Welcome to Senator Kimberly A. Lightford Legislative Website

Lightford celebrates five years of Juneteenth being an official state holiday

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly five years ago, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford made history when she championed legislation making Juneteenth an official Illinois state holiday. As the state marks that milestone anniversary, she is renewing her call for residents to celebrate the day and reflect on its profound meaning.

Lightford spearheaded House Bill 3922 in 2021, enshrining June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day – a state holiday and a recognition that Black history is American history. This year, she is building on that legacy by encouraging communities across Illinois to honor the holiday's roots and its ongoing relevance.

“Juneteenth being a state holiday reminds us that freedom and racial equality have always been a hard-fought battle for Black Americans,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This day gives everyone an opportunity to celebrate Black culture, Black achievements and learn more about Black history.”

The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation – more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed it in 1863, freeing the last enslaved people in the United States.

Over the past five years, Juneteenth has grown far beyond the celebration of emancipation, evolving into a statewide and national tribute to Black arts, culture and the enduring legacy of the civil rights movement.

“The struggle for our people to achieve full equity in Illinois and across the nation continues still to this day,” Lightford said. “Juneteenth recognizes our accomplishments, our achievements and our culture, and reminds us that our fight is not over.”

For a full list of Juneteenth events in the communities Lightford represents, click here.  

Your Spring Session Update from Leader Lightford

Dear neighbor,

Continuing our commitment to making Illinois the best place to live, work and raise a family, my colleagues and I recently passed our eighth consecutive balanced budget. The Fiscal Year 2027 budget prioritizes affordability for working families, funding education, supporting violence prevention programs and reducing food insecurity for those in need. 

As I return home for the summer months, I want to give you an update on important funding in this year’s budget, legislation I worked on this spring and things happening around the 4^th District.

As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office by sending us a message online or calling 708-632-4500.

Sincerely,

Kimberly A. Lightford

Senate Majority Leader | 4^th District

Budget Update

I was proud to stand in support of a budget that makes strategic investments into early childhood education and after school programs, and continues our promise of the evidence based funding model – ensuring every student has access to quality resources and opportunities. This is a spending plan that shows a child’s education journey starts the moment they are born.

However, as a state, we must remember it doesn’t end the moment they graduate high school. I am disappointed by the lack of commitment to fund our higher education systems in a more fair and equitable way. Education isn't just one stage of life. It's a continuum – from early childhood through college and beyond. We need to fund it that way – which is why I will fight for the higher education equitable funding model throughout the summer and next session.

I fought tirelessly for the equitable funding formula throughout this session and I won’t give up. Despite education’s paramount importance, the disparity in funding among higher educational institutions remains dreadfully evident. This imbalance not only undermines the principle of equal opportunity but also hampers our collective progress as a society.

The time to pass the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act is NOW. Click here to hear my remarks.

There were still a number of budget wins for a variety of topics, including:

Food Security

• $50 million to hire 450 additional staff and update eligibility determination systems for SNAP and Medicaid to comply with federal changes regarding eligibility and work requirements
• A one-time EBT payment to help mitigate the immediate risk of hunger for individuals who were already SNAP recipients but lost benefits due to changes in federal requirements
• $2 million for the Illinois Grocery Initiative

Health Care

• An additional $118 million for safety net hospitals
• Continued funding for the Medical Debt Relief Program, which has erased over $1.1 billion in medical debt for over 500,000 residents
• $22 million to support reproductive health care initiatives through community-based providers, and maintains funding for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program

Violence Prevention and Public Safety

• $2 million to support two new Illinois State Police cadet classes and train 100 additional sworn troopers
• $111 million for the Reimagine Public Safety grant program
• $5.6 million for the implementation of the Clean Slate Act, which will assist with sealing past criminal records

Affordable Housing

• $100 million for the Middle Housing Infrastructure Grant Program
• $50 million for the Opening Doors Program to assist first-time homebuyers with closing costs and the SmartBuy program to help eligible homeowners pay off student loan debt

Early Childhood Education

• Includes funding to officially launch the Illinois Department of Early Childhood Education
• $200 million for Early Childhood Workforce Compensation Contracts
• $55 million increase for the Child Care Assistance Program
• $30 million increase for early intervention programs

K-12 Education

• Continues the state’s commitment to the evidence-based funding model and restores the property tax relief grants – bringing the total to an additional $350 million for K-12 education
• Continues funding for career and technical education programs
• $1.5 million for computer science education to promote equitable access to coursework
• $1.5 million for the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan
• $15 million to school districts for the fourth year of the Teacher Vacancy Grant Program
• $35 million for after-school programs

Higher Education

• $721 million for Monetary Award Program (MAP) funding
• MAP is expected to serve more than 21,000 additional students this year than it did in 2019
• $3 million for PELL grants
• $300 million for universities and $100 million for community colleges for renovations and deferred maintenance
• $2 million for the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) program
• Continues funding to support dual credit and non-credit workforce community college programs

Legislative Update

I was proud to pass a number of bills that are now awaiting final consideration from the governor, including:

Senate Bill 3222: Brings new rules to Illinois' hemp market and delivers long-overdue improvements to the state's cannabis laws for patients, small businesses and social equity licensees

House Bill 5024: Prohibits the federal government from operating a new immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of certain locations, including schools, day care centers, cemeteries, public parks, public housing, private residences and places of worship, ensuring the chaos and trauma residents across Broadview faced during Operation Midway Blitz does not occur across other Illinois communities

