SPRINGFIELD – To remove barriers to unhoused residents, State Senator Mike Simmons passed into law the removal of notary fees to obtain a state ID.

“With no form of legal identification, unhoused individuals cannot access housing, jobs, or transit and this law will help,” said Simmons. “This bill makes it one step easier to obtain state identification, which in turn means folks will have quicker access to jobs, transportation, and housing.”

Prior to this law, application fees for standard Illinois state IDs are waived for unhoused individuals, but their application must be accompanied by a notarized affirmation. This is a difficult task for individuals with little financial resources, as notary fees can cost up to $25.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure bikes are properly defined in Illinois, State Senator Mike Simmons’ new law aligns the definition of bicycles in Illinois.

“As an avid bike rider myself, I know how many people use our pathways every day for work, exercise, and enjoyment,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “When someone rides their bike in our communities, they can now be confident of their safety and legality.”

Simmons’ passed into law Senate Bill 2285, which expands the definition of bicycles to include low-speed electric bikes alongside any human-powered device, which will allow for expanded complete streets planning for all using bikes.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons held his 5th annual Pride Press Conference on Wednesday at the historic Gerber Hart Library and Archives in Rogers Park, the largest independent, non-profit, LGBTQ+ library in the Midwest. As the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Illinois Senate and in a time where LGBTQ+ individuals and communities are facing unprecedented discrimination and threats to human rights, his press conference focused on LGBTQ+ mental and physical health, youth, safety, and creating safe spaces. Participants included over 45 local elected officials, advocates, business owners and organizations.

“It is so important that everyone does more than just talk about programs and policies that protect and support the LGBTQ+ community,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We must continue to push for our dreams to become a reality - where schools and their administrations are inclusive of queer youth, where queer authors thrive, and where queer people are represented in all spaces in society.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons hosted a Transportation and Budget Town Hall on Wednesday for community members and residents with questions and feedback regarding the state’s budget and the future of transportation in Illinois.

“It was a tough session in the legislature with many issues to address and a tight budget. Nonetheless, I am proud of the many bills we passed, and the progress we have made in addressing the transit fiscal cliff and junk fees for renters,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Regarding transit, Illinois faces a once in a lifetime opportunity to reform and fund our statewise transit systems, and improve reliability, accessiblity, and safety on our buses and trains,” said Simmons (D-Chicago).

During the town hall, Simmons highlighted key investments within the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, including a $1 million increase in funding for violence prevention programs in the 7th District, $22.5 million for Parent Mentors and Ladders of Opporunity, and increased funding for safety net hospitals in the 7th District just to name a few.