SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, 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.

“With a cost-of-living that’s already high, the last thing that Illinois families need is surging insurance rates,” Gabel said. “That’s why I’m stepping in to prevent price gouging and help home and car owners, especially seniors, manage their premiums.”

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, Gabel passed Senate Bill 1486, which takes several steps to rein in rising insurance costs by:

• Empowering 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. 

“From utility bills and healthcare expenses, to the price of groceries and warm winter clothing, I’m handling the affordability challenges that disproportionately affect Illinois working families,” Gabel said. “Curbing unnecessary premium hikes is one of many steps I’m taking toward a stronger, more financially stable future for all Illinoisans.”

EVANSTON, Ill. – State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, issued this statement following Gov. Pritzker’s budget proposal:

“A growing cost-of-living is increasingly making achieving middle-class status out-of-reach for many working families and I’m committed to crafting a budget that pushes back against that trend. As I continue my chief budgeteer role, I’ll make sure that affordability—from rent and mortgage costs to prescription drug premiums—are front-and-center.

“In recent years, Illinois has made great strides in improving our fiscal position with smart, timely budgeting that spends taxpayer dollars wisely on essential services and pays down debt. Despite the Trump Administration overreach and funding freezes, we are going to continue that streak, while providing for the people who need it the most.”

EVANSTON, Ill. — State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, 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.”

Gabel 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.

“The tragic murders in Minneapolis are the most recent escalation in ICE agents’ spree of wanton violence and unconstitutional abuse against the American people-very much including members of my community,” Gabel said. “I’m standing with 628 of my fellow state legislators to call for an immediate halt to the occupation of American cities by out-of-control ICE forces and impartial investigations into their offenses. It’s time to end this shameful chapter in American history.”

ICE agents have spent months terrorizing communities and committing wanton acts of violence against the American people.

In Illinois, Gabel 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.

EVANSTON, Ill. — Pervasive online price targeting of consumers using big data, or “surveillance pricing,” is steadily increasing the cost of living, and state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, has put her support behind a new measure to crack down on the practice and make life more affordable for her community.

“The cost of living is already too high right now, and big corporations are exploiting our personal information to drive online prices higher. Modern mass data gathering can be used to target customers based on intimate details of their lives. From new parents buying priced-hiked baby food or college students paying extra for school supplies, people are being taken advantage of,” Gabel said. “Cracking down on marketplace exploitation with new transparency requirements and the option to opt out of these algorithmically adjusted prices is what’s right for Illinoisans.”

In a post-COVID world, people are spending more time and money online, which means they are sharing more personal information with private businesses. Gabel is putting her support behind House Bill 4248, or the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act, which requires online businesses and retailers to disclose their algorithm-based pricing practices for goods and services. 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.

“The people of Illinois deserve better than shady marketing tactics,” Gabel said. “I’ve been fighting to slash prices on essentials like prescription drugs, groceries, rent and utility bills. Putting an end to unfair price targeting in online retail is a great next step.”

JOLIET, Ill. — Today, Gov. JB Pritzker joined elected officials and advocates to sign the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), SB 25, a historic measure state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, led the passage of to lower utility bills for working families while securing Illinois’ long-term energy future. Building upon the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), CRGA tackles rising electricity costs driven by private grid operators, expands cost-saving energy resources, and continues to grow Illinois’ clean energy economy across the state.

“In Illinois, we are pursuing every available option to produce affordable, efficient, clean, and abundant energy. We are leaving no stone unturned in the work to produce more electricity, lower prices for our people, and secure our long-term energy future,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act sets a national standard in the effort to lower energy costs and marks a historic step forward in our clean energy vision. Once again, Illinois is stepping up where the federal government is failing.”

“The Trump Administration’s war on cheaper, clean energy is already hitting people’s pocketbooks and is putting our state and our country at risk of the lights going out,” said State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston). “We are taking charge of our energy future in Illinois and setting the course for lower bills, cleaner air, and clean water for generations to come.”

This pivotal legislation comes as Illinoisans and working families nationwide saw significant increases in electricity bills. With private grid operators hiking rates and the Trump Administration rejecting low-cost, renewable energy options, Illinois is taking decisive action to make energy more affordable and help residents keep the lights on.

CRGA will lower costs by driving the development of new energy resources, enacting new regulatory powers to support consumers, and creating and enhancing consumer cost-saving programs. The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) found that CRGA’s critical measures are expected to save Illinois energy customers $13.4 billion over the next two decades.

