The Illinois House of Representatives has passed several bills aimed at protecting underserved communities struggling through the pandemic and setting the state on a path toward improved health equity. The COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act (HB 2877) addresses the unprecedented economic instability for renters, homeowners, and landlords caused by the pandemic by codifying measures of the federally funded emergency rental assistance program; temporarily halting foreclosure proceedings for homeowners and small landlords; protecting tenants from the long-term consequences of eviction records, and prohibiting rental tenant screening companies from sharing sealed evictions court records. The Illinois Health Care and Human Service Reform Act (HB 158) addresses disparities in medical care and other services in Black communities, while House Bill 1871 was passed to sustain curbside and mail-in voting, calling for allocating federal funds from the Help America Vote Act to establish ballot drop boxes around the state.
