SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led the charge to put an end to “resident dumping” – an inhumane practice in which a nursing facility discharges a resident and refuses to readmit them after a hospital stay.

"Resident dumping is a betrayal of trust at life's most vulnerable moment,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Seniors have made these places their sanctuaries, their communities and their final homes. To deny them return is to strip away their belonging, security and dignity when they need it most.”

To strengthen resident rights in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Lightford’s law will enhance the involuntary discharge process within these communities. If a resident leaves the facility for a medical reason – and would not create imminent danger to themselves or others – the facility will be required to let them come back home under House Bill 1597. 

“Resident dumping” affects thousands of nursing facility residents who are uninsured or underinsured, have a mental health condition, or have had to spend time in a hospital or rehab facility and find they’re not allowed back into their nursing facility.

“The true mark of a compassionate society is not how we care for the healthy, but how we protect those who depend on us most,” said Lightford.

House Bill 1597 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing that financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to maintain control over victims, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led a new law to prohibit collection agencies from collecting debt incurred through coercion.

"Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking should not be haunted by debts that were forced upon them during their trauma," said Lightford (D-Maywood). "We must prevent predatory collection practices that can re-traumatize survivors and hinder their path to recovery and independence."

Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking often face economic abuse in the form of a non-consensual credit transaction. This is a common tactic used to control a survivor’s financial freedom and self-sufficiency. Down the road – even if survivors are no longer surrounded by their abuser – they can face further financial trauma when a collection agency gets involved.

To prohibit collection agencies from collecting debt incurred through coercion, Lightford led House Bill 3352. Under the law, a victim of coerced debt will not be liable for the debt – but will rather submit a form to a collection agency outlining the debt came from coercion.

“Financial security is essential to breaking cycles of abuse and ensures that survivors aren't pursued for debts they never freely chose to incur,” said Lightford. “This is a positive step toward removing that significant barrier and allowing people to remove themselves from the effects of economic coercion.”

House Bill 3352 was signed into law Friday.

MAYWOOD — Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford announced that 14 school districts across the area will receive over $9 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Equitable funding promotes diversity and inclusion within education,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “With each round of equitable funding, we are bridging educational gaps and fighting against racial and socioeconomic inequities in access to resources and educational outcomes.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

School districts across the 4^th Senate District set to receive funding through the formula include:

• Region 6 West Cook ISC 2: $16,412
• Region 6 West Cook - Alternative Learning Opportunities Program: $5.7 million
• Berkeley School District 87: $210,979
• Bellwood School District 88: $214,481
• Forest Park School District 91: $715
• Lindop School District 92: $312
• Westchester School District 92-5: $25,583
• Hillside School District 93: $473
• Komarek School District 94: $37,177
• Western Springs School District 101: $1,294
• LaGrange School District 102: $52,000
• Lyons Township High School District 204: $4,000
• Proviso Township High School District 209: $3.3 million
• Butler School District 53: $420

The Fiscal Year 2026 budget invested $300 million in new funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 26 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

It was an honor to attend Aspire’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Worcester Community Home! Aspire continues to do incredible work, empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve independence and dignity. I am proud to support this mission and inspired to see what the future holds for this wonderful community.