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Para español haga clic aquí Dear Neighbors, Happy New Year! I was honored to be inaugurated into the 104th General Assembly to serve my third term as State Representative for the 85th District. I will continue to fight for working class families and build upon wins from the last few years. I will be introducing new legislation in the coming weeks, and am interested in hearing from my constituents. Please reach out to my office with any concerns or questions on proposed bills or with any bill suggestions. Sincerely,
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2024 IN THE 85TH DISTRICT
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NEW LAWS IN EFFECT IN 2025State minimum wage increases to $15 for non-tipped positions and $9 for tipped positions HB3129: Requires employers with 15 or more employees to post the pay scale in job listings. HB4592: Allows the Secretary of State to issue mobile Illinois identification cards or mobile driver’s licenses. SB2442: Requires hospitals to enroll eligible patients into public health insurance and not bill for health care services if they are at qualifying household income levels. HB5047: Extends the amount of time that a temporary nurse license is valid from 3 months to 6 months. HB5142: Requires insurance providers to cover more extensive pregnancy and postpartum services, including Douglas, home births, breast feeding supplies, and more. SB2744: Requires coverage for vaccinations by a pharmacist or health care providers authorized to administer such vaccines. HB4460: Requires insurance coverage for mental health therapy services for first responders if the district is a self insurer. HB2350: Provides that required insurance coverage includes yearly pap smears and prostate screenings for all.
To see a full list of legislation in effect as of January 1, 2025, click here.
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NEW GRANTS ANNOUNCEDProgram Details: “…to businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI) or very small businesses (VSBs)1 to support small business capital improvement projects. This program will offer small business grants across the state to help eligible businesses achieve sustainable growth, improve efficiency, and create and retain jobs.”
Eligible Applicants: “Businesses owned by Socially Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) with a maximum of 25 full-time permanent employees Very Small Businesses (VSBs), businesses with less than 10 employees” Note: All applicants must be prequalified to apply (register with sam.gov, GATA, etc.)
Application Deadline: April 7, 2025 at 5pm Technical Assistance Webinar: November 26, 2024 at 11am Program Details: Charitable Trust is intended to help small non-profits with annual budgets of $1 million or less and a full-time employee. Grant applicants located in an area where pervasive poverty, unemployment, and economic distress exist will be given special attention. The Spring 2024 Grant Cycle, running from January 1 – March 31, will award grants to non-profit charitable programs in two categories: Food and Housing Eligible Applicants: Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
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OUT AND ABOUTIf you would like to invite me to an event, meeting, or tour of your facility, please reach out to my office at info@repdagmara.org.
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I spoke on the Illinois Housing Council and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce panel about my affordable housing tax credit bill. It is of the utmost importance that we start adding affordable housing stock in the state of Illinois, and my bill is a tool to do that. |
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My District Director, Jasmine, attended a tour of the Bolingbrook Hospital with Representatives Natalie Manley and Janet Yang Rohr, Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, and Mayor Basta. They discussed projected expansions for the hospital and the services they provide at the Emergency Room. |
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My team and I partnered with Meridian, Bailey’s Catering, Representative Manley, and Senators Loughran Cappel and Ventura for a holiday turkey and ham giveaway. We were able to give out 100 turkeys and hams to residents! |
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Women of Self Love hosted their annual toy giveaway in the 85th District! My team helped hand out toys, books, and handmade blankets to kids. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & RESOURCES
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All people in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status. NIJC has created new 'Know Your Rights' resources to help our community members prepare for a number of scenarios and assert their rights in these uncertain times. The view these resources, click here.
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Are you in the market for a new home? Call the Will County Center for Community Concerns to see if you qualify for our Down Payment Assistance Program. Click the link below to learn more about the services offered by WCCCC! https://wcccc.net Will County Center for Community Concerns 2455 Glenwood Avenue Joliet, IL 60435 Ph: (815) 722-0722
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Save Money and Energy at Home! ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas have partnered to help single family homeowners and renters save money and energy through the Home Energy Savings offering, while also promoting sustainability. This program offers free home assessments, free and discounted energy-saving products, tips and resources tailored to your individual needs. The Home Energy Savings program offers: FREE virtual, in-person, or self-assessments to identify energy-saving opportunities. Ready-to-use products like LEDs, showerheads, faucet aerators and pipe insulation. Products such as smart thermostats, and advanced power-strips are free to income eligible customers. Free deeper home improvements like attic and wall insulation, and even equipment upgrades (e.g. A/C, boiler, furnace, hot water heater) for income qualifying customers. Free improvements to increase air quality and home comfort. Customized educational resources and referrals for further support
Get started with your free energy assessment here or by calling 855-660-9378. Renew Your Medicaid!Got Medicaid? Get ready to renew! Manage your case at abe.illinois.gov. Illinois is checking to see if you are still eligible for Medicaid. Here's what you need to do now: Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov to: Watch your mail and complete your renewal right away. If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, connect to coverage at work or through the official Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace for Illinois, GetCoveredIllinois.gov.
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211 Help LineI encourage people to take advantage of the 211 line and website. 211 is powered by real people — trained specialists who work to identify and address the root causes of a client’s problem. That means from the first hello, someone in crisis is reaching a real person who can provide a connection to help. Get help with food, clothing, shelter, housing, rent/utility assistance, counseling, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, transportation, support groups, senior services, aging parents, child care, employment, legal assistance, and health care.Text 898211 for help. Warming CentersThere are several warming centers throughout the 85th District and surrounding areas. To see a complete list of Will County Warming Centers click here. Bolingbrook Fire Station #4 - 111 W Boughton Rd. (call ahead: 630-226-8504) Bolingbrook Fire Station #5 - 1900 Rodeo Dr. (call ahead: 630-226-8505) Lockport Township Building - 1463 S Farrell Rd. (M-F 9am-4pm) Lockport Central Square Building - 222 E. 9th St. (M-F 8am-4pm) Lockport Police Department - 1212 Farrell Rd. (M-F 8am-5pm; after 5pm call: 815-838-2131) Romeoville Fire Station #3 - 698 N Birch Ln. (If nobody answers the door, pick up the ringdown phone. If nobody answers the phone, call the Romeoville Police Department at 815-886-7219.) Romeoville Recreation Center - 900 W Romeo Rd. (M-F 9am-9pm, Sa-Su 8am-7pm). White Oak Library, Romeoville Branch - 201 W Normantown Rd. (M-TH 10am-8:30pm, F-SA 10am-5pm, SU 1-5pm)
Food PantriesCourt Based Rental Assistance ProgramCBRAP provides funding to Illinois tenants and Housing Providers who have pending cases in eviction court. Applicants may qualify for up to $15,000 in rental assistance for past due rent and 2 months of future rent payments. To see if you are eligible and apply, click here. SmartBuy Program is Back!SmartBuy is helping eligible home buyers pay off up to $40,000 in student loans plus $5,000 in assistance towards down payment and closing costs while buying a home! To learn more about this program, click here.
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