AURORA, Ill.— State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is applauding more than $1 million in investments designed to support local communities.

“I’m excited to announce our communities will receive capital funding that’ll continue to invest in the future of our children and families,” said Hernandez. “Down in Springfield, I advocated for our community everyday so we can receive the funding our children and families deserve. I can’t wait to see this incredible accomplishment come to fruition this year.”

Hernandez celebrated $1.5 million in new capital funding, which will invest in local organizations that serve children and families, renovate educational facilities and fund local infrastructure projects:

• Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry: $200,000
• Village of North Aurora: $275,000
• City of Batavia: $275,000
• CASA Kane County: $100,000
• East Aurora D131: $350,000
• Aurora Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority: $300,000

“To push our communities forward, we first need to provide them with the money and resources they need,” said Hernandez. “Our families, and especially our children, deserve a government that cares for them. And now, more than ever, they are counting on us to guide them towards a better path.”

Local organizations celebrate this accomplishment with Hernandez, articulating how the funding will contribute to helping the community thrive.

“On behalf of our organization, the children we serve, and our dedicated volunteers, thank you,” said a representative from CASA Kane County, a nonprofit organization advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. “This investment will have a lasting impact on CASA Kane County’s ability to fulfill its mission and serve children who are vulnerable in our community. The support [Rep. Hernandez] championed will strengthen our organization for years to come and help ensure that we can continue providing critical advocacy for children who need it most. We are deeply grateful for your commitment and confidence in our work. Your support represents a tremendous opportunity for our organization’s future, and we are honored by your partnership.”

“We are incredibly grateful for State Representative Barbara Hernandez’s continued partnership and advocacy for the students and families of East Aurora. This $350,000 in secured funding is a crucial investment in our community's most valuable resource: our children,” said a representative from East Aurora School District 131. “By modernizing the secure entrance at East Aurora High School Door #1, we are creating a state-of-the-art security buffer that gives families peace of mind while fostering a warm, open, and accessible environment for everyone who walks through our doors. True leadership is about serving the needs of our stakeholders, and this project directly delivers on our commitment to providing an educational environment where students feel safe, supported, and ready to excel.”

“We are both humbled and grateful that State Representative Hernandez believes in the mission of the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry to serve those in our community who are in need of food and the other essential resources we provide,” said Annette Johnson, executive director of the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry. “As the need continues to grow, we are looking ahead to the future by expanding our capacity through a capital project. This effort will mark the beginning of the next chapter of Marie Wilkinson’s work in supporting and strengthening our community.”

“The Village of North Aurora is very appreciative of the efforts by Rep. Barbara Hernandez to help secure DCEO funding for the Village,” said a representative from the City of Batavia. “We plan to use the allocated $275,000 in funding for infrastructure projects to benefit the North Aurora community.”

The fiscal year 2027 capital funding will take effect immediately on and after July 1st, 2026.

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, announced more than $1 million in new local investments designed to support local service providers through the state’s Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program. 

“To prevent violence and economic disparities in our neighborhoods, we need to fund organizations that are committed to building our families up,” said Hernandez. “It’s important to do everything in our power to help those communities thrive, because investing in their future means investing in Illinois.” 

The R3 Program is an initiative through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to support local organizations operating on smaller budgets in communities affected by violence, incarceration, unemployment and poverty. The grants are collected through revenue made from adult-use recreational cannabis sales. 

Hernandez applauded $1.16 million in new R3 investments in the 50th District, which will help promote opportunity, keep streets safe, and meet the needs of modest-income families:

• Challenge to Change: $700,000
• Aura Foundation: $265,000
• Fox Valley United Way: $200,000

“The success of our communities depend on the changes we’re willing to make to help them persevere,” said Hernandez. “I’m thankful to the R3 Program for awarding us these grants and helping our communities move forward.”

AURORA, Ill.— A state budget focused on affordability is now law thanks to state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, who helped pass a balanced budget prioritizing direct relief for Illinoisans and investing in the resources Washington is trying to slash.