Senate Bill 2524: Allows an individual who presents documentation from a doctor stating they have an intellectual disability while applying for – or renewing – a driver’s license to have a designation put on their ID card

Senate Bill 2913: Requires that if a school district and teacher cannot reach agreement at the bargaining table, and there is no collective bargaining agreement that includes or incorporates by reference a student growth component in the teacher evaluation plan, the student growth component must be removed entirely

House Bill 4911: Allows financial institutions to disclose suspicions of financial exploitation to trusted contacts, co-owners, beneficiaries, or known family members of the account holder, and place a temporary hold on transactions when exploitation is reasonably suspected

House Bill 5284: Mandates private health plans in the state cover the medically necessary evaluation and treatment of menopause and perimenopause conditions, including hormone conditions and medications

Senate Bill 2987: Strengthens the state's abuse investigation framework, which includes establishing that intentionally delaying or withholding an allegation to the Office of the Inspector General hotline for the purpose of interfering with an investigation constitutes a Material Obstruction of an Investigation finding.

For years, I have been working with the Family Justice Resource Center to pass the Protecting Innocent Families Act. Thanks to their dedication and hard work, House Bill 3169 PASSED this session! The bill enhances transparency and procedural safeguards in Illinois Department of Children & Family Services investigations. By reinforcing due process and accountability, the bill responds to longstanding concerns about disproportionate impact on vulnerable families, including families of color and families whose children have complex medical conditions.

 

Resources and grant opportunities

Important SNAP changes

The federal administration’s changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program took place May 1. This means some customers may have already lost benefits if they are not meeting new work or volunteer requirements.

It’s not too late to protect your SNAP benefits! First, complete the screener to see if you are impacted.

If you need to find a way to qualify, through work, volunteering or training programs, the Illinois Department of Human Services has resources available.

Know your rights

No matter your status — you have rights in Illinois. From asking questions to when to stay silent, knowing your rights can protect you if approached by ICE. Find resource toolkits, free and low-cost immigration legal services and family emergency plans at illinoisimmigrationinfo.org.

Summer grocery help

If you have school-aged children, you may be eligible for grocery assistance this summer. Summer EBT offers families $120 for each eligible child to purchase groceries. You can receive this benefit even if your child is getting free meals at summer school or camp. Learn more and apply.

Check your Medicaid status

Are you or a family member using Medicaid? Make sure you stay covered by checking your mail for annual Medicaid renewal notices and completing your renewal right away. Click “Manage My Case” at abe.illinois.gov or call 1-800-843-6154.

Remember: Illinois will never ask you for money to renew or apply for Medicaid. You can report scams to the Medicaid fraud hotline at 1-844-453-7283.

ILBCF scholarship application still open

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation has extended the deadline for accepting applications for the 2026 ILBCF scholarship to June 12! Students who are enrolled at a public two- or four-year college or university in Illinois are eligible and encouraged to apply today.

LIHEAP applications open

Eligibility for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program has opened for non-senior applicants! LIHEAP helps eligible households pay for home energy services, including help with heating gas, electricity and propane. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until Aug. 15, 2026, or until funds run out. Go to Find my Local Agency to locate your LIHEAP Local Administering Agency.

Lightford: Illinois is sending a clear message that we will not stand for federal immigration operations compromising our residents’ quality of life

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford passed a measure through the Senate to ensure federal immigration detention centers cannot be constructed, operated or located within 1,500 feet of protected locations – such as schools, day care centers, places of worship and private residences.

“Protecting areas where children and families frequent from federal government overreach is imperative for community safety,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Through this measure, Illinois is sending a clear message that we will not stand for federal immigration operations compromising our residents’ quality of life.”

House Bill 5024 comes in light of federal immigration activity and enforcement that began in late 2025 in Broadview – a community Lightford represents – where Illinois’ only immigration detention center is located. Residents and immigrants detained in the Broadview Processing Center recounted inhumane conditions, poor ventilation and cramped cells, as well as civil rights violations, such as a lack of access to lawyers, leading to a plethora of protests led by community members outside the facility.

Lightford’s proposal would prohibit the federal government from operating a new immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of certain locations, including schools, day care centers, cemeteries, public parks, public housing, private residences and places of worship, ensuring the chaos and trauma residents across Broadview faced during Operation Midway Blitz does not occur across other Illinois communities.

“As the federal government continues their attempts to ensue pandemonium in residential and community areas, lawmakers in Illinois are going to take a stand to protect our constituents,” said Lightford. “Our communities are meant to provide us with feelings of support and security, but we cannot ensure the safety of our residents if the federal government can come into our neighborhoods and place detention centers on any available corner.”

House Bill 5024 passed the Senate Monday and heads to the governor’s desk for final approval.

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Lightford: A child’s education journey starts the moment they are born

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement in response to the passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget:

“I was proud to stand in support of a budget that makes strategic investments into early childhood education and after school programs, and continues our promise of the evidence based funding model – ensuring every student has access to quality resources and opportunities. This is a spending plan that shows a child’s education journey starts the moment they are born.

“However, as a state, we must remember it doesn’t end the moment they graduate high school. I am disappointed by the lack of commitment to fund our higher education systems in a more fair and equitable way. Education isn't just one stage of life. It's a continuum – from early childhood through college and beyond. We need to fund it that way – which is why I will fight for the higher education equitable funding model throughout the summer and next session.”