On Thursday, December 14^th we held our Legislator Awards to honor the Illinois lawmakers who sponsored ACLU led initiatives to protect and advance civil liberties over the past few years.  

The Awards celebrated efforts from 2021-2023 to advance abortion rights, provide updates to schools and education policy, protect youth in the DCFS system, reform our criminal legal system, enhance LGBTQ+ rights, and address emerging issues of technology and privacy. Retired legislators were also honored for their signficant work during their tenure in Springfield.

The award recipients for the evening were:

2021 Legislation

• SB 818: Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Sen. Ram Villivalam and Rep. Camille Lilly for ensuring students across Illinois receive sexual health information and education to lead healthy lives.
   

• SB 2323: Prohibited Restraints
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Sen. Sara Feigenholtz and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit for ending the use of restraints to transport youth in the care of DCFS.
   

• HB 370: Youth Health and Safety Act
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Rep. Anna Moeller and Sen. Elgie Sims for removing barriers for young people to make reproductive healthcare decisions.
   

• HB 1063: Decriminalize HIV
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Rep. Carol Ammons and Sen. Robert Peters for reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination by removing criminal penalties for Illinoisans living with HIV.
   

• HB 2553: Protecting Household Privacy Act
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Rep. Ann Williams and Sen. Cristina Castro for limiting access to household data collected by smart devices.
   

• HB 3653: SAFE-T Act
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Rep. Justin Slaughter, Sen. Robert Peters, and Sen. Elgie Sims for increasing standards, accountability, fairness and transparency in policing and criminal justice.

2023 Legislation

• HB 1596: Gender Inclusive Child Welfare Statute
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Sen. Lakesia Collins and Sen. Mike Simmons for amending various child welfare and juvenile court statutes to reflect more gender inclusive language.
   
• HB 2542: Remove the Bar for Name Change
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Bill Cunningham for removing name change waiting periods and bans to help gender-expansive people and survivors of human trafficking live safer lives.
   
• HB 3425: Amendment to Anti-Bullying Law
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Rep. Margaret Croke and Sen. Sara Feigenholtz for expanding protections and resources available to address the needs of students harmed by bullying.
   
• HB 4664: Patient and Provider Protection Act
  The ACLU of Illinois honors Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Celina Villanueva for increasing protections for people who seek and provide reproductive and gender-affirming care in Illinois.

Civil Liberties Champions

• Sen. Toi Hutchinson (Served 2009-2019)
  The ACLU of Illinois congratulates Sen. Toi Hutchinson for your advocacy on reproductive and LGBTQ rights and access, workplace fairness for pregnant employees, cannabis legalization and commitment to civil liberties.
  Chief sponsor of ACLU legislative initiatives:

  • HB 1958: Ban the use of Restraint on Pregnant Prisoners (2011)

  • HB 8: Workplace Fairness for Pregnant Employees (2014)

  • HB 5576: Illinois Contraceptive Coverage Act (2016)

  • HB 1785 Vital Records Modernization Act (2017)
     

• Sen. Melinda Bush (Served 2013-2023)
  The ACLU of Illinois congratulates Sen. Melinda Bush for your advocacy in expanding rights and access to full reproductive healthcare, increasing protections for women and the LGBTQ community and drug sentencing reform
  Chief sponsor of ACLU legislative initiatives:

  • SB 25: Reproductive Health Act (2019)
     

• Rep. Greg Harris (Served 2006-2023)
  The ACLU of Illinois congratulates Rep. Greg Harris for your civil liberties commitment and advocacy in expanding and protecting rights and access for LGBTQ, DCFS involved and under-resourced communities.
  Chief sponsor of ACLU legislative initiatives:

  • SB 1716: Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (2010)

  • SB 10: Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (2013)

  • HB 1785: Vital Records Modernization Act (2017)

  • SB 1851: DCFS Managed Care Services (2018)