“In the last year, working families have struggled to make ends meet and afford daily necessities. Washington continues to cut assistance programs, raise everyday prices and ignore what our communities need,” said Hernandez. “That’s why I am delivering a state budget that provides working families with the access, support and relief they need. Whether it’s investing in schools, funding safety-net hospitals, or creating nutrition assistance programs, our budget makes one thing clear: we’re putting our communities first.”

Hernandez’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 100,000 Illinoisans, Hernandez’s budget includes a new FRESH Program, which provides a one-time credit of up to $400, giving families a lifeline while they work with providers to reactivate benefits. Additionally, the Hernandez-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.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, helped pass new reforms to strengthen statewide oversight of hemp products, improve consumer safety, and support equity in Illinois’s growing cannabis and hemp industries, which were codified into law today.

“It is time we protect Illinoisans from unsafe cannabis business practices, especially young people who shouldn’t have access to these items in the first place, and create equitable, thoughtful regulatory policies for hemp and cannabis distribution,” said Hernandez. “As part of the Cannabis Working Group in Springfield, I’m proud of my colleagues and I for passing legislation that protects consumers and creates pathways for the cannabis businesses to flourish in our state.”

Senate Bill 3222 creates new statewide policies for cannabis and hemp products, including licensing requirements, safety standards, testing, labeling and enforcement enhancements. This measure strengthens regulation, improves consumer protections and ensures hemp and cannabis products are sold safely and legally across Illinois. This legislation also creates a more transparent and accountable marketplace that supports equitable participation in the industry.

The legislation was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker today.

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is inviting small business owners to attend an in-person informational event for new or current business owners to learn about affordable loans, grants, and technical services, in partnership with Allies for Community Business, Chicago Community Loan Fund, and Self-Help Federal Credit Union on Wednesday, June 3, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The event will teach small business owners about the options where they can get low-interest loans to help with salaries, working, capital, equipment, real estate acquisitions, renovations, and other expenses – including non-profit loan funds or credit union companies that can offer more flexibility and faster access to resources. 

“In Aurora, small businesses are at the heart of our neighborhoods, and it’s important we provide the owners with the resources to grow financially within our communities,” said Hernandez. “Low-interest loans can help many business owners cover much-needed expenses – expenses that can make a massive difference on the income they bring home and on the salaries they provide to their workers.”

“Allies for Community Business believes that entrepreneurs from any background can start and grow businesses that create generational wealth for their families and communities,” said Brad McConnell, CEO of Allies for Community Business. “We provide the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow great businesses, and we are excited to work with Representative Hernandez to serve more businesses in Aurora and beyond.” 

“Chicago Community Loan Fund offers financing for real estate projects across the six-county Chicago region including Aurora helping entrepreneurs to acquire, expand or repair properties where they can grow their wealth while meeting increasing demand for their products and services.” Juan Calixto, Executive Vice President of External Relations for Chicago Community Loan Fund.

“Small businesses, along with nonprofits and religious institutions, are the anchors of their neighborhoods, yet too many still face barriers to affordable, mission-aligned capital,” said Kimberly Jones, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships at Self-Help Federal Credit Union. “Whether it’s buying or renovating a building, investing in equipment, or strengthening day-to-day operations, access to fair, flexible financing can be the difference between surviving and thriving. Self-Help is thrilled and grateful to partner with Representative Hernandez to better serve Aurora and surrounding communities.”

The Small Business Event will be held in-person. The event is open for new or current business owners, and they must RSVP prior to the event. For more information, please contact Rep. Hernandez district office at (630) 270-1848.

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is inviting residents to attend an in- person Mental Health First Aid Training for Youth, given in Spanish, in partnership with the Family Service Association of Greater Elgin on Wednesday, April 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The course will cover the Mental Health First Aid for Youth Training, developed by the National Council on Mental Health and Wellbeing. The skill-based training course will teach adult participants how to talk to young people from ages 12 to 18 about mental health and substance use, and how to intervene when they need help.

“Our youth are the most prevalent and vulnerable to mental health crises or substance abuse,” said Hernandez. “Adults learning how to talk to our youth, and when to intervene, is crucial in
encouraging them to receive the appropriate help they need. Sometimes, all they need is someone to listen and encourage them to the right path.”

