SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—As spring session adjourns, state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, reflects on his work to address the affordability crisis, strengthen service worker protections, and support the community at large.  

“Our number one priority from the start was to address the affordability issue that has affected communities across the state,” Kelly said. “Families are working harder than ever just to make ends meet, and it’s turned into a crisis. This session was about finding solutions and providing relief for Illinoisans to make life easier.”

Kelly supported measures that invest in food security for families and community-based approaches to public safety. Some legislation he voted to pass include measures to crack down on junk fees by requiring pricing transparency (House Bill 228), measures to make shopping more affordable by requiring that digital coupons are accessible for all buyers (House Bill 45), and legislation to ensure that emergency service workers have a fair standards and accountability system (House Bill 4477). 

Kelly also voted to pass a smart and affordable budget that uplifts working families without any new taxes or significant service cuts, provide tools for property tax relief, expand mental healthcare for service workers and residents in the community, and support affordable housing including homelessness prevention. The budget will also set a temporary freeze on the state gas tax, stopping a new increase that would have taken effect in July.

“Massive budget cuts from the federal government halted the funding for many critical public safety services and other programs that our communities rely on,” Kelly said. “But people shouldn’t have to go without or struggle just because of what is happening at the federal level. And what I worked on through this session was a way to change that and make sure that our state continues to go in the right direction.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— To protect service workers and establish fair accountability standards in cases of accidents on duty, state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, passed a bill that amends the evaluation and safety system for workers who make mistakes.

“While mistakes happen on every job,” Kelly said. “For emergency service workers, the stakes are particularly high because it can be a life or death situation caring for a person having a medical emergency. So it’s important that we support EMS workers by making sure that if an unfortunate accident occurs, that worker can have a fair evaluation and investigation.”

Kelly sponsored House Bill 4477, which requires the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to recommend that EMS Systems use the Just Culture Maxtrix. The tool, published by the IDPH, helps evaluate intentional and unintentional mistakes on the job, while also identifying any failures to perform medical and nonmedical duties.

The bill also makes changes to the suspension process by giving local public health review boards the authority to uphold, shorten, or rescind any suspension time for personnel. 

“This is an important update that will help reduce harm while also encouraging fair standards for service workers and keeping the community safe,” Kelly said. “I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done to help workers, patients, and officials alike do their jobs well and have more support.”

The bill passed both the Senate and the House, and now waits to be signed by Governor Pritzker.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, is making interactions between law enforcement and individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder safer and easier. The Blue Envelope Program intends to support safe and effective communication for all involved parties.

“We want to support our law enforcement officers who are working so hard to keep us safe, while also making sure neurodivergent individuals in our community feel comfortable when they are interacting with them,” Kelly said. “This program is a really great way of establishing that understanding up front between these parties, and helping cut down on any miscommunication.”

Kelly passed House Bill 4472, which creates the Blue Envelope Program, in partnership with the Secretary of State’s office. Those diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum can use the envelopes to hold documents required to operate a motor vehicle. With all necessary information in one location, neurodivergent individuals can locate documents easily in potentially high stress situations. 

This measure will help both first responders and anyone in the neurodivergent community feel safe in their interactions and will ensure that interactions are orderly and effective. Additionally, first responders will be able to identify and aid neurodivergent individuals by their blue envelope and work to anticipate any communication barriers during law enforcement interactions. 

The program is voluntary– individuals with neurodivergency or autism are not required to participate in this program, but the resources must be available at various locations operated by the Secretary of State.

“In whatever ways we try to support law enforcement and any members of the community, we always try to bridge the gap between those two groups for the benefit of everyone,” Kelly said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing this bill progress and ultimately be signed into law.”

House Bill 4472 heads to the Senate for a vote.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, is cracking down on junk fees that cost consumers an estimated $3,000 every year, with a new measure that holds businesses accountable for charges added on top of advertised purchase prices.

“Hidden fees have caused the prices of goods and services to skyrocket,” Kelly said. “We’ve seen it affect so many products, and we have to put a stop to it. It’s not fair to consumers that they are essentially being pulled into a deceptive buy and sell exchange where they have to spend more than what they thought they were going to pay.”

House Bill 228 would require businesses to display all mandatory fees and charges they are adding on top of a purchase price. The bill also gives the attorney general’s office more authority to hold businesses accountable for not disclosing surprise fees — cracking down on these “convenience” or “processing” fees that many businesses use to charge more for everyday retail purchases and services including hotels and rental cars.  

The bill was passed out of the House Consumer Protection Committee and now moves to consideration on the House floor. 

