SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, D-Chicago, is advancing legislation to formally designate July 25 as Emmett Till Day in Illinois, ensuring that the life, legacy, and lasting impact of Emmett Till are recognized for generations to come.

“The brutal murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till and the extraordinary courage of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who refused to let the world look away—marked a turning point in our nation’s history,” said Du Buclet. “Although his life was taken in Mississippi, Emmett Till was raised here in Illinois. His story is part of our history, and it is our responsibility to make sure it is never forgotten.”

House Bill 4323 passed the Illinois House with strong bipartisan support and no opposition, reflecting a shared commitment to honoring Emmett Till’s legacy and the broader struggle for justice his life came to represent. The legislation would establish July 25, his birthday, as a statewide day of reflection, education, and remembrance.

The measure builds on ongoing efforts to preserve and elevate this history. In 2023, Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago, where Mamie Till-Mobley made the courageous decision to hold an open-casket funeral—alongside key sites in Mississippi, were designated as part of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument.

“For me, this is about more than remembrance,” Du Buclet said. “It is about truth. We cannot sanitize our history or ignore the parts that challenge us. We have a responsibility to confront them, to learn from them, and to ensure that future generations understand the full weight of what happened and why it mattered.”

Rep. Du Buclet emphasized that the designation is not only a reflection on the past, but a commitment to the future.

“Honoring Emmett Till means continuing the work to build a world free of hatred, bias, and fear,” she said. “It means ensuring that the lessons of his life—and the courage of his mother—continue to guide us as we move forward.”

House Bill 4323 now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Du Buclet introduced similar legislation during the 103rd General Assembly, continuing her commitment to ensuring that this history is both preserved and understood.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — On Wednesday, state Rep. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, D-Chicago, continued her work to promote civic engagement and participation by passing a bill that will require Illinois’ public high schools to provide eligible students with an opportunity to register to vote.

“For far too long, the voter registration process has been seen as something that young people are supposed to either figure out on their own or with their families,” said Du Buclet. “This reality makes navigating the electoral process particularly intimidating for first-time and young voters and is one of the leading factors in low voter turnout among young people.”

House Bill 4339, also known as the Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, passed out of the House with bipartisan support. The legislation will ensure that all public high schools offer students of eligible voting age the opportunity to register during the school day in a safe, accessible and nonpartisan environment.

Too often, voter registration efforts are tied to political campaigns or outside organizations that may seek to influence how someone exercises their fundamental right. This bill removes that pressure and ensures young people have a first-time voter experience rooted in trust, education and independence. This bill does not impose any penalties on schools that are unable to provide the opportunity.

“This legislation is deeply inspired by the vision of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who said that graduation should mark a young person’s full entry into civic life—leaving with a diploma in one hand and a voter registration card in the other. We are not telling anyone who to vote for. We are making sure they understand their voice matters and that they have a place in our democracy,” said Du Buclet. “At a time when many are losing faith in our institutions, we have a responsibility to meet young people in this moment and equip them with the tools they need to participate. This bill is about building civic habits, strengthening our communities and making sure that our young people understand the power of their voice and the responsibility that comes with it.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, D-Chicago, is advancing legislation that strengthens civic participation among young people by ensuring Illinois high schools provide eligible students with the opportunity to register to vote in a trusted, nonpartisan academic setting.

“For too long, voter participation has been treated as something young people are expected to figure out on their own after they leave school. If we are serious about building a stronger, more inclusive democracy, we must start earlier,” said Du Buclet. “Civic engagement should be part of the transition to adulthood, and that is exactly what this bill does.”

House Bill 4339, also known as the Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, passed the House Ethics and Elections Committee with unanimous support. The legislation ensures that all public high schools offer students of voting age the opportunity to register during the school day in a safe, accessible, and nonpartisan environment.

Too often, voter registration efforts are tied to political campaigns or outside organizations that may influence how someone votes. This bill removes that pressure and ensures young people have a first-time voter experience rooted in trust, education, and independence.

