ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, is continuing her fight for better mental health care by leading the passage of new legislation to increase the frequency of required Department of Human Services (DHS) follow-up visits for patients in nursing homes who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

“When it comes to mental healthcare in nursing homes, Illinois has fallen behind state and federal standards, and it’s time for that to change.” Grasse said. “People dealing with serious mental health challenges aren’t getting the visits from qualified DHS caregivers they deserve, and quality of care is suffering as a result. This legislation will bring us in compliance and raise the level of care they receive.”

Grasse has made fair health care accessibility a priority during her time as a lawmaker, and House Bill 4509 fits into that agenda with new requirements for DHS follow-ups for patients in nursing homes with serious mental illnesses.

Grasse’s legislation makes the following changes to the Nursing Home Care Act:
      DHS follow-up visits on patients checking into nursing homes are required after 60 days, not 90;
      DHS visits are required after a significant change in a physical or mental condition; and
      DHS is required to remove the need for unnecessary conflict-of-interest waivers for pre- admission screenings.

House Bill 4509 has the support of the DHS, the Illinois AARP and the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. It recently passed the Illinois House Human Services Committee with bipartisan support.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, advanced a measure to promote transparency and fiscal responsibility in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) system through greater palliative and hospice healthcare cost reporting requirements. This bill passed the House Restorative Justice and Public Safety Committee last week and will soon be heard on the House floor.

“Gathering information on the cost of end-of-life care for individuals in our Department of Corrections system who don’t receive palliative or hospice care is essential to making smart, fiscally responsible reforms,” Grasse said. “Without a clear picture of the financial impact of not providing palliative and hospice care, next steps are going to be less reliable.”

In her continued push for fiscal responsibility and smart reforms, Grasse is leading the charge on House Bill 4665, which requires IDOC to include in its annual report data on the costs of end-of-life care for people who die of natural causes without hospice or palliative programs. This requirement is an expansion of the Eddie Thomas Act, which mandates IDOC to gather and post online other health data on palliative and hospice care for incarcerated individuals.

House Bill 4665 is supported by the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender and Restore Justice.

“At a time in which Illinois is facing the challenges of federal funding cuts, ensuring we understand the cost implications of government processes is essential to acting responsibly,” Grasse said. “This bill provides the foundation for next steps to take to optimize our corrections system for incarcerated people while remaining fiscally accountable.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, issued the following statement on Friday in response to the Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Trump Administration’s unlawful tariff policies related to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

“The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down many of the aggressive and unnecessary tariffs driving up the cost-of-living is going to help make life more affordable for millions of Illinoisans. From small business owners who were forced to raise their prices and see demand for their products dwindle, to working people who suddenly couldn’t afford vital expenses, this ruling represents a step toward stability.

“Now it’s time for reimbursement. Working people bore most of the financial burden of these tariffs, and the federal government got billions. That money should be returned to the taxpayers to help undo the damage of the illegal tax they were forced to pay.

“From childcare and healthcare to housing and utility bills, building a more affordable Illinois won’t be solved by a single court decision; the work isn’t over. However, putting an end to irresponsible federal policies that were pushing up costs across the board is a step in the right direction. Let’s choose a smarter economic path forward.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget introduction:

“Affordability must remain at the center of this year’s budget. With President Trump and his administration advancing trade wars and tariff policies that drive up everyday costs, our responsibility is to make sure Illinois families can keep up and get ahead.

“The uncertainty created by frozen federal funding for childcare, education and healthcare requires a steady and serious response. We will use every tool available to protect essential programs and prevent harmful gaps in support for the millions of Illinoisans who rely on them.

“I remain committed to a budget that is both compassionate and disciplined, one that spends responsibly, respects taxpayers and invests where dollars make the greatest difference. In recent years, Illinois has seen 10 credit rating upgrades that show responsible budgeting and strengthened our fiscal standing. This will continue to guide our work.

“This is the beginning of an important conversation. I look forward to working with colleagues to pass a responsible budget that delivers for families and builds a more affordable future for Illinois.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, 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.

“Donald Trump’s sudden freeze of childcare funding has put the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of children at risk,” Grasse said. “For working parents especially, childcare is one of the largest household expenses, and losing access to affordable care options is an immediate crisis. When the cost-of-living is already too high, it’s vital that this funding be restored immediately.”

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 documentation before receiving any kind of funding, causing nationwide delays.

Grasse 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 $10 billion in child care funds frozen across Democratic-majority states, including over $1 billion for Illinois families and children facing poverty, chronic illness or disability.

“I’ve worked hard to make laws that support children in working class families and to cut expenses that are making their lives harder. Now the Trump Administration is trying to unravel that progress,” Grasse said. “I’m joining more than 200 of my colleagues to call for an end to this president’s tragic attacks on innocent people who live in a state that didn’t support him in an election.”

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

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, has introduced legislation to ensure home health and hospice workers receive the same safety protections already afforded to healthcare providers in hospitals and other facilities, protecting at-home caregivers and their families from threats, intimidation or violence related to their work.

“Caregivers are providing vital services in people’s homes every day, often alone and without the protections available in medical facilities,” Grasse said. “I’m going to fight to make sure they have the same legal safeguards as any other healthcare worker. No one should be put at risk simply for showing up to care for someone in need.”

Grasse filed the Health Care at Home Workforce Protection Act, or House Bill 4600, which creates a specific charge for threatening home-based healthcare providers, as well as their families and friends, with violence. The legislation is designed to bring home health and hospice workers into alignment with existing protections for facility-based providers and to act proactively against a growing national trend of violence toward caregivers.

A recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows in-home care providers face a significantly higher risk of violence than other healthcare workers due to isolation and limited control over their work environments.

