Welcome to Senator Mike Simmons' Legislative Website

Simmons expansion to Jett Hawkins Act protecting religious hairstyles becomes law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons’ new law expands the 2022 Jett Hawkins Act to include protections for religious hairstyles in private schools throughout the state.

“We are expanding protections for students across Illinois,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This expansion ensures that individuals expressing their identity through religious hairstyles can continue in school without the fear of persecution.”

Simmons’ law requires private, non-religious schools to affirm they will not prohibit religious hairstyles or hair-related religious practices, including facial hair worn pursuant to a student’s or employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs, in order to register with the Illinois State Board of Education.

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Simmons announces new workforce training grants available to residents

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons is excited to announce the Illinois Workforce Pell, a new program expanding on federal Pell Grants that will allow eligible students to use grant funding for short-term workforce training programs aligned with in-demand occupations, is now accepting applications.

“Illinois is expanding access to workforce training opportunities that students and residents alike can use to gain valuable skills for high-demand jobs in our state,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Workforce development education is a great way to get into a field you are interested in, and I am proud to support a program that will continue to build talent here in our state.”

By extending Pell eligibility to shorter-term programs, Workforce Pell broadens access to a more affordable path to a recognized credential, tied to employer-validated, high-skill, high-wage or in-demand jobs across the state. Illinois developed a rigorous approval process to ensure participating programs meet high standards for quality, workforce alignment and student outcomes – protecting students while ensuring public investments support credentials with strong labor market value.

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Senator Simmons Statement on FY 27 Budget: Making Ends Meet But Key Reforms Still Needed

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget:

“While the Trump Administration makes life impossible for those who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, I’m proud that our budget ensures people can continue to access food when their federal SNAP is jeopardized due to new work requirements. No one in a country as rich as ours should be worried about how they will eat.

“For too many 7th District residents and folks across the entire state of Illinois, the dream of owning a home, building generational wealth, and establishing long-term stability has felt out of reach. I am proud to support investments that expand access to housing and help more families put down roots in their communities.

“This budget includes funding to support down payment assistance programs, making it easier for working families to become homeowners and helping address the housing shortages that continue to affect communities across our state.

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Simmons Passes Right of First Refusal for Tenants through the Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To help communities preserve naturally-occurring affordable, accessible housing and protect residents from displacement, State Senator Mike Simmons passed House Bill 957 which will provide tenants with the right-of-first-refusal to purchase a residential building for themselves should the owner put the building up for sale or try to initiate a sale. Specifically, a 90-day notice would be required to tenants from the property owner before accepting or listing a building sale.

“With rising costs of living and the influence of private equity, residents across Illinois are feeling the strain, and this measure gives them tools to keep their homes,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This legislation balances the need to expand and preserve housing with strong protections for property owners through the right of first refusal, fair valuation requirements, and a transparent acquisition process.”

For many families, seniors and working residents, the sale of their building can mean uncertainty about whether they will be able to remain in their homes. House Bill 957 aims to provide a path to preserve housing when multi-unit residential properties are put up for sale by giving tenants, qualified nonprofit organizations and local governments an opportunity to keep those units affordable for current and future residents.

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