Update on our 2025 legislative agenda

While details varied, the stories from our experts in Springfield had one thing in common: this is a unique year to advocate for economic and racial justice at the state level. With potentially disastrous federal funding cuts on the horizon and a president with a personal vendetta against blue states, the mood in the capital is cautious.

Despite the challenging climate, our advocates are working tirelessly to win support for our agenda, which envisions a state where everyone can thrive. Some bills, like the one to decriminalize homelessness, are being ironed out and could face a vote in both chambers before the session closes.

Meanwhile, our efforts to advance our budget priorities like the expanded child tax credit, are just ramping up. Our advocates expect budget negotiations for fiscal year 2026 to be a potential rollercoaster. If last-minute federal cuts come through after the state budget is approved, lawmakers and advocates may be forced to return to Springfield for an emergency session. While it’s impossible to predict how the budget will play out, we’re ready to meet the moment.

➡️Read our full legislative agenda.

Here’s a look at where our Illinois legislation stands.

In Negotiations

SB 2264: Stop crime-free housing and nuisance ordinances (CFNOs)
Sponsored by Sen. Karina Villa
Eliminates unfair penalties and evictions of tenants based on alleged criminal or nuisance activity, which can include calling the paramedics in a health emergency. CFNOs lead to instability and homelessness. Banning them would protect tenants and keep people in their homes.

☑️ Status
The bill passed out of the executive committee on a partisan roll call in March. The Illinois Municipal League, which represents local governments across the state, is the bill’s biggest opponent. We’re currently working alongside the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Coalition to hammer out a good faith agreement with the IL Municipal League.

HB 1429: Stop increasing criminalization of homelessness
Sponsored by Rep. Kevin John Olickal
Provides a statewide response to the Supreme Court decision in June 2024 on Johnson v. Grants Pass. The ruling paved the way for local governments to criminalize homelessness and arrest people, even when no alternative shelter is offered. This bill would restore pre-Grants Pass protections by allowing local governments to enforce trespassing ordinances that don’t specifically target unhoused populations. Municipalities would be required to give individuals seven days’ notice before having to relocate.

☑️ Status
This bill passed out of the housing committee in March with over 700 witness slips. As of this writing, #1429 has picked up a number of cosponsors. Amendments are currently being drafted. Regardless of whether the bill advances, we’re encouraged by its growing base of support. In most cases, it can take years of work in the Illinois Capitol to get bills through the finish line.  

📝Side note: You may have, on occasion, received requests from the Shriver Center and other advocacy organizations to sign witness slips in support of Illinois bills. Having advocated in Springfield for years, we can assure you they really make a difference on the state level, where a single phone call to a district office can change a lawmakers’ mind. Your support makes a difference!

Budget items

The Shriver Center is calling for these provisions to be funded in fiscal year 2026. We’re prepared for a challenging budget cycle, due to uncertainty surrounding federal cuts and a projected $1 billion state budget deficit. The Shriver Center and our partners have identified equitable revenue solutions (outlined below) to fund our progressive priorities. The money is there, if the wealthiest people and corporations pay their fair share.

Restoring Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA)
Restore funding for this essential program in fiscal year 2026. HBIA gives Medicaid-like coverage to undocumented low-income adults ages 42 to 64. Three years ago, we won a hard-fought battle to pass HBIA, a huge step toward getting every Illinois resident access to quality health insurance.

☑️ Status
The federal attacks on immigrants have put a target on these programs, making some state legislators hesitant to support HBIA. The threat of looming federal cuts gives some members an added excuse not to back the program.

The creation of HBIA three years ago has taught us that our state is stronger when every person has access to care. It creates healthier and more financially stable families and communities. Illinois has an interest in restoring HBIA because it saves lives and relieves a health system overburdened by emergency room visits from uninsured people who cannot afford to pay out of pocket.

➡️ Get involved with our campaign partners Healthy Illinois to support our mission

SB 753: Amending the child tax credit
Sponsored by Sen. Omar Aquino
Ensures that all households with low income, including those with caregivers and people with disabilities, receive a per child tax credit. By no longer tying the child tax credit to earned income, the amended benefit will give cash to more low-income families to use as they see fit.

☑️ Status
The amendment was always intended for the final revenue package because it requires a change in tax law. It was introduced as a standalone bill to demonstrate strong support among lawmakers. While this was introduced in the senate later than we would have hoped, SB 753 has gathered momentum, and we will be in a strong position when negotiations begin.

HB 3162 & SB 2403: Home for Good
Sponsored by Rep. Jay Hoffman and Sen. Bill Cunningham
A transformational legislative proposal to stabilize communities by funding housing and transition services for people reentering society after serving prison sentences. Formerly incarcerated individuals face barriers to housing and employment that put them at risk of homelessness and further involvement in the criminal-legal system. Home for Good would support formerly incarcerated people through long-term rental subsidies and an expansion of affordable housing units. It would also provide technical assistance to housing-related reentry programs and offer individuals wraparound services, including access to case managers and housing navigators. Home for Good is modeled after two pilot programs in Illinois that show how supporting this population can reduce recidivism and facilitate reintegration into society.

☑️ Status
This is a multi-year effort that will require several tranches of funding. In this budget, we’re asking for $103 million to launch the program.

➡️ Send two letters to your lawmakers in less than a minute showing your support for Home For Good

➡️ Read the factsheet

➡️ Read op-ed by State Rep. Maurice West and Arne Duncan

HJR 18 & SJR 22: Equitable Revenue Policies Illinois Families Need to Thrive
Sponsored by Rep. William Davis and Sen. Karina Villa
Working with the Illinois Revenue Alliance, the Shriver Center has come up with a host of common-sense solutions to fund our progressive agenda, from expanding the child tax credit to restoring Medicare-like coverage for immigrant adults. The money won’t be raised on the backs of working and low-income people but by getting the rich and powerful to pay their fair share. Our proposals include imposing a billionaire wealth tax and a tax on digital ads for big tech. The Illinois Revenue Alliance also calls for increasing capital gains taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents and closing corporate loopholes on offshore tax shelters. Our full suite of revenue solutions would raise up to $6 billion and create a more equitable state.

➡️ Read our factsheet about how progressive revenue can help our communities thrive

Continuing the fight

A number of our agenda items will not be advancing this year. One Fair Wage, which seeks to end subminimum wages for tipped workers, continues to face fierce opposition from the restaurant industry. More work is needed to increase public awareness about Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) so that lawmakers understand why constituents need the ability to take extended time off to care for a loved one without losing their job. Other issues, like easing zoning restrictions for people on conviction registries, require more narrative change to reduce stigma and address public safety concerns. Our advocates will be working throughout the year to build support for our progressive policies.

Get involved

We can’t do this work alone. Here are some actions you can take to support progressive change in Illinois.

➡️ Call your legislators and tell them you support our active bills and budget items. State lawmakers receive far fewer calls than their federal counterparts. A call to a lawmaker’s district office in support of our agenda items will get noticed.

➡️ Stay connected. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Those are the best places to learn about our advocacy and participate in campaigns to build narrative and political power to advance economic and racial justice.

➡️  Make a donation today to sustain this fight.