Chicago City Wire

Graciela Guzmán introduced SB2200 in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 7, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of assessment, property registered in perpetuity with the register of areas under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is considered to be encumbered by a public easement and shall be depreciated to a level at which its value is $5 per acre, and any improvement, dwelling, or other appurtenant structure present on that land shall be valued at 33 1/3% of its fair cash value. Provides that a conservation right on land preserving a habitat for plant and animal species that are native to Illinois (currently, State or federal endangered or threatened species or federal candidate species) is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit. Provides that a conservation right on land located adjacent to a park, conservation area, nature preserve, or other land or water area that is publicly owned or otherwise permanently protected for conservation purposes is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit if the conservation right on that land furthers the conservation purposes of the adjacent protected area. Effective immediately."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Property Tax Code in Illinois to revise the assessment of properties registered under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act or encumbered by conservation rights. It establishes that land registered in perpetuity is considered encumbered by a public easement, thus depreciating its value to $5 per acre, while any improvements or structures are valued at 33 1/3% of their fair cash value. Conservation rights on lands preserving native habitats or situated adjacent to protected areas are recognized as providing a public benefit. For taxation, such land will be valued at 3% of its unencumbered fair market value, and structures on it at 33 1/3% of fair market value. Additionally, lands can be deemed to provide public benefit, involving an application process with the Department of Natural Resources determining certification. This act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Graciela Guzmán has proposed another 16 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Guzman graduated from Grinnell College in 2011 with a BA.

Graciela Guzman is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 20th Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Natalie Toro in 2025.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB2200	02/07/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of assessment, property registered in perpetuity with the register of areas under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is considered to be encumbered by a public easement and shall be depreciated to a level at which its value is $5 per acre, and any improvement, dwelling, or other appurtenant structure present on that land shall be valued at 33 1/3% of its fair cash value. Provides that a conservation right on land preserving a habitat for plant and animal species that are native to Illinois (currently, State or federal endangered or threatened species or federal candidate species) is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit. Provides that a conservation right on land located adjacent to a park, conservation area, nature preserve, or other land or water area that is publicly owned or otherwise permanently protected for conservation purposes is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit if the conservation right on that land furthers the conservation purposes of the adjacent protected area. Effective immediately.
SB2201	02/07/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections annually shall collect and publish on its website specified data concerning Department of Corrections facilities. Provides that this data includes: (1) contraband found by facility; (2) substance use disorder treatment or educational programming data by facility; (3) emergency medical response and hospitalizations by facility; and (4) overdoses by facility.
SB2202	02/07/2025	Creates the Academic Freedom of Expression Act. Prohibits a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education from making or enforcing a rule subjecting a student to disciplinary sanctions solely on the basis of conduct that is speech or other communication that, when engaged in outside the campus or facility of the institution, is protected from governmental restriction by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Allows a student enrolled in a private postsecondary institution at the time that the institution has made or enforced any rule violating the Act to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by the court. Sets forth exceptions. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Grants the following powers to the Board of Higher Education: the power to adopt policies protecting academic freedom of speech; the power to support the Illinois Community College Board in developing its academic freedom of speech policies; and the power to establish and enforce rules requiring private institutions of higher education to develop and implement plans related to academic freedom of speech within a reasonable deadline. Amends the Public Community College Act. Grants the following power to the Illinois Community College Board: the power to create and enforce rules which ensure that all faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject where such freedom shall be extended within the confines of the course outcomes, degree or program requirements, and accreditation requirements; and the power to create and enforce rules which ensure that faculty members and students are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results.
SB2203	02/07/2025	Creates the Preventing Algorithmic Discrimination Act. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, a deployer of an automated decision tool shall perform an impact assessment for any automated decision tool the deployer uses or designs, codes, or produces that includes specified information. Provides that a deployer shall, at or before the time an automated decision tool is used to make a consequential decision, notify any natural person who is the subject of the consequential decision that an automated decision tool is being used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, the consequential decision and provide specified information. Provides that a deployer shall establish, document, implement, and maintain a governance program that contains reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to map, measure, manage, and govern the reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discrimination associated with the use or intended use of an automated decision tool. Provides that, within 60 days after completing an impact assessment required by the Act, a deployer shall provide the impact assessment to the Attorney General. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes.
