Lightford minimum wage increase begins Jan. 1

SPRINGFIELD – Minimum wage earners statewide will see a $1 per hour increase on Jan. 1 under a law spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) that was signed in February to gradually increase Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 by January 2025.

“Many working families have waited for this increase for almost a decade,” Lightford said. “I stand firmly on the belief that workers deserve a decent wage and I am committed to standing with them as we continue the fight for a living wage.”

The next increases in the law will be implemented as follows:
• $10 per hour on July 1, 2020
• $11 per hour on Jan. 1, 2021
• $12 per hour on Jan. 1, 2022
• $13 per hour on Jan. 1, 2023
• $14 per hour on Jan. 1, 2024
• $15 per hour on and after Jan. 1, 2025

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Illinois Legislative Black Caucus “Get Counted” Bus Tour promotes participation in the 2020 Census across Chicagoland

• Black Caucus
• Census 2020

CHICAGO- Senate Majority Leader and Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Chair Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) joined her fellow ILBC members, Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton and other community leaders across Chicago and the suburbs on Saturday for a bus tour to make communities aware of the importance of the upcoming 2020 Census.

“Historically, people of color have been undercounted during the census process, a shortcoming that has left our communities without proper funding for vital resources and put a strain on state budgeting,” said Lightford. “My colleagues and I are working on reaching those hard-to-count populations in order to ensure that Illinois does not lose out on billions in federal funding or representation in Congress.”

Overall, Illinois has committed $29 million in this year's budget to prepare and execute the census in Illinois. This is the largest per-person investment made in any state in the nation. The resources are going directly to outreach and education, with grants to community organizations across the state engaged in this work, particularly in hard-to-count communities. The executive order signed by Gov. Pritzker also established a Census Office within the Department of Human Services to lead this effort and a Census Advisory Panel to guide its work.

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Lightford leads discussion on new cannabis law

• Event
• Cannabis
• Town Hall

BROADVIEW – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) held an educational town hall on cannabis and led the discussion in partnership with Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson on the implementation of the new Illinois cannabis law that goes into effect on Jan. 1.

The town hall covered the legislative, business and law enforcement perspectives of legalizing cannabis and gave residents a chance to have their questions answered.

“Mayor Thompson and I wanted to bring information on the new cannabis law to make sure our local communities understand how they can get involved in the new industry, and if they choose to, how to use cannabis within the restrictions in the law,” Lightford said.

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Lead Hazard Reduction Home Improvement Program

• Consumers