SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Easing financial burdens for professional hair braiders, legislation introduced by state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, successfully passed out of the House, making professional hair-braiding a more accessible career path for Illinois residents by removing it from the list of the cosmetology professions that require state licensure.

“Rolling back hair braiding licensing regulations restores opportunity for a handful of women and men, young and old, who have been hindered from growing their business professionally because of financial burdens when seeking licensure,” said Ammons. “This bill effectively removes that barrier by getting rid of the requirement that hair braiders have to be licensed to practice, opening a door that was previously closed for many residents.”

House Bill 3356 removes hair-braiding from the list of licensed cosmetology professions, allowing individuals to self-start in the hair braiding profession without having to pay the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) a licensing fee.

“Many brilliant individuals, predominantly women, throughout my community already offer braiding, installations, and other hair services in the comfort of their own homes,” said state
Representative Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, Chief Co-Sponsor of the bill. “I am proud of this measure, which will unshackle the creativity and ingenuity of the talented people who are longing to start or expand their hair care businesses.”

“Removing the financial burden of obtaining a license for hair braiding will promote robust entrepreneurship and economic opportunities, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds,” added Ammons. “I look forward to handing this off to the Senate to get this measure through the finish line.”

House Bill 3356 passed unanimously out of the House Chamber on Monday and awaits bicameral action.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, launched a petition drive this week urging Gov. Bruce Rauner and members of the General Assembly to restore funding for programs and services vital to higher education, like Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grants and Amtrak transportation.

“Our public universities and colleges are vital to the prosperity of our community and state, as they support our economy, employ our neighbors and keep our most talented minds living in Illinois,” Ammons said. “When the governor rejected a budget that provided funding for the vital services college students rely on, he put the careers of thousands of students at risk.”

In response to these drastic efforts to block funding for the programs that University of Illinois and Parkland Community College students depend on, Ammons has launched a community-wide petition drive. Ammons hopes her drive will place pressure on the governor to restore funding for the services that allow students to access world-class institutions of learning.

Earlier this year, Rauner proposed to cut funding for public universities by over 30 percent, which would mean a $209 million cut to the University of Illinois. Last week, Ammons supported legislation to restore funding to MAP and Higher Education, which the governor pledged to block.

“This petition drive will help send a message to the governor and the legislators he controls that there are real human lives being affected by their political games,” Ammons said. “Tuition rates are already at an all-time high and students simply cannot afford to take on more student loan debt that will follow them throughout life.”

Petitions are now available for circulation on campus and throughout the community. Residents can sign Ammons’ petition online by visiting bit.ly/ammons-petition or by calling her full-time constituent service office at 217-531-1660.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, stood alongside students from Illinois Universities in Springfield last week in support of strong funding for higher education. Ammons met with students at the Capitol to discuss how Gov. Bruce Rauner’s elimination of higher education funding and financial aid opportunities is threatening state colleges and universities.

“Our public universities and colleges are vital not only to educating the leaders of tomorrow, but employing thousands of residents and keeping talented young minds in our state,” Ammons said. “Gov. Rauner’s veto of a higher education budget not only makes Illinois universities less attractive to prospective students, but may permanently endanger the futures of those who will be forced to put their college careers on hold due to lack of financial aid programs.”

Ammons met with numerous college students from the University of Illinois during the Illinois Public University Student Lobby Day, an event coordinated by various student governments from public universities across Illinois. The theme of the event, “#CutsMeanUs,” was intended to show the governor that young lives will be forever changed by cuts to higher education.

Earlier this year, Ammons supported a budget that protected the University of Illinois and other public colleges and universities from dangerous cuts, and continued funding for Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants that make a college education more affordable.