

• More efficient administration: NITA will operate with new internal and independent auditors to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in transit. It will be required to maintain a reserve fund to prevent future bailouts.
• Reliable, modern service: NITA will bring uniformity to fares and schedules to better meet the needs of riders—whether on buses or trains, whether in the city or the suburbs.
• A safer experience for riders and workers: A multijurisdictional law enforcement team will step up enforcement right away. NITA will deploy ambassadors across the system to assist people experiencing mental health crises. And a permanent office of safety will lead long-term planning to keep riders and workers safe.

Senate Bill 2111 was signed into law Tuesday.

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

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Underscoring her focus to address challenges facing families, state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Glen Ellyn, backed a series of measures this week that will expand the senior property tax freeze, reduce home energy costs, improve public transit and implement responsible immigration protections.

“Residents are frustrated by rising costs and unnecessary chaos in their community,” DeLaRosa said. “They expect Springfield to take action, and these proposals are strong steps forward we can build on.”

Concerned about costs on homeowners and the effects of inflation, DeLaRosa backed an expansion of the senior property tax freeze to make sure more seniors qualify for relief. The plan raises the maximum income limitation from $65,000 to $75,000 in tax year 2026, and gradually increases to $79,000 in tax year 2028.

The energy plan DeLaRosa supported, known as the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, is expected to lower home electric bills now and over the long term. The proposal is also projected to create thousands of new construction and operational jobs, and strengthen the state’s electric grid by investing in modern battery storage and strategies that promote energy efficiency.

To improve rider experiences and cut bureaucratic waste, DeLaRosa supported a transformative public transit reform plan that will create the Northern Illinois Transit Agency (NITA). The proposal aims to avoid financial issues with local transit agencies by requiring new independent auditors and reserve fund requirements. Safety is also at the forefront of reforms, with a multijurisdictional law enforcement team that will step up enforcement right away and ambassadors to assist those experiencing a mental health crisis.

As federal immigration raids continue to escalate and stoke fear in communities, DeLaRosa supported a human-centered plan that implements protections at hospitals, daycares, courthouses and higher
education locations.

“This veto session’s priorities are intended to reduce worries and make people’s lives easier,” DeLaRosa said. “There’s a lot of work still ahead of us, but I’m excited to hit the ground running and am looking forward to further action in Springfield in the coming months.”

For more information, please contact bdepasqua@hds.ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – After taking the oath earlier this week, state Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, D-Glen Ellyn, joined her colleagues in the House chamber Tuesday where she pledged to support working families by tapping into her experience with education and fiscal management.

“This is a critical time for Illinois, and residents want representation that recognizes their concerns and is willing to fight for their priorities,” DeLaRosa said. “I understand families who want a responsible and focused approach that makes our streets safer, strengthens health care access, supports our immigrant community, invests in our schools and creates greater economic opportunity today and moving forward.”

DeLaRosa moved to and took root in DuPage County in 1988. Believing communities thrive when residents are civically active, she joined the League of Women Voters where she later was elected president. When her children reached middle school, DeLaRosa became active in the PTA and took on leadership roles as President of the Hadley Junior High PTA, and later President of District 41 PTA. In this capacity she advocated for performing arts as part of a well-rounded curriculum, helping to establish the successful Hadley Theatre Arts program.

By trade, DeLaRosa is a HRIS manager with Joint Commission and owns a bachelor’s degree in accounting from DePaul University. With her accounting experience, DeLaRosa joined the Glenbard District 87 School Board Finance and Facility Committee in 2008 to help the district navigate financial difficulties, providing recommendations that preserved the district’s quality educational offerings for students and families. DeLaRosa was elected to the Glenbard District 87 School Board in 2015, where she has served as Board President since 2022. In this leadership role she has focused on collaboration, helping to pass two referendums and securing changes to school schedules intended to boost student performance.

“Throughout my career, I have consistently sought collaborative solutions to complex challenges,” DeLaRosa said. “Springfield has many challenges, but with thoughtful analysis and diligent, persistent work, we can accomplish a lot for this community. I’m incredibly honored to have this great opportunity to serve, let’s get to work.” DeLaRosa’s 42nd District includes parts of Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Lombard, Wheaton and Villa Park.

For more information, please contact bdepasqua@hds.ilga.gov.