2025 Legislative Issues

We need to ensure that regardless of what happens on the federal level, here in Illinois we are guided by our community’s values. That means investing in neighborhood schools, supporting the most vulnerable, improving public safety, working toward improved fiscal stability and resilience and maintaining access to reproductive healthcare. Your voice matters – please reach out to me anytime to provide feedback and share your priorities.

MOVING ILLINOIS FORWARD

Ann is working hard to take the steps necessary to shelter Illinois residents from the continued instability and erratic governance in DC – and will continue to move Illinois forward in line with our shared priorities.

ENSURING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE

Ann will continue fighting to ensure access to reproductive healthcare in Illinois despite increased efforts to limit our rights to basic bodily autonomy on all fronts. Ann was a critical part of efforts to shore up Illinois law so that when Roe fell, abortion would remain safe and legal in Illinois. As state after state imposes cruel, draconian policies on the right to abortion and reproductive healthcare, Ann is working to ensure that people in Illinois – including those who seek refuge here – are able to make their own healthcare decisions and exercise their right to live freely without government interference.

PROTECTING DATA PRIVACY IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

Ann is taking the lead in Illinois to protect our most personal private data – including health data – and introduced the Health Data Privacy Act to restrict access to our healthcare data and prohibit entities from sharing or selling it without express permission. Additionally, she sponsored

legislation to limit out of state law enforcement from using Illinois Automated License Plate Reader data to enforce criminal penalties on women seeking abortions in Illinois or based on a person’s immigration status. This summer, in what seemed like an episode of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Illinois was able to rely on this law to restrict access to ALPR data after Texas police illegally obtained it to track down a woman who sought abortion care here.

WORKING TO CREATE SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSIT

Transit continues to be a top priority for Ann, as the future of our transit system hangs in the balance. Chicago needs – and its residents deserve – safe, clean and reliable transit options. The stakes are high as many rely on the CTA every single day and others would choose to utilize public transit if it were convenient, safe and comfortable to use. Ann remains committed to fixing our broken transit system and making it one we can be proud of – in Chicago and beyond. She continues to stand with our community in pushing for the necessary governance and policy reforms and a responsible revenue package to support transit – with a goal of reimagining and elevating our transit system.

LEADING ON CLEAN ENERGY AND OUR ENVIRONMENT

As a leader in the clean energy space, Ann is working with environmental advocates, community activists and industry stakeholders to enhance the reliability of our energy grid and invest in new clean energy resources such as battery storage and geothermal energy. Following the passage of the nation-leading Climate and Equitable Job Act (CEJA) in 2021, Ann has doubled down on efforts to combat the escalating climate crisis and accelerate our ability to meet CEJA’s renewable energy goals, require utilities to increase energy efficiency programming, and explore decarbonization options for both buildings and the transportation sector. As energy costs are expected to rise, Ann will continue her focus on ensuring the long-term stability of our grid and keeping costs down for consumers.

FY26 STATE BUDGET

This Spring, the Illinois General Assembly passed a balanced budget that used our shared values as a foundation – prioritizing public education, supporting critical human services and investing in communities – while pushing back on the dangerous and reckless policies of the Trump administration.

In the face of the economic instability coming out of Washington, we balanced the budget with a combination of cuts and progressive revenue sources, while maintaining our focus on long-term fiscal responsibility and economic growth for Illinois. We directed more savings to the Rainy Day fund. And we passed a difficult budget without raising property, income or sales taxes.

With the uncertainty ahead on the federal level, the budget provides tools to ensure that we are able to address crisis points in real time as the actions of the current administration wreak havoc on communities most in need, jeopardize public health and safety and put other important federal regulations in limbo.