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.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura spearheaded legislation that would create a grant for local governments to help mitigate the impact of climate change to tackle growing emission rates from automobiles and trucks.

“Escalating emissions from transportation and fossil fuel sources demand urgent attention. The state should aid local governments in any capacity they can to tackle the deterioration of the planet,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “By creating this grant opportunity and encouraging local governments to plant native trees and grasses, which are proven to help mitigate climate change through carbon capture, we can aid the process of healing our planet for future generations significantly.”

Scientific research underscores the efficacy of native grasses and trees in carbon capture. In response to these pressing needs, this bill endeavors to establish a grant program tailored for local governments.

The Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act would require the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to establish a grant program for local governments to restore degraded forests and prairies, encourage planting trees and grasses along roadways to help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and address flooding and prevent snow and dirt drifts.

Under the grant program proposed, local governments would be able to use the funds towards local projects restoring or expanding forests, wetlands, prairies, or other natural landscapes demonstrated to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as well as education and marketing regarding local projects or steps community members may take to promote the growth of native vegetation that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

"Encouraging our local governments to play an active role in mitigating climate change is essential right now," said State Representative Hoan Huynh (D-Chicago). "It will take all of us to beat climate change, and establishing the Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program will allow us to better protect our environment. I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to continue to confront this challenge."

If passed, Ventura encourages all local government to apply and consider lining their roadways with trees and native grasses where applicable.

Senate Bill 2781 passed the House Energy & Environment Committee on Tuesday and now heads to the House floor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to expand clean energy infrastructure across Illinois, State Senator Rachel Ventura is leading an initiative that would allow local government to apply for loans through the Illinois Finance Authority Climate Bank.

“By offering low-rate loans to local government, the state will not only save taxpayers money in the long run, but also address and tackle the effects of climate change head on,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Local governments who want to invest in green infrastructure or environmental educational programs would be able to do so with this loan. We need every level of government to make drastic improvements and changes to mitigate the effects of climate change.”

Senate Bill 3597 would allow units of local government to apply and obtain a loan from the Illinois Finance Authority Climate Bank to build, purchase, remodel or improve clean energy infrastructure.

After the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act passed in 2021, cities in Illinois were allowed to borrow funds from the Climate Bank. Between 2022 and 2023, the IFA/Climate Bank has mobilized approximately $627 million in private capital for climate finance projects, including water quality infrastructure, solid waste management and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy projects.

Currently, units of local government borrows from the bond market, but by borrowing from the Climate Bank, they will receive a lower interest rate, saving all taxpayers money.

In 2023, the first full year of IFA's designation as the Climate Bank, it mobilized $256 million for climate finance purposes. In early April, IFA/Climate Bank became a sub awardee of a $5 billion national federal award to the Coalition for Green Capital through the USEPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) of the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, IFA/Climate Bank submitted/participated in at least nine federal funding applications/awards. To date, they have received $60 million in federal funding awards, with more anticipated.

"Good-paying jobs, environmental sustainability and long-term economic growth are at the heart of the clean energy goals Illinois lawmakers have been pursuing for years, and this measure is another step toward making those goals a reality," said House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston). "In addition to financial benefits, communities across our state will get the benefits of preserving our environment, a responsibility we have towards future generations who deserve a natural world they can enjoy."

Senate Bill 3597 passed the House Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee on Tuesday and now heads to the House floor for further consideration.