This spring, Access Living staff worked tirelessly to advance a range of Illinois legislative initiatives focused on people with disabilities. Together with our community members, we pushed forward on several topics that push the boundaries of how society treats us. We passed three bills, helped successfully stop another, and are in active discussions about the policy pathways for the rest. Below, we summarize our work this spring.
Legislative Wins
SB 9/SB 1950: Passes House, stalled in Senate. End of Life Options Act. Introduces a process for physicians to prescribe lethal medication for those expected to live six months or less. Access Living opposes this bill, so its failure to pass both chambers this session is a win. This bill is expected to see a continued push by proponents.
SB 1524/HB 2397: Passes in both chambers, will be sent to Governor for signing into law. Eddie Thomas Act. Requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to collect data pertaining to its use of hospice/end of life care services for terminally ill people who are incarcerated.
HB 2337: Passes in both chambers, will be sent to Governor for signing into law. Outlawing FAPE Waivers. In mediation settlements, families are often asked to sign prospective Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) waivers as a condition of the settlement agreement. These waivers prevent families from seeking legal remedies in the future for education service claims unrelated to present mediation.
HB 2537. Passes in both chambers, will be sent to Governor for signing into law. Assessing Graduation Readiness. Many students and families are not aware of their right to continue to receive IEP Services via high school through the age of 22. This bill ensures that the during the transition planning process the IEP team (including student and family) weigh the benefits and downsides of graduating at 18 vs. staying in school and continuing to receive IEP services, including life skills and career planning, through age 22.
Where We Will Continue to Fight
HB 2364/SB270: Did not pass. Flat funding instead included in FY 26 budget package, no increase. Funding for Illinois Independent Living Centers. Provides just over $16 million in DHS-DRS funding for independent living centers (including Access Living), to update funding for Illinois’ only network of disability-led centers providing peer support, services and advocacy for people with disabilities in every county.
HB 1568/SB 2471: Did not pass, but key concepts under negotiation. Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD) Eliminates asset and income limits for participants in the HBWD program, allowing greater financial independence while providing access to Medicaid health/home services. We are working with Illinois Healthcare and Family Services to create legislation which phases out these limits while limiting fiscal impact.
HB 3853: Stalls in Judicial Civil Committee. The Protective Medical Equipment Freedom Act. Enshrines the rights of individuals to wear protective medical equipment in places of public accommodation without discrimination or retaliation. Amendments to address stakeholder input are under discussion.
HB 1810/SB 1395: Stalls in Public Safety and Infrastructure Appropriations Commitee. Issue under discussion with the State of Illinois. TABE Waiver in IDOC. Creates a waiver exemption for the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) in prisons in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), for people with an intellectual disability. Currently, if a person cannot score at a six-grade level or higher on the TABE, they may be blocked from programs that help them earn “good time” on an equivalent basis with non-disabled persons in IDOC.
HB 1783: Bill under further discussion with LEAD-K leaders and other stakeholders. Lead K: Language Acquisition for Deaf Children Under 6. Seeks to ensure a foundation for English literacy skills for kindergarten readiness for all DHH children by having full access to language at every stage of life. Allows parents to have their child evaluated in either English or American Sign Language (or both) to determine their English literacy skills for kindergarten readiness.
Related Legislative Efforts
Access Living works with a wide range of coalition partners and allies on many issues that affect people with disabilities. We are thankful for the leaders who pushed on the following issues, all of which will require ongoing advocacy:
Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA). Access Living is a member of both the Healthy Illinois Coalition, and the Illinois Coalition on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). Together, both coalitions fought to stop the State’s termination of HBIA, which serves immigrant adults ages 42-64, who are otherwise uninsured. Unfortunately, the final state budget package does not include HBIA, which means it will end on July 1. Advocates will be working to address the human rights health crisis that will ensue.
Transit Governance and Funding. Northeastern Illinois transit agencies (Chicago and the surrounding areas) face a $770 million budget hole that could lead to significant service cuts and price increases. Despite working on a transit package to deal with governance reforms and funding, Illinois state legislators could not get it passed at the eleventh hour. Access Living will be monitoring this policy effort closely this summer and fall to ensure people with disabilities do not lose transportation options.
Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) Home Modifications Program. The state budget for next year includes $3.7 million for this program. The INCIL home mods program was an important legislative win a few years ago and is already making a difference in the lives of disabled people who want to live at home. Our advocacy efforts are strong because they are rooted in our community. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts to receive updates to stay informed on key bills and opportunities to advocate. Want to get more involved? Reach out to us directly at advocacy@accessliving.org to get plugged into specific campaigns that align with your passion and lived-experience. Our policy staff and organizing staff are always here to connect, collaborate, and support you in building a more just and accessible Illinois.