SPRINGFIELD – To remove barriers to unhoused residents, State Senator Mike Simmons passed into law the removal of notary fees to obtain a state ID.

“With no form of legal identification, unhoused individuals cannot access housing, jobs, or transit and this law will help,” said Simmons. “This bill makes it one step easier to obtain state identification, which in turn means folks will have quicker access to jobs, transportation, and housing.”

Prior to this law, application fees for standard Illinois state IDs are waived for unhoused individuals, but their application must be accompanied by a notarized affirmation. This is a difficult task for individuals with little financial resources, as notary fees can cost up to $25.

Under Simmons’ law, Senate Bill 1173, no fee will be charged for any notarial act related to the execution of an IL SOS Driver Services Homeless Status Certification form and that a notary public cannot charge a fee for any notarial act related to the execution of that form.

“When a person is facing housing insecurity, a seemingly small fee can be the difference between continued hardship or stability,” said Simmons. “This bill makes it one step easier for folks to get an ID and get back on their feet.”

Senate Bill 1173 was signed into law on Friday and takes effect.