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Feigenholtz brings gender-inclusive language to real estate law

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Friday, May 09, 2025 03:31 PM
  • Feigenholtz
  • HB 1083
  • Gender-Inclusive Language
  • Real Estate Law

Feigenholtz HB1083SPRINGFIELD — Continuing her efforts to protect the dignity and rights of LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz advanced legislation this week to update Illinois’ property laws with gender-neutral language.

“I’m proud of what Illinois has done to support the LGBTQ+ community, from updating our marriage laws with gender-neutral language to easing barriers to name changes,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “House Bill 1083 continues this critical work of ensuring Illinois’ laws give people the freedom to live as their true, authentic selves.”

Current law only references property transfers between a husband and wife, which has led to lengthy delays in real estate transactions for same-sex couples and transgender individuals in Illinois. Feigenholtz’s proposal addresses this problem by revising state law to refer to married couples with gender-neutral language, giving clarity to title companies and ensuring same-sex couples do not face barriers to acquiring or transferring property.

Read more: Feigenholtz brings gender-inclusive language to real estate law

Feigenholtz: We can rebuild our city’s vibrant, thriving downtown economy

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Friday, May 09, 2025 01:43 PM
  • Feigenholtz
  • HB 2757
  • Chicago Dowtown Revitalization Task Force

041125CM0050rSPRINGFIELD — Like large urban centers throughout the country, downtown Chicago faces critical challenges coming out of the pandemic as people make different decisions about how and where they live, work, dine and play — something State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is working to change.

“With hybrid workforces, evolving consumer habits and low office occupancy rates across the central business district, Chicago is in need of a united revitalization effort,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “By carefully examining what other cities have done to bounce back from post-pandemic challenges, we can creatively and sustainably rebuild our vibrant, thriving downtown economy.”

Feigenholtz is working to create the Chicago Downtown Revitalization Task Force. The task force would study factors impacting long-term growth in Chicago’s central business district and recommend innovative policies to enhance economic activity, attract travelers and investments, and increase the overall vitality of the city’s central business district.

Read more: Feigenholtz: We can rebuild our city’s vibrant, thriving downtown economy

Feigenholtz champions measure to protect Chicago restaurants

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Thursday, May 01, 2025 09:12 AM
  • Judiciary
  • Feigenholtz
  • Restaurants
  • HB2456

Sen. Feigenholtz

SPRINGFIELD — Third-party restaurant ‘booking’ services have cropped up in foodie destinations recently, including Chicago. Scooping up restaurant reservations and reselling them on an auction-style platform with the promise of exclusivity is a new trick. In response, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a bill aiming to protect Illinoisans from these price-gouging tactics. 

“Restaurants operate on the slimmest of margins to keep prices competitive and attract customers,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “When bad actors try to turn a profit using a restaurant’s name and likeness without consent, owners are left scrambling with no-shows, eroding trust in the culinary industry.”

Read more: Feigenholtz champions measure to protect Chicago restaurants

Feigenholtz champions plan to study, improve safety on DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Thursday, April 10, 2025 05:37 PM
  • Traffic Safety
  • DuSable Lake Shore Drive
  • UIC Urban Transportation Center
  • SB1507

feigenholtz 041025SPRINGFIELD — After repeatedly hearing from concerned community members and traffic safety advocates about vehicle crashes and fatalities along DuSable Lake Shore Drive, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a plan to address safety concerns on one of Chicago’s busiest traffic corridors.

“In just five years, DuSable Lake Shore Drive has seen over 16,000 crashes with 59 deaths and over 4,000 injuries,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “Traditional speed cameras that just ticket people don’t address the root problem. We need safety solutions that accomplish more by truly changing drivers’ behavior.”

Read more: Feigenholtz champions plan to study, improve safety on DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Feigenholtz works to connect schools, families with one-stop shop for youth mental health care

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Wednesday, April 09, 2025 06:53 PM
  • Mental Health
  • Students
  • Feigenholtz
  • SB 1560

SB1560Committee4

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois teachers and families would have better tools to identify behavioral and mental health needs for youth to connect them with community-based supports under a measure led by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz.

“My focus has always been on prioritizing behavioral health care and social services that reinforce our commitments to Illinois children and families, and this legislation continues that important work,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “This initiative will help teachers connect students with school-based supports but also create stronger pathways to behavioral health care and services at home and in the community.”

Feigenholtz has worked alongside members of the Illinois Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, led by Dr. Dana Weiner, since 2022. Feigenholtz sponsored and passed the Interagency Children’s Behavioral Health Services Act in 2023, paving the way for the new BEACON portal, a centralized online platform for Illinois children and families seeking mental health services. Through BEACON, youth and caregivers can find services they qualify for, manage health records securely, receive real-time updates and request additional case support.

Read more: Feigenholtz works to connect schools, families with one-stop shop for youth mental health care

Feigenholtz advances measure to expand leave for short-term teachers

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Tuesday, March 04, 2025 06:08 PM
  • Education
  • Educators

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a measure that would allow short-term teachers to take family and medical leave.

“Illinois has been tackling the ongoing teacher shortage for years – and this is another step in the right direction,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “We should be encouraging people to become educators, not holding them back.”

Senate Bill 1584 would permit the Illinois State Board of Education to make rules allowing for extensions to short-term approval licenses if the licensee has taken leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act during the time they were licensed under short-term approval.

Read more: Feigenholtz advances measure to expand leave for short-term teachers

Feigenholtz honored with LGBTQ+ bar association award

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Friday, September 20, 2024 02:30 PM
  • Feigenholtz
  • LGBTQIA+ Support
  • Lawyers for Diversity Advocate Award

feigenholtz 092024CHICAGO — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz was recognized Thursday with the Advocate Award at LAGBAC’s Lawyers for Diversity celebration for her decades-long work in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The privilege I have of working alongside the LGBTQIA+ legal community cannot be understated,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “Standing alongside the passionate, sharp minds of the legal community and the street fighters and activists who got us here has been nothing short of breathtaking.”

Feigenholtz has been a career-long advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She has consistently worked to prevent gender- and sexual identity-based discrimination, secured millions in HIV/AIDS prevention funding, strengthened Illinois’ hate crime laws, protected reproductive freedom and access to gender-affirming care, modernized inclusive language on birth and marriage certificates, expanded adoption protections for same-sex couples and more.

Read more: Feigenholtz honored with LGBTQ+ bar association award

DCFS scholarship expansion signed into law, thanks to Feigenholtz

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 01:20 PM
  • Feigenholtz
  • DCFS Scholarship
  • SB3180

feigenholtz 081324SPRINGFIELD — To help youth formerly in DCFS care achieve their higher education goals, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz spearheaded a new law providing scholarship recipients with greater flexibility in how they use the funding.

“By incentivizing diverse career paths, we’re making it easier for students to receive assistance as long as they are in good standing and working toward a degree, certificate or graduation,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This flexibility supports greater access to higher education opportunities for former youth in care across our state.”

Read more: DCFS scholarship expansion signed into law, thanks to Feigenholtz

More Articles …

  1. Governor signs Feigenholtz’s Business Improvement District legislation into law
  2. Chicago could soon benefit from Business Improvement Districts, thanks to Feigenholtz
  3. Feigenholtz seeks to modernize oversight of financial institutions
  4. Feigenholtz advances Business Improvement District legislation
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