The Mental Health First Aid Training for Youth will be held in-person and given in Spanish. With only 20 spots available, community members who are interested in attending must RSVP prior to the event and should expect to pay $20 dollars per person for materials. For more information, please contact Gaby at garriaga@deltoromentalhealthwellness.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, 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.

“Illinois constituents should not be struggling to make ends meet by paying high insurance costs that only benefit big corporations,” said Hernandez. “It is not the responsibility of Illinois’ residents to cover corporate losses, even more so when the money won’t benefit Illinois residents.”

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, Hernandez 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. 

“By lowering insurance costs for our working families, we are helping them live a more financially stable life,” said Hernandez. “Working families shouldn’t have to choose which monthly utilities they need to cut to be able to pay their high insurance costs. Every family deserves to have affordable insurance protections.”

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is offering constituents of the 50th District three museum programs allowing them to receive 4 tickets to explore up to 16 museums in the state of Illinois, as well as the Paramount Theater in Aurora. 

“Many museums are not accessible to the general public because of their prices, and that’s why it’s so exciting to be able to offer our community members free opportunities to explore the diverse culture, history and beauty our state has to offer,” said Hernandez. “I’m hopeful that this program will benefit my community by allowing them to enjoy new experiences with their families throughout the state and to have fun learning something new!”

The first program allows each of Hernandez’s constituents to receive up to four tickets to visit the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield. The second program allows each constituent to receive four tickets each month to visit the following museums:

• Adler Planetarium
• Brookfield Zoo
• Chicago Botanic Garden
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Chicago History Museum
• DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
• The Field Museum
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• National Museum of Mexican Art
• National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
• Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
• The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
• John G. Shedd Aquarium

Finally, in the fall, Hernandez plans to establish a new pilot program that will offer a limited number of free Paramount Theatre tickets for residents of the 50th district, particularly those who have not been able to experience Paramount plays before. 

“History and culture are an essential part of the education of our communities,” said Hernandez. “By educating ourselves on different cultures, we create a community that is compassionate, safe and empathetic—qualities too often hard to find in times like these.”

For more information or to register, call the district office at 630-270-1848 or visit their social media at https://www.instagram.com/rep.bhernandez/. For more information on program eligibility, visit https://www.elections.il.gov.

AURORA, Ill. – State Representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, released a statement to support Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget to give $100 million in state funding to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) for residential renovations:

“Funding for the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy is an enormous step for funding public education in the state. When living on-campus, students face additional stress from being far from home, that’s why it is important to accommodate their needs. Students thrive in an environment where they feel safe, heard and comfortable. Updating their residences will do just that.

“The renovation for the residence halls would expand to accommodate 650 students and their adult supervisors, would support both academic and non-academic learning, expand the number of students served on campus and incorporate sustainable and energy efficient opportunities wherever possible. These are all fundamental necessities for students to thrive academically and socially in their environments.

“During negotiations, I will continue to support this funding for the renovation of IMSA residence halls and make sure they stick in the budget. The success of our students depends on the resources we provide them, whether they are outside or inside the classroom. Funding their living arrangements will help students feel further connected with their communities, more comfortable in their living spaces, and help push them forward in their academic success.”

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, responded to the Governor’s annual budget address on Wednesday, releasing a statement to establish her commitment to a state budget focused on families’ budgets:

“The federal administration has frozen billions of taxpayer dollars while working-families struggle to afford housing, healthcare, childcare and education. The freezing of these funds not only affects our immigrant communities by taking away important resources for daily lives, it also affects working families that depend on food and other resources and programs that alleviate their daily economic hardships. 

“While we can’t reverse the federal policies or extreme cuts, we can take charge of what we can control. 

“For the next couple of months, I will continue to work with House Democrats to negotiate a compassionate and responsible state budget that invests in an affordable future for working families in Illinois. 

“I will personally focus on prioritizing a budget to invest in small businesses in our community, make grants available for non-profit organizations to keep helping our neighborhoods thrive, increase funding for every level of education and direct funding to food and housing security resources for at-risk communities. 

“I will continue to work here in Springfield to make sure our future continues to be bright and strong for the community of the 50th District. I look forward to negotiating a compassionate budget worthy of our community.”