SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A measure creating new guardrails intended to prevent Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted catastrophic harm is now law due to the help of state Rep. Maura Hischauer, D-West Chicago. 

“As AI continues to evolve, it’s important to implement safety measures to protect our residents from being harmed,” said Hirschauer. “We have seen documented cases where AI chatbots have encouraged people to harm themselves or others. This is unacceptable. It’s our responsibility as legislators to create laws that protect our communities, and through this legislation, we are doing exactly that.”

As part of her continued effort to secure comprehensive public safety, Hirschauer backed Senate Bill 315, the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act. Under this legislation, large AI companies would be required to implement comprehensive frameworks for transparency and harm reduction based on independent third-party reports, including:

• Safety incident reporting requirements, 
• Disclosure guidelines, 
• Whistleblower protections, and
• Civil penalties for act violations. 

The legislation is meant to address AI-assisted violent crimes, weapons development, evasions of human control, or cyberattacks that could lead to the death or serious injury of more than 50 people or greater than $1 billion in property damage. 

Senate Bill 315 passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support, and was signed into law on July 6. 

“SB 315 ensures that as artificial intelligence continues to evolve, Illinois is leading with commonsense safeguards that promote innovation while protecting the public through greater transparency, accountability, and responsible AI development.”

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – A measure extending the powers of the state Inspector General to cover the newly created Illinois Department of Early Childhood is now law due to the work of state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago.

“Working with children and families can be sensitive and complex, so it’s important to have the proper authorities be responsible for making sure the department runs smoothly and safely,” said Hirschauer. “Government resources that help children and families across Illinois need to be handled with care and at the same standards as other departments. Illinois families, and more importantly, their children, are our number one priority, so we need to work towards protecting their resources and making sure they receive the help they need.”

House Bill 5364 would expand the authority of the Inspector General by allowing them to investigate and oversee the Department of Early Childhood. The Inspector General is responsible for investigating fraud, waste and misuse of government property or funds within the department and reports to the Secretary of Early Childhood.

House Bill 5364 was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on June 26 and will take effect immediately.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – Major affordability measures cracking down on hidden junk fees and price gouging schemes are now law due to the work of state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago.

“In a time when the affordability crisis is hitting our communities hard, and families are already stretching every dollar, residents shouldn’t be tricked into paying surprise fees,” said Hirschauer. “You deserve to know exactly what you are paying for so you can make informed decisions on purchases. The price you see should be the price you pay.”

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

Hirschauer worked to crack down on these hidden fees with 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.

Hirschauer 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.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — On the four-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, issued the following statement on the work she has done in Springfield to protect abortion and reproductive rights across the state of Illinois:

“Four years ago, the Dobbs decision marked the culmination of a long-running extremist effort to strip away reproductive freedom. By overturning nearly 50 years of constitutional protections, the Supreme Court opened the door for politicians to interfere in deeply personal medical decisions, criminalize essential healthcare, and put the health and lives of patients at risk.

“In Illinois, we have chosen a different path. We are committed to protecting the right to make personal healthcare decisions free from political interference. That commitment continued on Wednesday as the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act was signed into law—a measure I proudly advocated for and co-sponsored. This law safeguards sensitive reproductive health records, ensuring that out-of-state politicians and prosecutors cannot misuse private medical information to target patients or healthcare providers for care that is legal in Illinois.

“We also passed House Bill 3637, strengthening Illinois’ Shield Law by reinforcing protections for medication abortion and safeguarding healthcare professionals who provide lawful reproductive healthcare in our state. Together, these measures send a clear message: Illinois will not cooperate with attempts to criminalize reproductive healthcare.

“As attacks on reproductive freedom continue across the country, Illinois will remain a place where patients can access care with dignity, privacy, and confidence. I will continue fighting to protect reproductive freedom because every person deserves the right to make their own healthcare decisions—without fear, political interference, or government intrusion.”

