State Senator Celina Villanueva

06/03/2026

Over the last three years, I have come to know Jesus Emmanuel Alvarez, a young man whose story is equally as devastating as it is inspiring. Jesus’s mother, Karina, and sister, Daniela, were killed by his father in a domestic dispute involving a firearm in 2023, sparking the creation of Karina’s Law. Now, Jesus’ father has passed from stage-four cancer before his family’s case could be taken to trial.

Jesus is one of the bravest people I’ve ever met, stepping up in the midst of so much uncertainty to ensure no other family has to endure the pain that his did. His courage during one of the darkest periods of his life is just one of the many reasons I’m proud to know Jesus, and I’m thankful this reign of trauma in his life is ending.

When his mother and sister passed, Jesus worked closely beside me to create and pass Karina’s Law, participating in countless meetings and conversations to share Karina and Daniela’s story. Since first meeting Jesus in 2023, I have been proud to witness his dedication to uplifting his family’s memory.

In light of his father’s passing, I would like to share a statement from Jesus as he looks toward growth and transition during this time:

“I want to express my desire to look ahead and my relief to not experience further trauma or victimization in the state’s justice system. As I find a way to continue forward, processing the emotions and trauma perpetrated by my father, I am thankful to be able to close this chapter and begin my next journey.”

06/03/2026

Graduation season is in full swing! Yesterday I had the honor to celebrate the start of a new chapter for the 2026 graduating class of Brighton Park Elementary. This group of young people have passed every test and preserved through every barrier. If this is our future, It looks mighty bright.

06/01/2026

This week marked the final week of action for the 2026 spring legislative season, and it made for an extremely busy one. We worked long hours, we held dozens of meetings and we debated countless pieces of legislation. As chair of the Senate Revenue Committee, when I wasn’t in meetings or advancing legislation, I spent my time working on the state’s revenue package to implement new streams of equitable revenue sources that uplift families across Illinois. It has been a difficult year, especially for working and immigrant families, and especially because of poor leadership in Washington, but I spent my time at the State Capitol each week advocating for affordability, for fairness and for equity – for all Illinoisans.
 
As lawmakers prepare to make the trek home to our respective districts for the summer, I am returning to the 12th District not to slow down, but to fight for the safety and dignity of immigrants, of working families and of all the residents I serve. As our communities continue to face federal uncertainty, I will continue my advocacy and work in our communities – meeting with constituents, attending events and doing everything in my power to uplift those in need.

06/01/2026

All year long, my colleagues and I were told we had to ‘cut’ our way out of budget challenges, but we recognize that bulldozing the essential resources and services Illinois’ working families rely on is not the way to meet the ever changing demands of our economy.

At a time when so many of our residents are struggling to make ends meet, are going without basic necessities like groceries and medication, and are having hard conversations every day, we have an obligation to implement smart revenue solutions that reduce wealth inequity in our state and support funding for the resources and services Illinoisans rely on to survive.

That’s why I was proud to pass Senate Bill 3019 out of the Senate today. This revenue package steps up to the moment to ensure Illinois has progressive revenue policies centered around fairness and stability for all residents.

Read more about this bill: https://www.senatorvillanueva.com/news/325-villanueva-advances-responsible-revenue-package-prioritizing-working-families

06/01/2026

The Illinois State Senate advanced a balanced, responsible budget today for Fiscal Year 2027. My colleagues and I worked diligently during this process, having tough conversations and making practical decisions to uplift those most in need in our state.

At a time when so many Illinoisans are forced to live in fear and instability, we are making it clear we value affordability, safety and dignity for our residents – especially immigrant communities – by passing a budget that funds education, food security, health care, violence prevention programs and other essential resources and services.

Read my full statement: https://www.senatorvillanueva.com/news/324-villanueva-fy-27-budget-uplifts-those-in-need-prioritizes-affordability

05/31/2026

Exciting news: Four bills I sponsored advanced out of the Senate yesterday! These measures would be critical for protecting and uplifting Illinoisans, from safeguarding patient's reproductive rights and expanding in-state tuition access at public institutions to holding bad actors in Illinois' health care systems accountable and centralizing support services for survivors.

Read more about:

House Bill 5295, which would directly combat continued attacks on bodily autonomy and keep reproductive data out of the wrong hands: https://tinyurl.com/5eek6a4a

House Bill 5093, which would expand in-state tuition rates to any individual who attended an Illinois high school for three years: https://tinyurl.com/3mektbbh

House Bill 3711, which would implement stricter, mandatory reporting requirements when a patient or client experiences sexual abuse or misconduct perpetrated by a licensed health care professional: https://tinyurl.com/he3j6ru4

House Bill 4949, which would create the Family Justice Center Act, allowing the state, local governments and nonprofits to establish a multi-agency center to coordinate trauma-informed services and support for survivors of violence: https://tinyurl.com/yeyrzjvy

05/29/2026

Far too often, youth in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' care feel their needs aren't being properly met. Our youth deserve respect from those assigned to care for them, and they deserve comprehensive, trauma-informed care when necessary.

That's why I'm proud to have advanced House Bill 4966 out of the Senate today, which would take a direct approach to mitigating harm, discrimination and trauma for youth in our state's care and ensure youth have a voice regarding their placements. Read more about this essential proposal:

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva’s measure that aims to close gaps in Illinois’ child welfare laws and strengthen non-discrimination protections for youth in the care of the Illinois Department of Children...

05/29/2026

Join us for our Community Job Fair! 

Date: Thursday, 6.25.26 
Time: 10am - 2pm
Location: Arturo Velazquez Institute. (2800 S Western ave, use the main entrance on Western ave.) 

Meet with recruiters from various industries looking for additions to their organizations.  
    •    State and City agencies
    •    Healthcare 
    •    Job Corps.
Learn about available resources dedicated to providing you guidance in areas such as employment, financial planning, health insurance, keeping your SNAP benefits and more. 

Sign up for workshops led by experts ready to help you navigate state employment.  

Register with the QR code or link in Bio

For any Questions email us at [email protected] or call 773.565.4661

05/29/2026

Happy College Savings Day! Initiatives like the 529 savings plan help Illinois families invest in their children’s future education. To learn how 529 plans work and to get your child’s started, visit www.BrightStart.com.

05/28/2026

Today I advanced House Bill 4537 out of the Senate, a measure that would help prevent financial windfalls for property owners facing foreclosure by updating the state's tax sales process. The bill would ensure that when a property is foreclosed and the owner's redemption period expires, their property is sold through a public auction that takes into account the market value of the property before a buyer is granted the full deed from a court. If the property sells at auction, the buyer would get their money back, court fees would be covered and any surplus equity would be refunded to the divested property owner.

This is about upholding the constitutional rights of Illinoisans and ensuring our state's tax sales process values our residents over any potential profit, especially at a time when so many people are experiencing financial hardship and struggling to make ends meet. I have dedicated years of discussions, meetings and advocacy to this moment, and I am incredibly proud to see the hard work of so many people coming to fruition. Read more about this measure at the link below!

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents could soon see a new tax sale process that helps prevent financial windfalls for property owners facing foreclosure, thanks to a measure State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced that...