“While Trump is lining billionaires’ pockets, families are struggling to make ends meet. Under this law, we’ll end price gouging by private grid owners and begin to bring down costs here in Illinois, starting with people’s utility bill,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “Energy prices will come down without sacrificing our other priorities — Illinois will continue to be a leader in renewable energy and grid reliability.”

Illinois’ clean energy transition has already delivered measurable results. Since the passage CEJA, Illinois has supported more than 6 gigawatts of renewable energy (enough to power roughly 4.5 million homes), with an additional 6 gigawatts currently
under development. Today, Illinois ranks fifth in the nation for wind power generation— which has nearly tripled over the last decade. Illinois also ranks second in the Midwest for solar generation. Illinois also continues to be the nation’s top nuclear energy producer and exports approximately one-fifth of its electricity to other states.

LOWERING ENERGY COSTS

By addressing energy capacity needs and requiring utilities to help consumers achieve lower monthly bills, CRGA will make key strides in reducing Illinoisans’ energy bills and increasing the available electricity supply.

• Establish a State procurement of 3GW of grid-scale battery storage by 2030: Battery storage represents an essential technology that will meet Illinois’ growing energy capacity needs and lower utility bills.
• Create and expand programs to increase capacity and lower energy bills: CRGA will require utilities to create “Virtual Power Plant” programs that pay participating households and businesses to harness smart thermostats, solar panels, small batteries, and electric vehicles — putting money back in consumers’ pockets while strengthening our energy grid. The legislation will also expand energy efficiency programs to help households and businesses lower their energy use, and in turn, their energy bills.
• Promote energy equity: CRGA programs will require utility companies that are administering the State energy efficiency programs to meet a minimum level of spending for low-income households while removing the formula rates they receive for administering those programs. Additionally, utilities will be required to offer time-of-use pricing to allow residential customers to pay less for power used outside of peak times, delivering immediate monthly savings for customers who opt in.
• Create an Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process: This process will find cost-effective ways to keep energy bills low and make necessary adjustments to State programs. The Illinois General Assembly will also have a period of time to reject any Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) decisions to raise rates.

STRENGTHENING ILLINOIS’ CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY

In addition to promoting efficient energy use and establishing new energy sources, CRGA will help grow the clean energy economy, create new jobs, promote employment equity, and jumpstart new energy projects across Illinois.

• Search for new clean energy opportunities: Direct the IPA to propose long-term clean energy contract procurements for ICC approval.
• Protect clean energy growth from inflation: Prevent inflation from disrupting procurements by tying the Renewable Portfolio Standard budget cap to inflation.
• Encourage community-driven clean energy projects: Increase the maximum size for community solar projects to 10MW.
• Extend clean energy siting reforms to storage projects: Allow the ICC to accelerate renewable energy projects before federal tax credits expire.
• Establish a Solar Bill of Rights: Ensure Illinoisans served by municipal and cooperative utilities can install rooftop solar panels.
• Create and sustain equitable job opportunities:
  • Require grid-scale storage projects to meet labor and equity standards that ensure historically disadvantaged communities can benefit from new jobs created by these projects.
  • Fund technical assistance to help small and disadvantaged businesses comply with Project Labor Agreement requirements.
  • Require utilities to give the ICC 45 days’ notice before making substantial changes in their labor force, improving job stability.

CRGA will take effect June 1, 2026.

EVANSTON, Ill. – A compassionate measure spearheaded by state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, that would allow terminally ill adults with decision-making capacity to request and receive self-administered prescription medication to hasten their foreseeable deaths has been signed into law.

“Signing this bill into law will enable patients who still are capable of making serious medical decisions and who are facing enormous pain due to fatal health problems to maintain bodily autonomy during one of the most difficult periods of their lives,” Gabel said. “We are fighting to preserve terminally ill patients’ dignity by allowing them to peacefully end their suffering. This measure represents progress for human rights in our state. I’m grateful to the many advocates and stakeholders who helped bring this victory forward.”

Gabel led the passage of Senate Bill 1950, or Deb’s Law, which grants terminally ill patients with a diagnosis of six months or less left to live the freedom to obtain medication they can self-administer to peacefully end their lives. No physician, health care provider or pharmacist is required to participate in the law.

The law has a range of safety requirements including:

-Have a terminal illness that will result in death within six months (as determined by two physicians);

-Two verbal requests for the medication directly from the patient, with a five-day waiting period between the first and second request;

-A written request from the patient;

-Physicians must inform the requesting individual about all of their end-of-life care options, including comfort care, hospice, palliative care and pain control; and

– Qualified patients must be able to self-administer the medication and must have the mental    capacity to make medical decisions.