SB2392	02/07/2025	Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Illinois Guaranteed Income Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall administer the Fund and provide grants to eligible entities for the purpose of operating pilot programs and programs, or "projects", that provide a guaranteed income to participants. Requires the Department to prioritize funding for projects that serve Illinois residents who: (1) are pregnant individuals or have become new parents in the last 3 years; (2) are facing homelessness or seeking shelter or transitioning to housing after a period of homelessness; (3) are formerly incarcerated and returning to the community, or supporting a formerly incarcerated family member who was released within a year of application; or (4) are enrolled in educational or vocational programs. Contains provisions on the methodology and manner of distributing grants; benefits counseling for individuals who receive guaranteed income payments; Department reviews and evaluations on the economic impact of the guaranteed income programs and projects; reporting requirements and the public posting of such reports; and other matters. Effective immediately.
SB2471	02/07/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning medical assistance for employed persons with disabilities and employed persons with a medically improved disability, provides that, subject to federal approval, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall eliminate income eligibility standards for such persons to the extent permitted by federal law and shall eliminate the consideration of assets when determining such persons eligibility for medical assistance to the extent permitted by federal law.
SB1846	02/06/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act and other people of all immigration statuses the same medical coverage for family planning and family planning-related services and supplies as provided under Article V of the Code to eligible persons who are United States citizens. Requires lawful permanent residents and other people of all immigration statuses to meet all other eligibility qualifications under the HFS Family Planning Program in order to be eligible for family planning and family planning-related services and supplies under the amendatory Act. Prohibits the Department from requiring eligible lawful permanent residents or other people of all immigration statuses to complete a mandatory waiting period as a condition of receiving family planning and family planning-related services.
SB1847	02/06/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions listing the classes of persons eligible for medical assistance, provides that, to the extent permitted by federal law, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall by rule eliminate the consideration of assets when determining eligibility for any program of medical assistance. Requires the Department to seek federal authority to disregard all resources, including real and personal property, as authorized by the flexibilities provided under a specified federal law or other available authorities. Provides that if adjustment or elimination of the asset limit results in any disadvantage to receiving medical assistance in a community setting, the Department shall adopt rules rebalancing the programs so that, where medical assistance is available in a community setting, a medical assistance beneficiary has free choice between receiving those services in the community or in a long-term care facility. Makes conforming changes by: (i) removing a provision that requires the Department to establish, by rule, the amounts of assets to be disregarded in determining eligibility for medical assistance; (ii) removing a provision that permits the Department to establish resource standards for pregnant individuals applying for medical assistance that are more restrictive than those resource standards established under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; and (iii) removing a provision that permits the Department to allow non-exempt assets up to $25,000 during periods of medical assistance eligibility for employed persons with disabilities and employed persons with a medically improved disability.
SB1857	02/06/2025	Amends the Survivor Support And Trafficking Prevention Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends eligibility for cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are preparing to file an application for T Nonimmigrant status or other specified nonimmigrant status applications. Removes a provision conditioning such assistance on the availability of funding. Removes a provision excluding from cash assistance and SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are single adults without family members. Removes a provision excluding from SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who reside in an institution or other setting that provides the majority of their daily meals. Effective immediately.
SB1858	02/06/2025	Creates the Privacy of Criminal Justice Data Act. Provides that each contractor or business that stores, maintains, or purchases criminal justice data for and from a State agency or unit of local government shall certify in the contract, under penalty of perjury, that the contractor or business will not share that data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or for civil immigration enforcement purposes. Creates the Criminal Justice Information Sharing Act. Provides that every contract with the State or a unit of local government to store, maintain, or purchase criminal justice information of this State or a unit of local government shall contain a provision in which the contractor certifies that it shall not share the criminal justice information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or for civil immigration enforcement purposes. Defines terms.
SB1859	02/06/2025	Creates the Climate Displacement Task Force Act for the purpose of making recommendations regarding climate displacement within the State. Contains provisions concerning the appointment of members to the Task Force and the duties of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to submit to the General Assembly an initial report delineating the Task Force's findings, conclusions, and recommendations by no later than June 30, 2026.
