SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura presented an initiative to assist local governments with the transition to zero emission vehicles by creating a grant program to the Senate Appropriations committee on Wednesday.

“As we continue to work on the goals set forth for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, we need to provide financial avenues to assist local governments with the transition toward zero emission vehicles,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “If enacted, this legislation will help local governments not only be environmentally friendly, but also cost-effective and save taxpayers money in the long run.”

Under a law Ventura led last year, Senate Bill 1769, state owned passenger vehicles, except for law enforcement vehicles, must be either a manufactured zero-emission vehicle or a converted zero-emission vehicle by Jan. 1, 2030.

After conversations to root out hurdles with local governments on how to expand zero emission transitions, Ventura realigned the need to help local government overcome the financial hurdles of accelerating the transition.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura led a new measure through the Senate Judiciary committee that would allow county boards to make county-owned property available for public use.

“Expanding the definition of public use to save future buildings can help protect historic, scenic, or architectural sites for the public,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). "The state should be assisting local governments with repurposing these sites to better serve the community in a new capacity."

Senate Bill 2651 would allow a county to maintain, restore or reuse places of architectural, historic or scenic significance and allows them to lease or license county-held property to public or private entities for up to 99 years including for athletic purposes or for a museum.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect renters from additional rental payment transaction fees, State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced legislation that would require landlords to be more flexible with payment options.

“As rent costs have skyrocketed across the country, residents are struggling to make ends meet and these transaction fees imposed on them by their landlord can add up quickly,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Some leases require 2-3% of rent to cover processing fees which adds a lot to an already high rent. By requiring landlords to also accept cash or check we help save Illinoisans from this unnecessary cost.”

House Bill 4206 would require landlords to allow tenants to make rental payments by delivering a paper check or cash to the landlord or their business office if the landlord uses a third-party payment portal to collect rent and has a transactional fee or other charge imposed through the portal on the rental payments.

JOLIET – Following the city of Joliet’s decision to ask IDOT to allow temporary Route 53 access for the three warehouses that NorthPoint has built, State Senator Rachel Ventura released the following statement:

“Over the last seven years, NorthPoint developers and more recently the city of Joliet have requested temporary access to Route 53, residents across the district have routinely been against it due to environmental concerns and the significant increased traffic that would come.

“I echo my colleagues’ concerns regarding the developers’ lack of tangible solutions to deal with the increased truck traffic that would directly impact residents’ daily life. There needs to be accountability for the promises this developer has made. I encourage IDOT to deny temporary access and enforce the initial developer’s plans.

“I am committed to continuing to work to stop this decision in order to properly assess the project and end a request that would put profit over people. Many residents have vehemently opposed the project for years and we need the city of Joliet to listen to them.”