Numerous advocates delivered moving accounts of the challenges they faced and how this measure has the potential to improve their lives. Beth Langen, an advocate for the disability rights community, shared this testimony when the bill was debated in the House:     

“This bill doesn’t lessen anyone’s control or rob anyone of choice—over our lives, or at the point when our lives reach an inevitable, unavoidable end that no treatment can improve or reverse. This bill strengthens our control. As someone who has learned to never take my right to self-determination for granted, I hope Illinois joins the many other states who extend this ability to the end of our lives so that all of us can choose a death that is peaceful, without unnecessary suffering, with less fear.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A measure spearheaded by state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, that would allow terminally ill adults with decision-making capacity to request and receive prescription medication that could be self-administered to hasten their foreseeable deaths passed the legislature on Friday.

“This measure enables patients who still are capable of making serious decisions and who are facing enormous pain due to fatal medical problems to maintain bodily autonomy,” Gabel said. “Ensuring terminally ill patients have a compassionate way to preserve their dignity and to allow them to choose for themselves to peacefully end their suffering is progress for human rights in Illinois.”

Gabel helped pass Senate Bill 1950 out of the legislature, which grants patients who have the mental fortitude and an incurable disease the freedom to obtain medication they can self- administer to peacefully end their lives.

EVANSTON, Ill. – State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, recently supported a resolution calling for the ouster of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as pushing back against the reckless and irresponsible spreading of junk science around Tylenol and pregnancy from him and the Trump Administration.

“Anti-science rhetoric coming from the White House poses a serious danger to the American people, new mothers especially,” Gabel said. “The wild misinformation Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been peddling about maternal healthcare makes it clear that he should be divested of his power and influence immediately. In Illinois, we are supporting continued scientific progress so the people of this state receive modern medical approaches to their illnesses, reap the benefits of clean energy technology and learn the skills they need to compete in the modern workplace.”

Recently, Kennedy sparked renewed outrage and derision by claiming, without facts or evidence, that acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, causes autism when taken by mothers during pregnancy. Critics immediately pointed out that these claims are cruelly dehumanizing toward those living with autism—as well as promoting falsehoods about legitimate treatments in a way that endangers maternal and fetal health by increasing the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and complications due to untreated fever.

“Despite a White House that seems determined to push us in the wrong direction, Illinois is continuing to make progress,” Gabel said. “Expansions of equitable healthcare coverage, an education system that is quickly becoming one of the best in the country, new childcare programs; these are all programs that will build a stronger, smarter future for our state, whatever misguided federal officials try.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, passed a measure out of the House that would allow terminally ill adults with decision-making capacity to request and receive prescription medication that could be self-administered to hasten their foreseeable deaths.

“This is vital progress towards ensuring terminally ill patients have a compassionate way to preserve their dignity and to allow them to choose for themselves to peacefully end their suffering,” Gabel said. “Patients who still are capable of making these decisions and who are facing enormous discomfort due to fatal medical problems deserve to maintain bodily autonomy.”

Gabel passed Senate Bill 1950 out of the House, which grants patients who have the mental fortitude and an incurable disease the freedom to obtain medication they can self-administer to peacefully end their lives.

EVANSTON, Ill. – State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, received a 100% scorecard from the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) for helping lead the fight to support the environment, tackle climate change and promote clean energy.

“We have a responsibility to leave future generations a vibrant natural world to enjoy, not an epidemic of growing environmental problems to fix,” Gabel said. “I will always fight for the aggressive development of clean energy technology, safeguards for breathable air and drinkable water, and preservation of the forests, wetlands and particularly the beaches that Evanstonians treasure. The IEC has done great work fighting for our environment, and I thank them for their recognition.”

The Illinois Environmental Council gave Gabel a 100% score on their 2024 legislative scorecard as a result of her comprehensive voting record on pro-environmental issues. These laws include measures to cut back on single-use plastic waste, study the quality of air for Illinois students, create a new framework for carbon capture methods and promote advances in green technology.

“I share the IEC’s commitment to fighting for safer waste disposal practices, which present a major threat to public health. Used batteries leaking in landfills and clots of garbage
contaminating our water reservoirs are an unacceptable risk to Illinois communities,” Gabel said. “The financial benefits of pro-environmental policy have also long been clear. Illinois is creating thousands of good-paying, sustainable jobs in the clean energy sector that will help power our economy for years to come. I stand with the IEC on their position that environmentally friendly lawmaking is the only sensible path forward for this state.”