Gov. J.B. Pritzker Tuesday signed four bills developed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus aimed at improving economic equity for all Illinoisans, but especially those from disadvantaged communities. 

Pritzker said the bills take significant steps to address various ways in which Illinoisans are withheld from economic opportunity and success. 

“It’s easy to see the terrible consequences of systemic racism in economic access and equity of opportunity, but it’s another thing to actually do something about it. Together these four bills mark significant progress in our efforts to close the racial gaps and eliminate barriers that have for too long unfairly held Black and Brown Illinoisans back. … This pillar advances our common vision for quality and inclusion by recognizing and addressing communities that have historically been cut out of the conversation,” the governor said Tuesday at the bill signing at Union Baptist Church in Springfield. 

The four bills are the following:

 - 101-SB1480 (Belt), which prevents employers from disqualifying jobs applications with a criminal record unless it specifically relates to the job. It also requires larger employers to obtain equal pay certificates from the Illinois Department of Labor, certifying they provide equal pay on the bases of gender, race, and ethnicity. 

- 101-SB1608 (Belt), the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act, which aims to incentivize safe lending in low- and moderate-income communities. It also updates the state’s procurement code to ensure the state is finding diverse candidates for contracting and procurement.

- 101-SB1792 (Belt), which prevents pay-day lenders from charging more than 36 percent interest on loans. 

- 101-SB1980 (Belt), which allows felony offenders to live in federally subsidized housing. It also creates new standards for public housing authorities who are screening tenants. 

“Communities of color have waited for far too long for this kind of economic equity reform. It is long overdue,” House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Westchester) said in a statement. “This is a monumental step toward our mission of addressing systemic racism by expanding economic access and opportunity. I applaud Governor Pritzker and the advocates who fought for this critical legislation and I look forward to continue to work on bringing about economic equity in the lives of all Illinoisans.”

Taking questions from reporters, Black Caucus Chair Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago) said the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 spurred the Black Caucus to take issues of equality seriously and pass legislation by the end of the 101st General Assembly. 

“You guys are shocked because you didn't know we could do it. You didn't know that we can stay together in unity and work as hard as we can, because it was never acknowledged over the years. So the whole idea that we rushed it through or it was done in a short period of time -- it’s absolutely not true. A lot of work, a lot of hours were spent. [There was] a lot of involvement from people all across the state. … Now I understand why I have been so angry at the system. I clearly understand why I leave here every year with billions of dollars in a state budget that I voted for, but the impact, we never feel in our communities,” she said. 

Allison F. Richard

Legislative Consultant