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

“As a working mom, I know that affordability is top of mind for all Illinoisans because I feel it too,” said Hirschauer. “We cannot balance our budget on the backs of everyday people. That’s why I continue pushing for responsible revenue options that keeps our communities safe, expands access to critical support and invests in our children.”

Hirschauer’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, Hirschauer’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 Hirschauer-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.

BARTLETT, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, is inviting residents to attend an End of Session Town Hall detailing Springfield legislative updates and to discuss community priorities on Tuesday, June 30 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bartlett Public Library, 800 S. Bartlett Rd., in Bartlett.

The End of Session Town Hall will focus on topics such as legislation, the FY27 state budget, community safety, and other pressing topics of the 49th District. To ensure there is ample time to discuss all matters, constituents are asked to submit their questions and RSVP in advance by filling out the form on the website: https://www.maurahirschauer.com/event/townhall26-6/.

“Throughout the spring legislative session, I made sure to prioritize the needs and welfare of my constituents,” said Hirschauer. “The bills I passed will help our community thrive as we are waiting for Gov. Pritzker to sign the legislation into law, I want to make sure that our communities are aware that their voices are heard and that their needs are being met.”

The End of Session Town Hall will be held both online and in-person. Community members interested in attending must RSVP prior to the event. Language interpretation will be available. If interpretations are needed, RSVP is required by June 26. Media seeking to cover the town hall is encouraged to RSVP to ensure space is available.

WHO State Representative Maura Hirschauer
WHAT End of Session Town Hall
WHEN Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 7 p.m. until 8 p.m.

WHERE Bartlett Public Library
800 S. Bartlett Rd.
Bartlett, IL

Attendees must RSVP in advance. RSVP/Submit Questions: https://www.maurahirschauer.com/event/townhall26-6/

CHICAGO – The House Democratic AI Working Group, chaired by state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, held a subject matter hearing on Monday, May 4, to discuss efforts to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) in order to protect consumers and safeguard elections in Illinois.

“These discussions are about protecting consumers and ensuring fairness in our state’s liability statutes,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “AI-powered technologies are no longer simply an emerging technology, they’re impacting almost every aspect of our lives right now.”

Four bills were discussed during the hearing, all pertaining to AI regulation and consumer protection.

Gong-Gershowitz’s House Bill 4557 would create the Digital Forgeries in Politics Act, which places new disclosure requirements on the use of digital manipulation in images, video and audio in political advertising. 

“When voters can no longer trust what they see and hear, democracy itself is at risk,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “AI-generated deepfakes of political candidates and elected officials are not a distant threat — they are already being weaponized to deceive the public, suppress participation and undermine elections. HB4557 draws a clear line: if you use artificial intelligence to fabricate the words or likeness of a political figure to deceive voters, there will be consequences. Illinoisans deserve to make their voices heard based on facts.”

House Bill 5044, also by Gong-Gershowitz, would create the Chatbot Provider Liability Act, defining chatbots as products and establishing that providers have a duty to ensure that the use of a chatbot does not cause injury to a user.

“We have always held manufacturers accountable when their products cause serious harm — and an AI chatbot is a product,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “When companies deploy these systems knowing they have the potential to deceive, manipulate or injure the people who interact with them, they should be held to exactly the same standard we apply to any other dangerous product under Illinois law,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “This legislation closes a loophole that Big Tech has been counting on. If your chatbot causes real harm, you bear real responsibility — full stop.”

State Rep. Daniel Didech’s House Bill 4705 would create the Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act, requiring frontier AI developers and large chatbot providers to create a public safety and child protection plan.

“The pace of AI development and the capabilities of frontier models are accelerating, and the General Assembly has an obligation to ensure that Illinois residents are protected from catastrophic outcomes,” Didech said. “This legislation puts enforceable guardrails in place so Big Tech companies must prioritize safety, be transparent about the risks tied to their systems and take responsibility for preventing serious harm, especially when it comes to protecting children.”

