SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, is highlighting efforts to cut costs for families, improve access to healthcare, strengthen local schools, and keep families safe during the recent legislative session. 

“My top priority as a lawmaker is to ensure the health and safety of my neighbors and I believe these priorities are reflected in our budget. Our state budget is both socially and fiscally responsible,” said Hirschauer. “By investing in our schools and upping funds to improve public safety, we’re on a healthy path to seeing communities statewide see relief.”

Continuing her effort to rebuild Illinois’ fiscal house, Hirschauer passed a new state budget that trimmed nearly $75 million in administrative costs and grew the state’s rainy day fund. Hirschauer prioritized new investments in early childhood education, which will create new opportunities for 5,000 of Illinois’ youngest learners and allow working families much-needed access to childcare. Thriving schools lead to thriving neighborhoods, which is why Hirschauer supported an increase of  $350 million for elementary and secondary schools, and additional access to college financial aid such as MAP Grants. 

Hirschauer delivered major reforms to help cut the cost of living. A new $50 million child tax credit will help families raising young children as they face rising costs. Additionally, she supported a $10 million state investment that will eliminate $1 billion in family medical debt. Hirschauer also voted to eliminate a state sales tax on groceries and give local governments more tools to get serious about property tax relief. 

Keeping communities safe is a constant priority for Hirschauer, which is why she supported smart investments in community-based approaches to violence prevention and funding to ensure that police have the resources they need to combat crime. Hirschauer voted to hire and train 200 new state troopers, and added funding to help local departments recruit and retain officers. As suburban libraries and religious organizations also see increasing threats of violence, Hirschauer worked to create new protections for library workers and new state resources to combat hate crimes.  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Reproductive health decisions will be better protected under a new bill passed by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, ensuring that employers, landlords, financial institutions, and others can never discriminate against a person on the basis of contraception decisions, utilization of abortion care, or fertility treatment including in vitro fertilization.

“No one should ever face stigma for making decisions about their own reproductive health. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues who have fought bravely to ensure that bodily autonomy is a fundamental right here in Illinois, and it will remain one,” said Hirschauer. “Discrimination has no place in our laws, our workplaces, or our communities. As other states turn back time and move backward towards antiquated law, we’re sending a clear message — everyone deserves the right to make decisions about their own bodies without fear of retribution or bias.”

In striking down decades of protections for reproductive rights, the Supreme Court’s 2020 Dobbs v. Planned Parenthood decision left a complicated legal landscape in which private medical decisions once shielded at the federal level are now far less settled.

Continuing her work to uphold the right to choose Illinois, Hirschauer voted to pass House Bill 4867, which protects a variety of reproductive health decisions under the state’s Human Rights Act. Current law prohibits a business from terminating an employee, a landlord from refusing to rent to a person, or other arbitrary denial of basic accommodation to a person because of pregnancy. Hirschauer voted to expand these protections to also prevent discrimination against people for utilizing reproductive health services including abortion care, contraception, or in vitro fertilization.

The legislation was backed by Planned Parenthood, the National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

WASHINGTON D.C. — State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D- Batavia, joined state legislative leaders at the White House on Wednesday to launch a nationwide gun safety initiative. 

“I am honored to meet with other state legislators at the White House to discuss the gun violence epidemic that has affected families in every corner of the country,” Hirschauer said. “The deadly status quo is unacceptable. It is important that we come together to share the common sense gun policy ideas that are taking shape in states across the country. Together, we can craft comprehensive legislation to address everything from firearm industry accountability to innovative community-based violence prevention programs.” 

The Safer States Initiative, put forth by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, will provide key actions states should take in order to reduce gun violence, including responsible gun ownership and safe storage, enhanced background checks, and wrap-around support for survivors and their families. Model pieces of legislation created by the U.S. Department of Justice will be available to attending legislators that curb reckless gun storage and lost or stolen firearms reporting. 

In her first three years as a State Representative, Hirschauer has pushed for several measures in Springfield to curb gun violence, including the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which banned assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and Karina’s Law, which addresses the deadly intersection of domestic violence and firearms. This session, Hirschauer has introduced three House bills that prioritize safe gun storage and increased education around guns. 

Hirschauer’s House Bill 2723 will prevent young children from accessing firearms in the home. She is partnering with the Secretary of State’s office to provide accessible information on safe gun storage in the home (House Bill 2545), and she is also working with the Department of Public Health to distribute information to families on the dangers to children with unsecured firearms (House Bill 3371). 

“Reducing gun violence has been my top priority since day one, and knowing the White House is a partner, not a hindrance, in this effort is reassuring as we work with other states to put an end to gun violence once and for all,” said Hirschauer. “By prioritizing gun safety from purchase to storage, we can stop gun violence in the home and in the community. I’m honored to be a part of this progressive movement emphasizing safety and education over pandering to a right-wing extremist wishlist. Together as a country, we are enacting common sense policy that will keep us all safe.”