SB1860	02/06/2025	Creates the State Disability Ombudsperson Act. Creates the State Disability Ombudsperson within the Department of Human Rights. Provides that on or before July 1, 2026, the Ombudsperson shall offer training, outreach, and educational materials and may arrange for the offering of courses open to the public in disability services and training and related topics. Requires the Ombudsperson to provide a toll-free number available during business hours to provide information and resources under the Act. Requires the Ombudsperson to develop a process for receiving and reviewing complaints. Provides that if the Ombudsperson believes that a complaint has reasonable grounds to have been made, establish a procedure for referral to disability rights organizations, community-based services, and legal and courtroom advocacy if those services are requested or deemed adequate. Requires the Ombudsperson to submit an annual report to the General Assembly. Authorizes the Department of Human Rights to adopt rules to implement the Act. Makes other changes.
SB1995	02/06/2025	Amends the Personal Information Protection Act. Provides that a data collector shall not own, maintain, license, store, or disclose records that contain immigration or citizenship status information concerning an Illinois resident. Provides that the provision shall not apply to government agencies, public and private universities, or financial institutions. Provides that the definition of "personal information" includes immigration or citizenship status information. Defines "immigration or citizenship status information".
SB1996	02/06/2025	Creates the Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing in the Rental Housing Market Act. Provides that a real estate lessor, or any agent or subcontractor of a real estate lessor, shall not subscribe to, contract with, or otherwise exchange anything of value in return for the services of a real estate service provider. Provides that a real estate service provider shall not facilitate an agreement to not compete between real estate lessors with respect to residential dwelling units. Provides that a violation of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides for a private right of action. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change.
SB1997	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging and the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that, subject to and upon federal approval if required, on and after January 1, 2026, the hourly wage paid to direct service workers, including, but not limited to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers, who provide services under the Community Care Program and the Home Services Program shall be increased to a sufficient amount to sustain a minimum wage of $30 per hour.
SB1998	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Antitrust Act. Requires the Attorney General to consent to covered transactions of health care facilities before a covered transaction may take effect.
SB1521	02/04/2025	Amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, and continuing as long as funds are available, a person may apply for a rebate in specified amounts following the purchase of an electric bicycle in Illinois. Prohibits the rebate amount from exceeding the purchase price of the electric bicycle. Contains eligibility requirements. Requires a person who is awarded a rebate to retain ownership of the electric bicycle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. Provides that a person may apply for and receive a rebate only once in a 10-year period and that only one rebate may be awarded per person per electric bicycle. Contains other provisions.
SB1258	01/28/2025	Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that a health insurance issuer may not require prior authorization for: a prescription drug prescribed to a patient by a health care professional for 6 or more consecutive months, regardless of whether the prescription drug is a non-preferred medication pursuant to the patient's health insurance coverage; the following prescription drugs or the therapeutic equivalent approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration: insulin; human immunodeficiency virus prevention medication; human immunodeficiency virus treatment medication; viral hepatitis medication; estrogen; and progesterone; or human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; Truvada; Harvoni; Descovy; and Apretude.
SB1259	01/28/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in the State after June 1, 2026 to provide coverage for expenses for standard fertility preservation services and follow-up services related to that coverage. Defines "standard fertility preservation services" as procedures based upon current evidence-based standards of care established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or other national medical associations that follow current evidence-based standards of care. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately.
SB1260	01/28/2025	Repeals the Rent Control Preemption Act.
SB1261	01/28/2025	Creates the Community Land Trust Home Ownership Act. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority's homeownership programs, including loan products, grants, and other types of assistance, shall be made available to home buyers and owners seeking to purchase or maintain housing where a leasehold interest in real property is held by a community land trust or other 501(c)(3) organization for the purposes of promoting long-term affordability, preservation of affordable housing, or community revitalization efforts. Provides that any other type of seller, including for-profit or private sellers of homes, through leasehold agreements, such as installment contracts, contract for deeds, or any other type of purchase or ownership structure, shall not be eligible under the amendatory Act. Requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority, within 90 days after the effective date of the Act, to propose new or amended administrative rules that will make the Authority's homeownership programs consistent with the purposes of the Act. Effective immediately.
SB1298	01/28/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any program of study at a public institution of higher education that improves employability shall be considered equivalent to an acceptable SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program component, unless prohibited by federal law. Defines "public institution of higher education". Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Provides that rulemaking shall not delay full implementation of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.