SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, advanced a series of bills to the governor’s desk cutting costs on everyday purchases and utilities, banning gimmicks that raise prices, and requiring businesses to fairly compensate consumers.

“Illinois families can only stretch their budgets and hard-earned dollars so far, and they’re sacrificing their futures just to get by,” Mah said. “My constituents sent me to Springfield with one singular mandate: bring costs down. We can’t stop the president’s tariff schemes, costly foreign wars or the resulting skyrocketing prices we see back home, but we can do everything we can to fight this out-of-touch agenda and deliver real relief.” 

While federal policies and international instability are making everything more expensive, Mah is taking charge of what Illinois can control, and championing policy to provide some immediate relief. 

Mah worked to pass the following cost-cutting measures:

• • House Bill 45: Expands access to savings by requiring retailers to honor all advertised sales or coupons, even if customers cannot access an app or operate digital coupons.
  • House Bill 228: Cracks down on junk fees and hidden costs by requiring businesses to disclose all mandatory fees and charges added on top of an advertised purchase price.

• House Bill 4044: Strengthens consumer rights by banning no-return policies that limit customers to store credit for unused, unopened items for most purchases. 
• House Bill 4514: Allows residents to voice opposition to general rate increases by requiring public utility companies fully inform residents of their rights prior to a rate proposal. 

All four measures successfully advanced through House and Senate chambers, and now await the governor’s consideration. 

CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, 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.

The statement reads, in full:

“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.”

Mah recently co-sponsored House Bill 1312, protecting people from ICE violence at locations including hospitals, courthouses and daycares. Last week, she co-sponsored House Resolution 622, condemning federal violence and lawlessness, and calling for DHS Secretary Noem’s immediate resignation or impeachment. 

“I am proud to stand with my colleagues around the nation in supporting everyone protesting and making their voices heard in the Twin Cities. The freedom of speech, protest and press are First Amendment rights and we are seeing them all in action in Minnesota. I am devastated by the harm done by federal border patrol agents, who are responsible for 9 deaths this month alone. We must continue to stand up and speak out until the federal government and Department of Homeland Security does the right thing and gets untrained, violent officers off our streets,” said Mah.

The full joint statement can be found here.

CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is urging Governor Pritzker and his administration to fully back the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act (House Bill 2627) and push back against Trump-era policies that threaten the health and safety of Illinois communities.

The federal government’s recent decision to halt its annual monitoring of mink farms means critical data—such as the geographical region and production levels of mink farms—will no longer be collected or made publicly available each year.

“This move by the Trump administration is a reckless abandonment of basic public health responsibilities,” said Mah, sponsor of the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act. “Data on mink farming is essential for understanding and mitigating the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, especially given the role mink farms have played in previous viral outbreaks. By cutting off this data stream, the federal government is leaving communities in the dark about a real and present threat to public health.”

Illinois can step up to fill the void through strong, science-based state policy. The Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act establishes clear disease reporting requirements, improves transparency, and implements safeguards to reduce the risk of virus transmission between animals and humans on Illinois mink farms.

“While the Trump-era U.S. Department of Agriculture may be ignoring science, Illinois must be committed to listening to the experts—and protecting its communities,” said Mah. “House Bill 2627 has become not just important, but absolutely necessary. That’s why I am calling on Governor Pritzker and his administration to fully support this legislation, stand with public health experts, and ensure Illinois families are protected from preventable risks.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, concluded a productive legislative session by helping pass a fiscally responsible budget that helps cut costs on vital goods and everyday essentials for working people.

“As the Trump White House attempts to create chaos by slashing health benefits and other vital services for millions of Americans, Illinois is passing a balanced, fiscally responsible budget focused on making life more affordable for working people,” Mah said. “We made targeted cuts to unnecessary government administrative spending to fund vital new health clinics and hospitals in underserved areas while building a school system that gives our kids the education they deserve.”

Mah voted for the new state budget which trims $193 million in government administration costs to reinvest savings to clinics, safety net hospitals and community health centers for low- and modest-income families. In addition, she voted to create the Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursements and Government Emergency—or BRIDGE—Fund, positioning the state to patch potential cuts from Washington.