“Illinois is already facing a shortage of care providers, and safety concerns are a major reason why,” Grasse said. “If caregivers don’t feel safe, they leave the profession and patients suffer. This law helps prevent violence before it happens and ensures home-based workers are protected just like their colleagues in hospitals and clinics.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, is standing up to Washington’s affordability crisis by voting to formally condemn the illegal Trump tariffs that have raised the price of everything from groceries to winter clothing, demanding reinstatement of Affordable Care Act subsidies that make healthcare more affordable, and rejecting unconstitutional efforts to freeze funding for affordable child care.

“Across our state, millions of Illinoisans are facing new cost-of-living challenges that affect every aspect of their lives and these problems all stem from the thoughtless blunders and cruel partisan attacks from Donald Trump,” Grasse said. “Being forced to pay higher prices for everything from baby food to prescription drugs is the result of his trade war. Thousands of families losing affordable childcare is the result of his targeted funding cuts. The growing healthcare affordability crisis is the result of his total disregard of working families.”

Illinoisans are facing skyrocketing expenses of medical care due to Trump and Republican leaders allowing Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire on Jan. 1 of this year, and tariff-motivated price increases on a broad swath of consumer goods—from groceries to warm winter clothing. Additionally, the Trump Administration recently froze $10 billion in funding for affordable child care, making one of the greatest expenses facing working families even more daunting and jeopardizing care for 100,000 Illinois children.

Grasse is fighting back by advancing House resolutions formally condemning the causes of the Trump affordability crisis, and demanding solutions:

• House Resolution 620 calls on Congress and the Trump Administration to immediately reinstate the 2022 healthcare subsidies. Because these subsidies were allowed to lapse in January, families are now facing nearly $1,000 in annual premium increases–with rural and downstate communities facing average increases as high as $2,000.
• House Resolution 621 condemns Donald Trump’s effort to freeze funds for affordable child care and calls for the immediate release of all congressionally approved child care funds.
• House Resolution 623 calls on Donald Trump to stop his unconstitutional tariff scheme that cost families upwards of $1,200, and robs people of opportunities to save for the future. The resolution demands the United States Treasury issue $2,000 payments to every middle-class and modest-income household as a way of refunding families’ lost wages and savings, apologizing for Trump’s illegal tax increases.

“Money that should be in the pockets of Illinois families is padding corporate profits through tax breaks,” Grasse said. “This session I am fighting for lower prices and to raise economic stability because that’s what our communities deserve.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, joined state Sen. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tanaglia, Village Manager Randall Recklaus and Village of Arlington Heights staff to discuss how a megaprojects bill could support economic development in communities across Illinois, such as the Chicago Bears’ planned stadium and mixed-use district.

“Large developments like the Arlington Park stadium are more than generational investments into their regions, they are a bet on their future,” Grasse said. “But those investments can only be made with a certain level of tax predictability. Passing a megaprojects bill will allow Illinois to remain competitive in attracting new businesses to our state while ensuring that our communities are able to support their parks, schools and emergency services.”

The proposed megaprojects bill would allow developers behind large-scale projects to negotiate a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) with local governments in order to make privately-funded projects economically viable.

“I was born in Indiana and I grew up in Wisconsin, but I chose to live in Illinois. I hope the Chicago Bears choose Illinois as well,” Grasse said.

CHICAGO – State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, delivered transformational “clean slate” justice reforms, to expand opportunities for employment, housing and education by creating an automatic sealing process for thousands of non-violent arrest records.

“One mistake shouldn’t haunt someone for the rest of their lives,” Grasse said. “Sensible criminal justice reforms like this ensure that more people can live successful, independent lives and become part of their communities.”

More than 2.2 million Illinoisans have an old arrest record or minor conviction that would currently qualify for sealing, but that process can be complicated and costly. It’s estimated that only 10% of those eligible have been able to receive relief, making it more difficult for many to qualify for affordable housing, advance their education or find employment.

Grasse recently worked to pass the Clean Slate Act (House Bill 1836), 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.

Arrests resulting in an acquittal or dismissal will be sealed immediately, while misdemeanor convictions will be sealed after two years. The most serious felonies, such as domestic abuse convictions and other violent crimes, will not be eligible for sealing.

The measure is the product of years of negotiation with business groups, law enforcement, housing advocates and criminal justice reformers.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – A new energy affordability law backed by state Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, aims to provide relief to Illinoisans facing rising energy costs.

“Families shouldn’t have to choose between paying their utility bill or putting food on the table,” Grasse said. “I’m pleased we got this measure to the governor’s desk quickly, so families can start seeing dollars back on their bill as early as this month.”

Many Illinois residents have seen home energy costs skyrocket due to increased power demand and Washington’s massive tax bill—resulting in $9.5 billion in increased state energy costs. 

The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (Senate Bill 25) puts Illinois on better footing to counteract rising energy prices, both immediately and in the long-term, by:

• Capturing clean energy: By capturing and redistributing energy already being produced, including from home solar panels, Ameren and ComEd customers can see immediate relief on monthly costs.
• Increasing battery storage: By building out our grid to increase the state’s battery storage, power systems will become more reliable and affordable to power millions of Illinois homes.
• Investing in energy efficiency programs: Senate Bill 25 directly expands energy efficiency programs for residents and improves equity by allocating a minimum amount of funds to support low-income customers.

The measure will additionally create up to 115,000 jobs, counteracting job insecurity and layoffs caused by the federal budget bill— including over 50,000 lost manufacturing jobs in Illinois. 

“This legislation further cements Illinois’ status as a national leader in clean energy initiatives,” Grasse said. “When we can take steps to cut costs for consumers, boost our state’s manufacturing industry and extend a huge favor for our planet, it’s a win-win-win for all involved.”

Senate Bill 25 was signed into law earlier today.