Our 2025 Veto Session Priorities
Expanding Voting Rights in Illinois
Illinois has made progress in expanding access to the ballot box, but barriers remain—especially for young voters, voters with disabilities, and individuals who are incarcerated. These bills take the next step in ensuring that every Illinoisan has a fair chance to participate in our democracy.
Here’s how these bills expand voting access:
—HB 1445/SB 1650 Extended Voting on Public University Campuses ensures early voting hours and polling locations at student unions, making it easier for students to cast their ballots.
—HB 1444/SB 1649 Permanent Vote by Mail Expansion simplifies the process with a single checkbox, reducing confusion and ensuring more voters can reliably access mail voting.
—HB 1442 Curbside Voting Expansion makes voting more accessible for people with mobility challenges or health concerns.
—SB 1733 The RACE Act restores voting rights for incarcerated individuals, correcting a system that disproportionately disenfranchises young, Black, and low-income Illinoisans.
Email Your Lawmakers about the RACE Act.
Fair Car Insurance Rates HB 1252/SB 124
Illinois is one of only two states where regulators lack the power to reject excessive car insurance rate hikes. Insurers often rely on non-driving factors like credit score, education level, and gender to set rates, driving up costs for consumers in discriminatory ways. Every Illinoisan deserves affordable car insurance rates based on how they drive—not on who they are.
Why this bill matters:
—Stops insurers from using unfair, non-driving factors.
—Empowers the Department of Insurance to review and reject excessive rate hikes.
—Ensures fairer, more transparent pricing for Illinois drivers.
Tenant Fees Limitation Act HB 3564
Renters across Illinois face hidden and excessive fees that make housing less affordable. Landlords can currently charge both a move-in fee and a security deposit, as well as tack on charges for routine maintenance, lockouts, or even online portals. This bill limits unfair fees and requires transparency in lease agreements.
Here’s what the bill does:
—Eliminates junk fees that drive up housing costs.
—Allows landlords to charge either a move-in fee or a security deposit—not both.
—Requires all fees to be clearly disclosed in lease agreements.
Preventing Gun Violence: The RIFL Act SB 2279
Gun violence takes a devastating toll on Illinois communities, but firearm manufacturers have avoided accountability for their role in the crisis. The Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act creates a licensing system for firearm manufacturers, with penalties for violations and a fund to support victims of gun violence.
Why it matters:
—Holds firearm manufacturers accountable.
—Establishes the RIFL Fund to assist victims and cover related costs.
—Incentivizes the gun industry to make and sell products more responsibly
Protecting the Environment: Polystyrene Ban SB 1531
Polystyrene foam foodware is one of the most damaging single-use plastics—polluting land, water, and air, and breaking into small pieces that never fully decompose. This bill phases out polystyrene foam foodware in Illinois, with a ban beginning in 2030.
Why it matters:
—Reduces plastic waste and pollution across Illinois.
—Protects waterways, wildlife, and public health.
—Moves Illinois toward more sustainable packaging and environmental practices.