Toro encouraged by investment in early childhood, housing in budget proposal

SPRINGFIELD — After hearing the governor’s budget address, State Senator Natalie Toro is hopeful that the proposed investments in early childhood education and housing will help address issues she observed when she worked as a teacher in her district.

“As a kindergarten teacher, many students would come to my classroom unprepared or behind some of their peers because they were not able to attend Pre-K due to the cost, or they didn’t have access to children’s books growing up,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “Financial barriers to early childhood education can set kids back years in their educational development. I am proud of our governor’s commitment to giving all children in Illinois a fair chance with these investments in early childhood education.”

The proposed budget includes an additional $75 million for ISBE Early Childhood Block Grants, $13 million to launch the Department of Early Childhood, and $3.5 million to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library early childhood literacy program. It also includes $200 million to fund Early Childhood Workforce Compensation Contracts, as well as $36.5 million to expand access to the Child Care Assistance Program.

In addition, the proposed budget allocates $180 million to support new arrivals to Illinois. A granddaughter of immigrants and advocate for better supports for migrants, Senator Toro is thrilled about this commitment, making the proposed total investment from state, city, and county funds $320 million. The Senator is also supportive of the proposed $10 million investment in a program to erase medical debts totaling an estimated $1 billion in relief for more than 300,000 Illinois households, recognizing the burden high medical bills place on Illinois families.

• Housing
• Early Childhood Development
• Budget

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Toro to mitigate gentrification in 20th District with tax relief legislation

SPRINGFIELD — To assist long-term homeowners from being priced out of their neighborhoods, State Senator Natalie Toro has introduced legislation that would expand eligibility for the long-time occupant homestead exemption.

“Historic communities should not be disrupted because of greed,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “This measure will give established homeowners more opportunity to keep their homes, preserving communities that have been cornerstones for generations.”

Under Toro’s measure, the threshold for qualifying for the long-time occupant exemption would be lowered, allowing more homeowners to benefit. Currently, homeowners must experience a property assessment increase exceeding certain percentages to be eligible for the exemption. Senate Bill 2845 would lower these percentages from 10% to 5% for households earning between $75,000 and $100,000, and from 7% to 3% for households earning $75,000 or less. The property must also be occupied for 10 continuous years or 5 continuous years if the person receives assistance to acquire the property as part of a government or nonprofit housing program.

• Housing

Read more: Toro to mitigate gentrification in 20th District with tax relief legislation

Toro advocates for gender inclusivity in civil law

SPRINGFIELD — To protect people’s access to their property regardless of their gender identity, State Senator Natalie Toro’s latest initiative would implement gender-neutral terms in certain sections of civil law.

“LGBTQIA+ people deserve to feel seen and represented in all spaces, including in our state laws,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “With this simple language change, more Illinoisans will not have to worry about restrictions to accessing their property should they change their gender identity or if they are in a same-sex marriage. This is a long time coming to make Illinois a more inclusive state.”

Senate Bill 2777 replaces terms like “husband” and “wife” with “spouse,” “married couple” and other gender-neutral alternatives in sections of civil law related to property. This would remove legal ambiguities when preparing real estate documents and ensure compliance with the state’s same-sex marriage law.  

By using gender-neutral terms, the legislation would make the legal code more inclusive to nonbinary, intersex and gender-nonconforming individuals and those in same-sex relationships. A fierce ally for the LGBTQIA+ community, Toro is proud to use her platform as a senator to advocate for this and other measures that support this community and deconstruct heteronormative statutes.  

“As a teacher, my classroom was a safe space for young people to discover their identities and be accepted and supported by their peers. Now as a senator, I will use my privilege and responsibility as an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community to fight for a world that is more accepting,” said Toro. “People may not think a slight change in rhetoric is significant, but this bill is shaking the foundation of language that has historically excluded LGBTQIA+ people. Normalizing gender-neutral language is essential to supporting our LGBTIQA+ siblings, and I am honored to be a part of this historic change.”

Senate Bill 2777 awaits further discussion in the spring legislative session.  

• Gender inclusivity

Toro pushes for rent control to combat rising housing crisis

SPRINGFIELD — As rent prices continue to skyrocket, State Senator Natalie Toro is working to keep Illinoisans in their homes by implementing rent control policies to better protect tenants.  

“Fifty percent of renters in my city are paying more than 30% of their income in rent, leaving little leftover for other essential expenses,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “We need to fight to keep families in their homes, and I look forward to spearheading the initiative to do so.”  

Rent control limits the amount a landlord can raise a tenant’s rent at the end of their lease, which is usually tied to the rate of inflation. With gradual rent increases that are common under rent control, tenants are able to stay in their homes for multiple years. However, the General Assembly passed the Rent Control Preemption Act in 1997, which prohibits local governments from passing rent control ordinances. This legislation has resulted in rent prices rising at exponential rates that outpace any increases in residents’ wages, making rent a larger financial burden for households and frequently forcing relocation.

Senate Bill 3484 would repeal the Rent Control Preemption Act, allowing local governments to begin adopting rent control policies. With rent control in practice, the nearly 1.6 million tenants across the state who live in rental properties will no longer face radical increases when renewing their lease, providing them more housing and financial stability. 

“Rent control will protect tenants from experiencing financial hardship that could uproot them from their communities,” said Toro. “I am proud to work to reinstate this life-changing measure in our state to help ease the financial burden on our working families.”

Senate Bill 3484 awaits further discussion in the spring session.

• Housing
• Rent Control