CHICAGO — Following the budget address delivered by Governor Pritzker on Wednesday, state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, is prepared to begin the long process of securing an affordable budget for Illinoisans that will lower the cost of living and improve safety for families and the community. He released the following statement:

“As we start the process of creating a budget this year,we know that the numbers that people are most concerned about are the ones in their household bills. Times have been tough for a lot of people due to extreme policies that are being passed in Washington. Families have had to worry about being able to buy groceries, or if they will be able to pay their electricity bills or afford healthcare.

“The budget cuts from the federal government that have affected funding for the public safety services that keep our communities safe are truly concerning. We’ve seen taxes shoot up and childcare costs become exorbitant. In Illinois, we’ve fought this by doubling the child tax credit, eliminating the state’s grocery tax, and working to make sure that public safety programs stay funded. We’ve secured increased funding for mental healthcare and worked to provide unhoused shelter beds. But we still have a lot of work to do.

“That’s why in these coming months, I’ll be going line by line in a long, diligent process through our budget, to create a plan that will make living more affordable for families and individuals, and our communities safer and better. The governor’s address was a first step. Now we’re ready to begin the work.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Focused on addressing issues facing families, state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, supported a veto session agenda this week that will lower energy costs, reform public transportation and implement safeguards related to immigration raids.

“Things don’t have to be so hard,” Kelly said. “From passing new energy legislation that will lower costs for everyone to protecting our communities from unlawful federal overreach, we’ve been laser-focused on making things a little easier for families across the state.”

Kelly supported a comprehensive energy package that aims to lower home electric bills both immediately and over the long term. Dubbed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, the measure expands on past energy legislation and is expected to create thousands of jobs and further strengthen the state’s electric grid.

After years of inefficiency at local transit agencies, Kelly backed a transformative public transportation reform plan that will create a new overarching Northern Illinois Transit Agency (NITA) tasked with improving the rider experience. Additional reforms aim to strengthen service, unify the region’s fare system, improve rider safety and crack down on financial issues with new independent auditors and reserve fund requirements.

With federal officials continuing to stoke unnecessary fear in communities with violent raids, Kelly backed a commonsense, human-centered proposal implementing safeguards at hospitals, daycares, courthouses and higher education locations.

“Hospitals, daycares and schools should be places where people can feel safe and they don’t have to worry about the possibility of being suddenly grabbed by masked individuals,” Kelly said. “I’m excited to build upon our work in the spring legislative session and continue driving costs down for working families.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, is reminding modest-income families and older adults facing rising utility bills of the state’s home energy assistance program, and encouraging residents to apply for relief beginning October 1.

“For many Illinois residents, especially those on a fixed-income, even a marginal increase in energy costs can be the difference between having heat in their homes during the winter or not,” Kelly said. “Everyone deserves heat and power in their home, regardless of their income. Compassionate, need-based assistance programs help expand access to that basic right.”

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps more than 330,000 Illinois families pay energy and heating bills, usually during the coldest months of winter. The application period for LIHEAP assistance is quickly approaching.

Residents over the age of 60, persons with disabilities, families with children under five and customers with a disconnect date within seven days may begin applying for LIHEAP assistance on October 1. All other eligible households can begin applying on November 1.

For more information on eligibility, or to apply, visit helpillinoisfamiles.com.

CHICAGO — Illinois’ firefighters may soon be safer while protecting their communities because of a bill passed by state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, that phases out the use of chemical substances in firefighters’ protective gear that has recently been linked to long-term health problems in many firefighters.

“Our firefighters risk everything to keep their communities safe and to save lives and property, but recent studies show that they’ve been risking—and too often sacrificing—even more than we knew,” Kelly said. “PFAS chemicals are present in a wide range of firefighting equipment and the impacts on the health and wellness of our firefighters is unacceptable. That’s why I’m taking action.”

PFAS—also known as per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances or “forever chemicals”—are long-lasting, man-made substances currently used in a wide variety of industrial and home applications. More recent science has revealed that these chemicals remain in the environment, including inside the bodies of living things, indefinitely. Additionally, this research links PFAS to cancer and other health conditions.

Kelly’s House Bill 2409 phases out the legal sale or distribution of firefighting equipment that contains PFAS by January 1, 2030. The delay is necessary because PFAS are contained in such a wide range of firefighting equipment that an immediate ban would risk making it difficult for fire departments to obtain sufficient amounts of critical equipment.

The bill is named after Deputy Chief Pete Bendinelli, a veteran firefighter who passed away due to health conditions related to PFAS exposure.

