State agencies to support gender inclusivity under Simmons law
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SPRINGFIELD – To increase gender inclusivity across the state of Illinois and within state agencies, State Senator Mike Simmons championed a new law that will support state employees who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming by integrating them into the state's diverse workforce initiatives.
“This law will ensure our state’s workforce reflects the diversity of our population,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Recognizing and respecting every identity in the workforce is basic common decency, and everyone deserves to feel seen and supported by the field they want to enter.”
The new law adds state employees who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming to the list of women, minorities and persons with physical disabilities in regards to agencies tracking this information to help guide efforts to achieve a more diversified state workforce.
“Recognizing gender non-conforming and non-binary people in our state government and state agencies is the first step to promoting inclusivity and bringing different perspectives to the table,” Simmons said.
House Bill 2297 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect on July 1, 2025.
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Simmons laws to make crossings safer for pedestrians and cyclists
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SPRINGFIELD – To increase the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, State Senator Mike Simmons successfully championed a set of new laws to require permanent vehicle crossing signs to be added to bike trails and created a task force to monitor the impact of local bicycle and pedestrian plans.
“Last summer we lost the lives of two children, on two separate occasions, to cyclists’ accidents in our community,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We want our residents to feel safe by providing them with the security of increased protections for pedestrians and cyclists to prevent heartbreaking tragedies like we experienced last year.”
Senate Bill 1710 requires bike trails to have warning signs along the path warning pedestrians and cyclists of a vehicle crossing at least 150 feet in advance. The new law ensures cyclists on a trail have ample warning to know when to slow down and stop before a busy intersection. Permanent signage on state roadways warning vehicles of bicycle trail crossings also must be added within 150 feet of a trail crossing so vehicles can yield. Signs to warn cyclists of other trail hazards, damage to the trail, and maintenance of the trail will be installed.
Additionally, House Bill 2131 creates the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force to help reduce bicycle accidents on roads by reporting detailed analysis of existing practices around speed limits, the reduction of speed limits, the steps to eliminate vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle fatalities on roads, and their lasting impact.
“We can prevent bicycle injuries and accidents by following the rules of the road and watching out for each other,” Simmons said. “I am happy to see these initiatives go into effect to make roadways and bike trails safer for everyone.”
Senate Bill 1710 and House Bill 2131 were signed into law on Friday and go into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
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Simmons attends White House meeting to create safer communities and reduce gun violence
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CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons joined senior White House and Department of Justice officials virtually to discuss the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and how federal and state governments can work together to implement the act to reduce gun violence.
“Gun violence plagues the communities of Illinois and beyond. My colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to advocate against gun violence and are aggressive in passing legislation to save lives and rebuild communities,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I am ready to take the work we have done here in Illinois to the next level. We need to implement strong, consistent policy to get weapons of war off our streets and save lives.”
In Illinois, legislative leaders have passed the Protect Illinois Communities Act, legislation cosponsored by Simmons which places a ban on assault weapons and increases the duration of a Firearm Restraining Order from six months to up to one year. Simmons has proactively worked to reduce gun violence and make communities safer in the Senate by chief-cosponsoring House Bill 4383 and House Bill 4729. Both bills were signed into law last year, one which banned ghost guns and the other which developed a statewide safe gun storage public awareness campaign.
Simmons partners with community advocates including Moms Demand Action - Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady United Against Gun Violence, Giffords PAC, and survivors of gun violence from his district to build out and fight for sensible gun laws. Last year, Simmons hosted a People’s Legislative Council on Gun Violence to listen to constituents’ lived experiences and bring their voices into the legislative process.
“Action is needed at all levels of government to contain the gun violence epidemic. I plan to build on my track record of fighting for and advancing sensible gun legislation while centering the advocacy and needs of my constituents here in the 7th district. Collaborating with the White House and other state leaders to fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is an important step forward in reducing gun violence and saving lives.”
Simmons attended the virtual White House Meeting with States on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Implementation Friday.
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Senator Simmons Attends White House Convening on Child Care, Upcoming Traveling Office Hours, Summer in the 7th District
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General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons
Dear Neighbor,
Happy Summer everyone! The last few weeks have been a productive and amazing time back in our district. Several key bills I passed were recently signed into law by Governor Pritzker, including what is now a public law that removes cost barriers for liver disease screenings, another that removes renewal requirements for transit benefits for people living with disabilities and seniors, and another new law requiring air-conditioning in state-supported affordable housing among other key bills.
We’ve hosted myriad events in the district and joined community stakeholders for many more events in our neighborhoods. We resumed my People’s Legislative Councils in late June convening 7th District residents living with disabilities to talk about their lived experiences and legislative needs. We hosted my third annual Pride Press Conference with grassroots leaders and elected officials from across our district to call out the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ hate we’ve seen and to celebrate LGBTQ+ people and our history, we rolled out our brand new Traveling Office Hours initiative in Bowmanville and will be doing the next one in Rogers Park next week. And just this week, I traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the White House Convening on Child Care Access, where I and 91 statewide elected leaders and state-level legislators met with White House senior staff to discuss policy proposals to increase access to quality child care and better support working parents and their children. I was thrilled to be invited to this convening and to lift up the needs of our 7th District households in securing access to affordable childcare.
Read on for key legislative updates, recaps of 7th district events we’ve hosted, and a smattering of upcoming community events and resources available to you.
Sincerely,
Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District
Legislative Updates
White House Convening on Child Care
Caption: Senator Mike Simmons attends the White House Convening on Child Care, joining legislators from 41 states to discuss policy proposals to expand access to affordable child care.
Caption: Senator Mike Simmons poses with State Senator Samra Brouk from New York at the White House Convening on Child Care.
Caption: Senator Mike Simmons joins legislators in a break out group at the White House Convening on Child Care.
I was invited by the White House to attend the White House Convening on Child Care on Wednesday morning to meet with the Biden-Harris Administration and 41 state leaders from across the country. We collectively brainstormed policy ideas to increase access to high quality, affordable childcare for working households. I was especially proud to lift up the needs of 7th District single moms who participate in my People’s Legislative Council initiative, which has directly informed several bills I’ve introduced and carried in the Senate. Amplifying the needs of our district at the national level was a tall honor. I met several likeminded state legislators from around the country who are also fighting hard for proposals like a permanent child tax credit, paid leave for struggling parents (which we got passed this January thanks to the advocacy of 7th District moms!), better pay for child care providers, and other solid legislative ideas that help parents better care for their children.
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