“By creating a reserve fund, we can provide more security and stability for our communities facing potential upheaval from Washington,” Mah said. “With this new budget as the foundation for our coming fiscal year, I am eager to continue the good work of fighting for a stronger future for all Illinoisans.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, announced the release of funds for the launch of 13 clean energy contractor job creation hubs to be built across Illinois, with some set to begin operation in Chicago soon.

“The jobs created by these clean energy contractor hubs are just one instance of the economic benefits Illinois will see in our role leading the country’s growth of alternative fuel sources,’ Mah said. “Taking advantage of opportunities in emerging sectors is the key to securing a better future for families in this community.”

As part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), is launching a $21 million dollar program to establish 13 community-based contractor incubator hubs around the state. The hubs are designed to assist clean energy contractors-especially those in underserved areas-with growing their businesses. Ultimately, the goal of this program is to establish an interconnected set of statewide workforce development support systems, and fuel the growth of the clean energy sector in Illinois.

“Chicago’s status as a major economic center makes us ideal to take the reins of a growing technological area,” Mah said. “Following the implementation of CEJA programs and dispersal of funding, I’m anticipating substantial growth in our community and across Illinois.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is joining with the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) to present a 2023 Artist Fellowship Award (AFA) to saxophonist and composer Nick Mazzarella on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6 p.m., at the National Museum of Mexican Art on 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago.

“With this award, we are recognizing Mr. Mazzarella’s wonderful additions to the Illinois Arts, both for the entertainment his work has brought to countless audiences, and for the impact he has made in our shared history,” Mah said. “From Sam Cooke to Mavis Staples, Illinois artists occupy a unique place in American music, and Mr. Mazzarella has made his own brilliant contribution to that tapestry. I feel privileged to offer him this honor.”

The IACA is proud to be able to provide Illinois artists with unrestricted funds to support their creative endeavors and artistic growth. The AFA Program offered funding in 8 artistic disciplines. This year’s Fellowship and Finalist Award recipients were selected from 283 Illinois based creative artists working in the disciplines of Choreography, Media Arts (category includes audio art, digital art, film and video), Music Composition, Music Improvisation, New Performance Forms, Poetry, Prose, and Scriptworks.

“The Artist Fellowship Awards celebrate the backbone of Illinois’ rich cultural history: its artists,” said Illinois Arts Council Executive Director, Joshua Davis-Ruperto. “Continued direct support to artists like Nick shows that the state of Illinois believes in the positive impact arts and culture can have on quality of life and the strengthening of local economies. I would like to personally thank Representative Mah for her continued support for Illinois’ creative sector.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, recently passed a measure to cut costs for workers purchasing transit passes by requiring certain large employers in the Chicago area to offer the option of paying for those passes with pre-tax wages.

“Commuting is an essential aspect of employment, and exacting a substantial financial toll on working people because they have to commute is an unfair burden,” Mah said. “This bill will empower workers to exercise their rights which will get us more transit riders, cleaner air and higher take-home pay for working people.”

House Bill 2068 would mandate businesses with more than 50 workers offer the transit benefit through their payroll system if they are located within a mile of regular transit service in the Chicago area.

It passed the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support.

“Especially for people who are paid entry-level wages, using pre-tax wages to purchase monthly transit passes can make a substantial difference in take-home pay,” Mah said. “I hope employers of all kinds start early and offer this benefit to their workers before the effective date of January, 1 of next year.”

CHICAGO – As part of her efforts to explore all avenues to reduce crime, state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, will work to find comprehensive solutions to violence as part of the Public Safety & Violence Prevention Task Force.

“It is critically important that everyone, no matter where they live, what they look like or where they’re from, should be able to live without fear of being harmed,” said Mah. “Violence destroys lives, tears apart families and damages communities. We must do everything in our power to address the root causes of violence and create real and sustainable safety for Illinoisans for decades to come.”

Mah was recently appointed to the Public Safety & Violence Prevention Task Force, which will work with experts across the state to work on solutions to hate crimes, gun violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and all other forms of violence. Serving on the task force builds on Mah’s previous work to improve public safety laws. She passed legislation this legislative session, Senate Bill 1596 to expand hate crime laws to cover crimes based on perceived immigration status. Mah also supported a bill, House Bill 562 that keeps guns out of the hands of criminals by requiring background checks for all private gun sales.

