Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva

Villanueva measure to strengthen identity protections for youth in state’s care passes Senate

Details: Category: News; Friday, May 29, 2026 05:06 PM

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 and Family Services passed the Senate Friday.

“We must protect and affirm the identities of youth in the state’s care, ensuring their mental and physical health is prioritized regardless of where the youth is being placed,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Far too often, youth in DCFS’ 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.”

House Bill 4966, also known as the SECURE Act, would enshrine enforceable standards of conduct for DCFS staff and caregivers of youth in care and ensure children, especially LGBTQ+ youth, receive the same services if placed out of state as they would in Illinois. Under Villanueva’s proposal, the department would be required to protect youth in care from unnecessary and unapproved disclosure of their sensitive identity information, including personal data that is linked or reasonably linkable to a youth and identifies the youth’s sexual orientation. It would also create a process for DCFS to abide by if it discloses sensitive identity information and would require the department to provide notice to the youth.

Villanueva advances measure to protect divested property owners from equity theft

Details: Category: News; Thursday, May 28, 2026 06:46 PM

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 would prioritize returning surplus equity to divested property owners.

“House Bill 4537 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,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “When a property worth tens of thousands of dollars is foreclosed on, property owners are stripped of their dream of homeownership and left with no reprieve, and it simply is unfair.”

Under the state’s current process, if a property owner falls behind on taxes, the county can sell the debt to a tax buyer and give the original owner a set amount of time to pay off their debt, as well as any interest or penalties acquired. If the original property owner cannot pay the debt and other associated costs in the allotted period, the buyer can petition a court to receive the full deed to the property. This means a buyer obtains the property for the cost of back taxes, regardless of the property’s market value, and the original property owner does not receive any compensation for the property’s remaining equity.

Villanueva: State’s tax sale process must place fairness over profit

Details: Category: News; Wednesday, May 27, 2026 05:12 PM

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents may soon see a new tax sale process that helps prevent financial windfalls for property owners facing foreclosure, thanks to a measure led by State Senator Celina Villanueva that would prioritize returning surplus equity to divested property owners.

“At a time when so many Illinoisans are struggling to make ends meet – having hard conversation every day about what essentials to skip out on this month or what bills can be paid a little bit late – the last things our residents need to worry about is having their property stripped from them with no recourse,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Some of these properties are worth tens of thousands of dollars at the time they are foreclosed on, yet, even after the debt is settled, property owners aren’t receiving a penny of the equity they spent years of their lives building. This must change.”

Under the state’s current process, if a property owner falls behind on taxes, the county can sell the debt to a tax buyer and give the original owner a set amount of time to pay off their debt, as well as any interest or penalties acquired. If the original property owner cannot pay the debt and other associated costs in the allotted period, the buyer can petition a court to receive the full deed to the property. This means a buyer obtains the property for the cost of back taxes, regardless of the property’s market value, and the original property owner does not receive any compensation for the property’s remaining equity.

Villanueva leads measure to expand in-state tuition requirements at public institutions

Details: Category: News; Wednesday, May 27, 2026 03:12 PM

SPRINGFIELD – Graduating high school students could soon see more opportunities to attend Illinois’ public colleges and universities, thanks to a measure led by State Senator Celina Villanueva that would expand in-state tuition rates to any individual who attended an Illinois high school for three years.

“If a student attended an Illinois high school for three years and has graduated, or received their GED, they deserve the same chance at obtaining a degree as every other Illinois student,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This is about making college more affordable and ensuring we aren’t locking entire groups out of our state’s public higher education system, especially youth who cannot control if or when they relocate to a new state during high school.”

For the past several years, Illinois lawmakers have voiced concerns with college costs, specifically citing rising in-state tuition that has led to many students taking on more in education-related debt, or seeking higher education across state lines. Villanueva recognizes that the continued rising cost of living disproportionately affects low-income families and students participating in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – groups that often have to temporarily relocate due to unforeseen circumstances.

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Welcome to my official Senate website. This will be your tool for news about what I am doing in Springfield, important information regarding the 12th District and events taking place in and around our community.

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— Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva

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Office Info

Springfield Office:
631 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-5304

District Office:
2501 S. Central Park Ave.
Front Suite
Chicago, IL 60623
773-565-4661

Welcome to Senator Celina Villanueva Legislative Website