Kelly advanced the bill through the Illinois House of Representatives and it now awaits further consideration in the Senate.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve found out that a widely used substance is toxic, but the difference now is that our ability to understand and execute the needed changes is more developed,” Kelly said. “The legacy of this legislation is that no more Illinois families will need to face the pain and loss that the Bendinelli family now is. Our firefighters deserve to be kept as safe as we can make  them, which is why it’s so important to get this bill passed in the Senate, to the Governor’s desk and signed into law.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Following the end of the 2024 legislative session, state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, is highlighting key bills aimed at enhancing public safety—as well as his role in passing Illinois sixth consecutive balanced budget.

Kelly sponsored Senate Bill 2702 in the House, which more tightly regulates licensed fire sprinkler inspectors by requiring that individual inspectors be employed by only one licensed sprinkler inspection contractor at a time.

“Ensuring that the people entrusted with ensuring that critical safety equipment like fire sprinklers are up to code can be held accountable is crucial,” Kelly said. “That’s why it’s important for inspectors to be affiliated with one and only one licensed contractor at a time—we need to know who is responsible for whom, and contractors need to be able to oversee their inspectors without being second guessed by another company they are also working for.”

Kelly also sponsored Senate Bill 3201 in the House, which mandates the creation of training programs for police officers in autism-informed responses, procedures and techniques within 2 years.

“People with autism often have difficulty understanding or responding to others in the same way that neurotypical individuals do, which means that the risk of misunderstandings—that can have tragic consequences—is higher,” Kelly said. “That’s why it’s important for law enforcement to be able to recognize and respond to autism safely and constructively.”

Kelly’s House Bill 4321 would extend the same presumption of full duty disability to downstate first responders disabled by COVID-19 that is currently enjoyed by those in the Chicago-area. Kelly passed the bill unanimously out of the House, but it stalled on First Reading in the Senate, where it was not assigned to a committee.”

“The lack of movement in the Senate is disappointing, obviously, but I’m not done fighting to ensure that every first responder in our state gets the support they deserve after putting their health on the line for their community,” Kelly said. “First responders who can no longer work because of the lingering effects of COVID-19—especially those who fell ill before vaccines were available—were injured in the line of duty and they should be treated as such.”

More information about Kelly’s legislation is available at ILGA.gov.

Capping off the session, Kelly joined House and Senate colleagues in passing Illinois’ sixth consecutive balanced budget.

“After a long and diligent process, I’m proud to say that we’ve once again created a state budget that goes line-by-line identifying efficiencies and prioritizing beneficial spending that aligns with the priorities and needs of working families,” Kelly said. “Despite the noisy grumbling from some quarters, the truth is that we’re continuing to move Illinois forward by focusing on basics, identifying and addressing critical needs and mapping out a path to a brighter future for everyone.”

Among the priorities in the budget being sent to the governor’s desk are:

• a $50 million Child Tax Credit that will help families raising young children make ends meet;
• New funding to expand early childhood education opportunities to 5,000 additional Illinois families;
• $350 million for K-12 classroom education—for a five-year total of over $1.5 billion;
• New funding to community birth centers, to help improve outcomes for moms and babies;
• Expanded funding for innovative approaches to combatting homelessness;
• New funding for local road repair in historically disinvested communities;
• New tools to help local governments control property taxes.

“This is a budget backed by business groups, that gives back to families, all while holding the line on taxes,” Kelly said. “By honoring our commitment to do the people’s business in a responsible manner instead of playing partisan politics, we’re lifting up everyone and planning for a better future.”

CHICAGO — State Rep. Michael Kelly, D-Chicago, is helping to recognize individuals dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by supporting legislation to have Illinois recognize June 27 as National PTSD Awareness Day.

“As a first responder for nearly 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand the impacts that PTSD can have on an individual,” said Kelly. “People dealing with PTSD deserve our support, and I am proud to be a part of this effort to give their struggle more visibility.”

PTSD affects millions of Americans each year. While estimates vary, some estimates place the rate of PTSD in first responders as high as 1 in 3. Kelly sponsored House Bill 4928, which aims to promote greater recognition of the effects that PTSD has on individuals. The bill was passed unanimously by the House and now moves to the Senate.

“It’s important to destigmatize PTSD for those dealing with it,” said Kelly. “People with PTSD are not dangerous; they are simply struggling to cope with past traumas. There are ways for those living with this condition to get the help they need. We need to make sure individuals can reach out for help, and that is exactly what this legislation will help do. I encourage everyone to recognize and support those with PTSD, both on June 27, and year-round.”