“This legislation is deeply inspired by the vision of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who said that graduation should mark a young person’s full entry into civic life—leaving with a diploma in one hand and a voter registration card in the other. We are not telling anyone who to vote for. We are making sure they understand their voice matters and that they have a place in our democracy,” said Du Buclet.

“At a time when trust in our institutions is being tested, we have a responsibility to meet young people where they are and equip them with the tools to participate. This bill is about building lifelong civic habits, strengthening our communities, and ensuring that every young Illinoisan understands both the power of their voice and the responsibility that comes with it.”

House Bill 4339 now heads to the House floor, where Du Buclet looks forward to continuing to work with her colleagues in House leadership, including Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, to move this legislation forward and ensure the next generation is empowered, informed, and engaged.

CHICAGO — State Rep. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, D-Chicago, who chairs the Illinois House’s Museums, Arts, Culture & Entertainment (MACE) Committee, convened a subject matter hearing to examine the case for ensuring Illinois’ museums, arts programs, and cultural institutions receive sustainable state support.

“We convened this hearing to have a thoughtful conversation about the sustainability of our cultural institutions, the economic impact they have, and the federal headwinds they are now navigating,” Du Buclet said. “Although Illinois is home to some of the most powerful museums and cultural institutions in the world, these institutions are not just spaces where we preserve history, celebrate art, and expand knowledge. They are also powerful drivers of economic activity and community vitality.”

Rep. Du Buclet invited representatives from museums, art galleries, scientific institutions, and cultural organizations across Illinois to discuss how changes in federal policy have affected their operations and why the state should consider more stable funding models to support these institutions.

In recent months, museums across the country have faced uncertainty following changes to federal funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). During the early months of President Trump’s second term, the administration cut millions of dollars in IMLS grants before reinstating the funding later in the year, creating instability for many institutions, particularly smaller and rural museums that rely heavily on federal support.

These challenges come on top of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced revenue and visitation for many cultural institutions.

Given these pressures, the committee sought to hear directly from leaders in the field about how Illinois could help stabilize the sector through long-term funding strategies and stronger public-private partnerships.

“The economic impact of our museums and cultural institutions is bigger than that of our professional sports teams,” Du Buclet said. “Visitors who come to Illinois for our museums often stay longer and spend more in our hotels, restaurants, and local businesses than those who come for sporting events.”

“This sector is not an amenity, it is a critical piece of our economic infrastructure,” Du Buclet continued. “If we want Illinois to remain a global cultural destination, we must ensure these institutions have the support they need to continue serving communities, attracting visitors, and contributing to our state’s economic growth.”

Rep. Du Buclet said the hearing is part of an ongoing effort by the MACE Committee to better understand the evolving challenges facing Illinois’ cultural sector and to explore policy solutions that strengthen long-term sustainability for museums and cultural organizations statewide.

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CHICAGO — On Wednesday at the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) headquarters in Chicago, state Rep. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, D-Chicago, presented a consumer protection proposal alongside consumer advocates focused on ending the shady practices used by alternative energy suppliers and ensuring Illinois’ ratepayers are able to make the best decisions for their households in a more transparent and accountable energy marketplace.

Alternative energy suppliers are companies that create energy but do not own the infrastructure used to deliver that energy. Standard suppliers, such as ComEd and People’s Gas, own the infrastructure and produce the energy. In Illinois’ deregulated energy market, around 150 alternative gas and electric suppliers are in operation. Research from CUB shows that customers using alternative suppliers have lost around $2 billion over the last decade.

As the affordability crisis continues to worsen and warmer weather approaches, Rep. Du Buclet is taking immediate action to prevent these companies from exploiting ratepayers, many of whom are seniors living on a fixed income, with their cadres of door-to-door sales representatives who often lock unsuspecting consumers into bad deals under the promise of lower monthly bills. These promises often never materialize, with many who switched reporting that their monthly payments doubled or tripled after changing companies.