“With the recent increases in violence we have seen throughout the state, it is more important than ever that we are working to find long-term solutions to curb violence in our communities,” said Mah. “There is nothing more important to me than the health and safety of my constituents, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make our communities as safe as possible.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – With the end of the legislative session coming to a close, state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, passed legislation to help ensure a well-rounded recovery from the pandemic, while focusing on expanding public health measures and immigrant protections.

“As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we are working to ensure all residents get the support they need after facing an extremely difficult year,” said Mah. “I am proud to have worked on legislation that will make a substantial difference in the lives of my constituents and help put us on the path towards recovery.”

Rep. Mah voted for a budget that would help aid those most impacted by the pandemic by allocating resources to critical programs that address the needs of residents. She also supported legislation supporting vaccination efforts as well as small businesses. This type of robust recovery will help ensure that the state economy recovers from the crisis without leaving anyone behind.

“With many families facing financial hardship over the past year, I prioritized getting relief to the residents and communities that were hit hardest by the pandemic,” said Mah. “We cannot truly recover if we neglect the needs of our residents. This budget ensures that everyone will be a part of the recovery and get us back on track towards normalcy.”

During the spring session, Mah sponsored legislation to assist seniors unable to pay their property taxes and made sure that the budget included increases to programs that benefit seniors, such as Meals on Wheels and the Community Care Program (CCP).

“In a year in which public health was at the forefront of our lives, putting additional resources towards the health of residents is critical,” said Mah. “Seniors were one of the most heavily impacted groups by the pandemic. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we put an emphasis on funding programs that will make an immediate impact on the lives of our seniors.”

Rep. Mah has also worked to help protect the rights of immigrant communities. She sponsored legislation adding protections against anti-immigrant bias in Illinois’ anti-hate crime law.  She also worked on a resolution urging the United States’ Congress to take action to enact policies on immigration reforms in the United States.

“With all that they provide for our community, immigrants deserve to be afforded respect and protections under the law,” said Mah. “Especially after a year in which everyone worked together to keep our communities safe, it is unacceptable to not provide support to the immigrant community. While we made progress on this issue and many others, I know that there is still much more work to be done. I look forward to talking with constituents over the next few months to hear what issues they are facing and what they would like to see from their state government moving forward.”

Mah is serving her third term representing the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of McKinley Park, Pilsen, Chinatown, Bridgeport, Brighton Park and Back of the Yards. For more information, please contact Mah’s district office at 872-281-5775.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch today announced Representative Frances Ann Hurley as the new whip of the Democratic Moderate Caucus (Mod Caucus), a relatively new caucus of like-minded members who advocate for a balanced, steady approach to lawmaking.

“The Mod Caucus has made an excellent choice in selecting Representative Hurley as their whip, and I welcome her to the leadership team as we continue to do the people’s work,” said Speaker Welch. “As Democrats, we are proud of our diversity and want to bring together ideas from all corners of our party as one common agenda for everyday families.”

“I am proud to represent the Mod Caucus as we tackle a number of issues that will impact the state for years to come: from revitalizing our economy to our fiscal house, public safety and law enforcement, human services, and education,” said Representative Hurley. “Honoring the Mod Caucus’s request for a whip is a great example of Speaker Welch’s promise to lead in a more decentralized and inclusive manner.”

As whip, Representative Hurley will join a cohort of members empowered to rally Democratic sub-caucuses around key issues and pieces of legislation. The full list of whips include:

State Rep. Kam Buckner                    Black Caucus Whip

State Rep. Deb Conroy                      Women’s Caucus Whip

State Rep. Will Guzzardi                   Progressive Caucus Whip

State Rep. Frances Hurley                 Moderate Caucus Whip

State Rep. Theresa Mah                     Asian Caucus Whip

State Rep. Aaron Ortiz                       Latinx Caucus Whip

State Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr.                Downstate Caucus Whip

Representative Hurley’s appointment is effective immediately.