State Rep. Maura Hirschauer’s House Bill 5756, would create the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act, requiring online retailers to disclose their use of “surveillance pricing”—a growing phenomena that uses artificial intelligence-powered tools to charge higher prices for certain customers based on a user’s personal data.

“House Bill 5756 prioritizes transparency and fairness,” Hirschauer said. “This legislation makes clear that pricing powered by personal data cannot happen in the shadows. By requiring disclosure, banning the use of sensitive information, and guaranteeing an opt-out, we are putting fairness and accountability back into the marketplace.”

The House Democratic AI Working Group was established by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch earlier this year in order to launch a multifaceted approach to AI policy in Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new bill led by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, would require online retailers to disclose their use of “surveillance pricing”—a growing phenomena that uses artificial intelligence-powered tools to charge higher prices for certain customers based on prior browsing history and demographic information inferred by a consumer’s digital footprint.

“HB 4248 is about drawing a clear line: no more secret pricing games. If companies are using your personal data to charge you more, you have a right to know—and a right to say no. This bill forces transparency, bans the use of deeply personal characteristics, and cracks down on deceptive tactics designed to trick consumers. It protects real choice, real fairness, and real accountability. HB 4248 makes it clear: in Illinois, consumers come first.”

With the growing consumer preference for mobile shopping, retailers are increasingly collecting data from online shoppers. Hirschauer is sponsoring House Bill 4248 which would create standards for businesses utilizing surveillance pricing. The measure would require online businesses to provide a clear disclosure when they are using the consumer’s personal information or search history to dictate the cost of a good or service. The bill would further allow consumers to opt-out and pay a baseline price. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of sensitive personal information, like race, religion and immigration status, to determine pricing.

House Bill 4248 is now on second reading and awaits a vote on the House floor.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Representative Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, introduced legislation that would establish a grant program for the restoration or replacement of natural resources that have been damaged resulting from court settlements due to hazardous waste release, pollution events or long-term industrial contamination.

“As the federal government continues to cut down protections and funding for our natural resources, major corporations have taken the opportunity to disregard the health of our natural environment,” said Hirschauer. “This grant program would allow local government, environmental organizations and recognized tribes to help continue to restore and protect our wetlands, waterways, forest preserves and agricultural lands.”

Hirschauer is sponsoring House Bill 4566, which would create the Natural Resources Restoration Trust Grant Program. The grant program would be administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The grant would not be awarded to applicants that are responsible for the damage of natural resources. 

Eligible applicants include:

• Units of local government
• Soil and water conservation districts
• Area-wide agencies, including counties regional planning agencies, or both
• Nonprofit organizations
• Public or private institutes of higher education
• Port authorities
• Federally recognized tribes. 

“The health of our environment directly affects our health, that’s why it is important that we, in the state of Illinois, provide grants to local organizations to help our natural environments thrive,” said Hirschauer. “A healthy natural environment means a healthier life.”

House Bill 4566 is out of committee and awaits further process.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, is inviting residents to attend a virtual Know Your Rights Town Hall in partnership with State Representative Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Tuesday, March 10 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Know Your Rights Town Hall will focus on topics such as first amendment rights, civil rights overview, governor’s accountability commission information, best practices for engaging with law enforcement, discretionary decertification process and new complaint portal for Illinois law enforcement training and standards board. Constituents must RSVP in advance to receive the link to the meeting on March 10 at: https://forms.gle/QMXuX7R7Y2V1U5Cj8.

“Now more than ever, it’s important to provide our communities with resources to protect their constitutional rights from unlawful federal government actions,” said Hirschauer. “We need to empower our communities to speak up and protect their rights, and through this town hall, we are providing them with crucial knowledge and power.”

The Know Your Rights Town Hall will be held virtually. Community members interested in attending must RSVP prior to the event. 

For more information, please contact Rep. Moeller’s district office at (847) 841-7130 or email at staterepmoeller@gmail.com.