“Too many Illinois families are being taken advantage of just to keep the lights on and their homes warm,” said Rep. Du Buclet. “For years, consumers have been steered into confusing energy contracts that quietly drive up bills month after month, often without clear disclosure or meaningful consent. HB 4313 draws a clear line: no more rip-offs, no more predatory pricing and no more fine print that hurts working people.”

Rep. Du Buclet is sponsoring House Bill 4313, which creates the No More Utility Bill Rip-Offs Customer Protection Act to protect consumers from price gouging, nonconsensual rate increases and predatory, high-pressure sales tactics.

Rep. Du Buclet’s measure will protect ratepayers throughout Illinois with the following reforms:

• Capping alternative supplier rates at 25 percent above the standard supplier’s rate
  • Requiring a customer signature before contracts automatically renew if the rate increases
  • Prohibiting commission-based compensation for sales representatives to discourage slamming and other deceptive practices
  • Requiring alternative suppliers to provide more data to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for increased industry transparency and oversight

“This legislation strengthens consumer protections by requiring transparency, accountability and enforceable standards so families know exactly what they are signing up for and what they are paying,” said Rep. Du Buclet. “It puts affordability first and ensures that energy choice never comes at the expense of fairness, trust or basic consumer rights. This legislation is about protecting families, seniors and fixed-income households from being exploited simply because they need heat and electricity.”

House Bill 4313 was introduced in January and assigned to the Public Affairs Committee in late February.

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Chicago– Illinois State Rep. Kimberly Neely DuBuclet, D-Chicago, is partnering with consumer advocates, including the Citizens Utility Board and AARP Illinois, to advance legislation that protects Illinois utility customers from deceptive and predatory practices by alternative electric and gas suppliers. 

Data compiled by consumer advocates shows that Illinois residents who enrolled with alternative suppliers have paid approximately $2 billion more than the standard utility rate over the past decade. As energy costs remain elevated and warmer weather approaches, Rep. DuBuclet and consumer groups warn that aggressive door-to-door and telemarketing campaigns are likely to intensify, placing families at increased risk of entering costly contracts. 

Some consumers caught in these agreements have reported paying two or even three times more than they would have paid by remaining with their traditional utility provider, underscoring the urgent need for stronger consumer protections. 

To address these concerns, Rep. DuBuclet is sponsoring House Bill 4313, the No More Utility Bill Rip-Offs Customer Protection Act. The legislation would strengthen oversight of alternative suppliers by preventing excessive rate increases, requiring clear customer consent for contract renewals with higher prices, and curbing high-pressure sales tactics that mislead consumers. 

“Energy is a basic necessity, not a luxury,” Rep. DuBuclet said. “This legislation ensures Illinois families are protected from unfair practices and that our energy marketplace works the way it was intended from the start, transparent, fair, and in the best interest of consumers.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, D-Chicago, is denouncing President Donald Trump’s racist social media post depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.

“You cannot honor Black history while amplifying caricatures rooted in racism. And we will not allow a century of progress in recognizing Black history to be undermined by rhetoric that seeks to drag us backward,” said Du Buclet. “This resolution is not about one moment; it is about standards. It is about affirming that racism — whether subtle or blatant, whether analog or digital — has no place in our civic life.”

Earlier this month, an artificial intelligence (AI) video was posted to the president’s Truth Social account depicting various Democratic elected officials and content creators as jungle animals. The Trump administration claimed that the post was simply mirroring Disney’s The Lion King, although there were no apes in the film. The depiction of people of color as apes is a centuries-old, well-known racial stereotype and caricature. The video has since been deleted from the president’s social media without an apology to the Obamas or anyone else depicted in the video, nor acknowledgment of the video’s inherently racist nature.

Du Buclet introduced House Resolution 696 to honor the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and condemn the president’s racist rhetoric. The resolution makes clear that this AI video is not the administration’s first overtly racist action but one of its most recent efforts to diminish and sideline Americans of diverse backgrounds.

“Black History Month was founded to correct distortion — not create comfort. Black History Month exists because truth had to be defended,” said Du Buclet. “And today, one hundred years later, we are again confronted with distortion. We have a president who claims to recognize Black History Month, but he uses this month to circulate racist rhetoric, revive inequities of the past and diminish the full story of Black Americans in this country.”

