Belt's plan to provide financial assistance for utility bills passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that would allow water and sewer utilities to provide an additional financial assistance program passed the Senate on Friday.

“Financial assistance policies for electric and gas services exist in Illinois, but not for water and sewer services,” Belt said. “Many families spend a large percent of their monthly income on utility services. It’s important we extend the policies to include water and sewer, especially for those who struggle to pay their bills.”

The legislation would create the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund, authorizing the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to make payments directly to the utility providers on behalf of qualified customers. The fund is financed through the opt-in program. One-third of the available funds will go to the households with the lowest incomes. Older adults and people with disabilities will also be prioritized.

Utility providers can choose to opt in to the program, managed by DCEO, to ensure low-income residents’ water and sewer services are available and affordable.

“Utility services, like water and sewer, are the least people should be able to count on if they’re living in a home, but low-income customers often face the burden of not being able to afford their monthly utility bills,” Belt said. “This measure provides stability to those who need it.”

House Bill 414 passed the Senate with a vote of 57-0. It awaits a concurrence vote in the House.

Belt measure to address inequities in the state’s hiring process passes

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that seeks to remove barriers to getting hired by the state of Illinois for minorities and marginalized people passed the Senate on Thursday.

“Women, people with disabilities, African American and Latino individuals, and all minorities have the right to the same opportunities that other people have in the workforce,” Belt said. “This legislation identifies the issues minorities face when applying to work for the state, and breaks down the barriers to fair hiring.”

The measure would require the Illinois Department of Central Management Services to identify policies that make it harder for minorities and marginalized people to get hired by the state of Illinois and to seek legislation to address systemic racism in the state’s hiring practices. Each state agency would also increase diversity on interview panels in order to better employment opportunities for women and minorities. In addition, the legislation encourages CMS and other state agencies to review current personnel policies to remove any and all language that is discriminatory from their books.

“Diversity is essential to ending systemic racism, and this is a necessary step in the right direction,” Belt said. “The measure addresses the issues minorities and marginalized people face during the state hiring process.”

House Bill 3914 passed the Senate with a vote of 53-0.

Belt advances plan to ensure shelters have feminine hygiene products

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) to require homeless shelters to prioritize the purchase of feminine hygiene products for all who need them passed the Senate Tuesday.

“This seems like a small issue, but it is really a question of dignity,” Belt said. “Ensuring that people who have already been deprived of so much can count on these essential products is a kindness that costs very little.”

The measure prioritizes providing feminine hygiene products at all homeless shelters to people who need them at no cost.

According to a recent NBC report, feminine hygiene products, such as tampons and pads, are some of the least donated items for homeless people in this country, despite being a highly requested item.

“People have been forced to find other items to use in place of these hygiene products,” Belt said. “That’s undignified at best and potentially harmful to their health at worst, and we should do something about it.”

On average, the United States spends more than $2 billion on feminine hygiene products each year. Purchasing these products can become a significant financial burden, especially for people with children, who make up 60% of the female homeless population in the United States.

Belt is also urging people to donate these types of products to their local homeless shelters.

House Bill 310 passed the Senate with a vote of 56-1.

Belt measure to help build sidewalks along state roads passes Illinois Senate

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that would require the Illinois Department of Transportation to provide funding to create additional infrastructure passed the State Senate on Tuesday.

The measure would require IDOT to fully fund all aspects of construction projects on state roadways, including infrastructure for pedestrians walking and bicycling within one mile of a city or town. Additionally, the measure requires IDOT to complete any of these unfinished infrastructure projects in municipalities with a population of 1,000 or more.

“Many towns and cities in Illinois simply cannot afford to finish these projects.” Belt said. “If the state is funding a roadway project, it needs to also pay for the sidewalks and bike lanes along the roadway.”

Currently, IDOT covers 100% of the roadway construction, but requires 20% of costs associated with pedestrian infrastructure projects, like sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes, to be funded by the municipality where the project is located, which can be a large burden for some cities – particularly lower-income communities. 

“When these projects go unfinished, nobody benefits, and taxpayer money is wasted,” Belt said. “Many communities have large commuter populations who walk or bike. When a sidewalk or bike lane isn’t finished, people can’t get to work and school safely.”

According to the Metropolitan Planning Council, the states that cover 100% of state roadway projects, including pedestrian infrastructure, include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Massachusetts, Delaware, and New Jersey. 

House Bill 270 passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 56-1.