Advocacy Team
Good News and Urgent Action Alerts
Access Living friends and allies,
We are now less than 48 hours from the expected finish line for the spring session of the Illinois legislature. We’d like to share some good news and ask for help taking action on two items. Read on for more.
Legislative Accessibility Act Passes Both Chambers: We are thrilled to share that SB 180, the Illinois Legislative Accessibility Act, has made it through both the House and Senate! There was an amendment added in the House that needs agreement from the Senate, but we expect that SB 180 will ultimately be sent to the Governor for his signature. Many thanks to everyone who supported SB 180, including our legislative champions Representative Ann Williams and Senator Robert Peters. This is an important step forward to improving accessibility with our legislature!
Increasing Availability of Home Modifications Supports: Access Living and our disability/veterans colleagues have been working to ask for $7.5 million in funding for a home modifications program to address gaps in services across the state. Our primary method of action has been through HB 1587. The process has shifted and we are now asking for the funds to be included in budget implementation (known to legislative wonks as the BIMP). Please help us fight for this funding by sending an email to your legislators at this link.
Increase Funding for Developmental Disability Services in Illinois: Our friends at the Going Home Coalition are calling on advocates to remind our legislative budget leaders that we need their help to improve investment in developmental disabilities services. Although there is currently some investment, we want legislators to know how incredibly important this is to people with developmental disabilities across Illinois. Send an advocacy email at this link!
Please share these urgent action items with fellow advocates in Illinois. Thank you!