You can watch footage of Rep. Du Buclet presenting the resolution on the House floor here. 

CHICAGO – On Saturday, State Rep. Kimberly DuBuclet, D-Chicago, Speaker Welch, community leaders, and members of the Young Voter Empowerment Coalition at the national headquarters of Operation PUSH to highlight efforts to expand civic participation among Illinois youth.

“Your voice matters, your participation matters and democracy belongs to you,” said DuBuclet. “Reverend Jackson always spoke about a simple but powerful dream: that every young person would graduate from high school with a diploma in one hand and a voter registration card in the other.” 

State Rep. DuBuclet introduced House Bill 4339 in January, known as the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, to expand participation in Illinois’ democracy by requiring high schools to provide eligible students with the opportunity to register to vote. Research consistently shows that young people are less likely to participate in elections due to gaps in civic education and the perception that their vote doesn’t matter. Rep. DuBuclet emphasized that her legislation is designed to remove practical barriers while reinforcing civic confidence. 

“All too often, young people in underserved neighborhoods are not registered simply because no  one has walked them through the process,” said DuBuclet. “This legislation ensures that eligible  students are given the opportunity to register to vote while they are still in high school. There are no mandates, no coercion—just access, empowerment and a defining moment in a young  person’s life.” 

House Bill 4339 is structured as a nonpartisan, voluntary initiative focused solely on expanding access to voter registration in trusted educational settings.

CHICAGO – Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State address, Rep. Kimberly DuBuclet, D-Chicago, released the following statement outlining her priorities for the upcoming budget process:

“We must lead with courage and do the work our communities sent us here to do. That means using taxpayer dollars responsibly and strategically to lower costs and expand opportunity for working families. At a time when Illinois residents are facing rising costs for groceries, housing, healthcare, utilities, and childcare, affordability must remain at the center of our budget priorities.

“Families are asking for relief and stability. They want strong public schools for their children, access to quality and affordable healthcare, safe neighborhoods, and an economy that rewards hard work. Our budget must reflect those everyday realities.

“In recent years, we have taken meaningful steps to ease financial pressure on Illinois households, from creating a permanent child tax credit and eliminating the state grocery tax, to expanding early childhood education, increasing child care assistance, and eliminating millions of dollars in medical debt. These measures put money back in people’s pockets and provide real, tangible relief.

“But we cannot stop there. We must continue strengthening workforce development, investing in neighborhood economic growth, protecting essential services, and ensuring that every dollar spent delivers measurable value to the people of Illinois.

“We know communities thrive when the government works with people, not against them. While Washington advances policies that prioritize billionaires over working families, Illinois will stay focused on lowering costs, expanding economic security, and building a state where every family has the opportunity to succeed. And the work is just getting started.”

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CHICAGO – IL State Rep. Kimberly DuBuclet, D-Chicago, has introduced legislation to designate July 25, the birthday of Emmett Till, as a commemorative holiday in Illinois, ensuring his life and legacy remain part of the state’s public memory.

“The murder of Emmett Till and the extraordinary courage of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, forever changed the course of American history,” DuBuclet said. “By allowing the world to see the brutality inflicted on her son, Mamie Till-Mobley forced the nation to confront the reality of racial violence and helped spark the modern Civil Rights Movement. As Congressman John Lewis once said, ‘Emmett Till was my George Floyd.’”

House Bill 4323 would add July 25 to Illinois’ list of commemorative holidays. While the designation would not close state offices, it would encourage schools, municipalities, elected officials, and community organizations to mark the day through education, reflection, and public programming.

Rep. DuBuclet said the measure is especially important at a time when there are active efforts to distort, minimize, or erase pivotal chapters of American history.

“At this moment in our country, we are seeing dangerous attempts to whitewash history and undermine truth,” DuBuclet said. “Emmett Till’s story is American history. It belongs to all of us, and it is our responsibility to preserve it and pass it on to future generations.”