On July 15th, Governor Pritzker signed SB 3926 into law, officially moving the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This bill, sponsored by Representative Hirschauer, will grant the council greater access to resources to help veterans with new therapies like MDMA and pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin, which are used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and anxiety.
“Our veterans fought for America’s future. We owe them access to the future of medicine. Senate Bill 3926 strengthens the expertise needed to responsibly advance FDA Breakthrough Therapies that can bring new hope to veterans facing the invisible wounds of service,” Represenative Hirschauer said.
The Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council was originally created to inform the state of what healthcare infrastructure is necessary to best support Illinois veterans, and its new home in the IDPH will connect the council to expanded options and allow veterans to be better served by the state.
El 15 de Julio, el gobernador Pritzker promulgó la ley SB 3926, transfiriendo oficialmente moviendo el Consejo Asesor del Programa de Terapias Innovadoras para la Prevención del Suicidio en Veteranos al Departamento de Salud Pública de Illinois (IDPH). Esta ley impulsada por la representante Hirschauer, otorgará al consejo un mayor acceso a recursos para ayudar a los veteranos mediante nuevas terapias —como el MDMA y utilizadas para tratar el trastorno de estrés postraumático, la depresión resistente al tratamiento y la ansiedad.
Nuestros veteranos lucharon por el futuro de Estados Unidos. Les debemos el acceso al futuro de la medicina. SB 3926 fortalece la experiencia técnica necesaria para promover de manera responsable las terapias innovadoras aprobadas por la FDA, las cuales pueden brindar una nueva esperanza a los veteranos que enfrentan las heridas invisibles del servicio, declaró la representante Hirschauer.
El Consejo Asesor del Programa de Terapias Innovadoras para la Prevención del Suicidio en Veteranos se creó originalmente para informar al estado sobre la infraestructura sanitaria necesaria para brindar el mejor apoyo a los veteranos de Illinois; su nueva ubicación en el IDPH conectará al consejo con mayores posibilidades y permitirá que el estado ofrezca una mejor atención a los veteranos.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A measure creating new guardrails intended to prevent Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted catastrophic harm is now law due to the help of state Rep. Maura Hischauer, D-West Chicago.
“As AI continues to evolve, it’s important to implement safety measures to protect our residents from being harmed,” said Hirschauer. “We have seen documented cases where AI chatbots have encouraged people to harm themselves or others. This is unacceptable. It’s our responsibility as legislators to create laws that protect our communities, and through this legislation, we are doing exactly that.”
As part of her continued effort to secure comprehensive public safety, Hirschauer backed Senate Bill 315, the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act. Under this legislation, large AI companies would be required to implement comprehensive frameworks for transparency and harm reduction based on independent third-party reports, including:
Safety incident reporting requirements,
Disclosure guidelines,
Whistleblower protections, and
Civil penalties for act violations.
The legislation is meant to address AI-assisted violent crimes, weapons development, evasions of human control, or cyberattacks that could lead to the death or serious injury of more than 50 people or greater than $1 billion in property damage.
Senate Bill 315 passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support, and was signed into law on July 6.
“SB 315 ensures that as artificial intelligence continues to evolve, Illinois is leading with commonsense safeguards that promote innovation while protecting the public through greater transparency, accountability, and responsible AI development.”
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
La legislación sobre normas de seguridad de la inteligencia artificial respaldada por Hirschauer ya es ley
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Una medida que establece nuevas salvaguardas para prevenir daños catastróficos asistidos por inteligencia artificial (IA) ya es ley, gracias a la labor de la representante estatal Maura Hirschauer (demócrata de West Chicago).
“A medida que la IA sigue evolucionando, es importante implementar medidas de seguridad para proteger a nuestros residentes de posibles daños”, afirmó Hirschauer. “Hemos visto casos documentados en los que los chatbots de IA han incitado a las personas a hacerse daño a sí mismas o a otros. Esto es inaceptable. Como legisladores, tenemos la responsabilidad de crear leyes que protejan a nuestras comunidades, y mediante esta legislación estamos haciendo precisamente eso”.
Como parte de sus esfuerzos continuos por garantizar una seguridad pública integral, Hirschauer respaldó el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 315 (SB 315), conocido como la Ley de Medidas de Seguridad de Inteligencia Artificial. Esta legislación exige que las grandes empresas de IA implementen marcos integrales de transparencia y reducción de riesgos basados en informes de terceros independientes, incluyendo:
Requisitos para reportar incidentes de seguridad
Directrices de divulgación de información
Protección para denunciantes
Sanciones civiles por incumplimiento de la normativa
La legislación tiene como objetivo abordar delitos violentos asistidos por IA, el desarrollo de armas, la elusión del control humano o ciberataques que podrían provocar la muerte o lesiones graves a más de 50 personas, o causar daños materiales superiores a los mil millones de dólares.
El proyecto SB 315 fue aprobado por la Asamblea General con apoyo bipartidista y promulgado como ley el 6 de julio.
“El SB 315 garantiza que, a medida que evoluciona la inteligencia artificial, Illinois lidere el camino con salvaguardas basadas en el sentido común; medidas que fomentan la innovación al tiempo que protegen al público mediante una mayor transparencia, rendición de cuentas y un desarrollo responsable de la IA”.
The Spring ’26 legislative session officially wrapped up in the wee hours of the morning on June 1st with the passage of our FY27 state budget. The budget reflects the needs of working people by prioritizing fiscally and socially responsible choices that will protect Illinoisans from the harms being caused at the federal level. Looking back at this past year, your feedback truly guided my decisions in Springfield. Thank you for reaching out via calls, emails, and our chats at your doorsteps or in the grocery aisle. Please read on to discover more about this session’s budget and key legislative policies.
Bills Rep. Hirschauer Chief-Sponsored, and Cosponsored
Although the Algorithmic Pricing Prohibition Act did not pass both chambers, I wanted to highlight it for you because its successful passage is one of my top priorities. This act will prohibit businesses from using your personal data to create individualized prices through surveillance pricing systems. In the ever-changing digital economy, this bill is a critical consumer protection measure. Stay tuned for Veto Session this November as I work to send it to the Governor’s desk.
Freezes new surcharge rates while expanding eligibility for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) so more families can qualify for the program.
Holds businesses accountable for charges that are quietly added on top of the advertised purchase price. Estimated that these fees were costing consumers $3,000 per year.
Requires the Illinois Auditor General to conduct a review of how healthcare providers participate in the federal 340B Drug Discount Program, assess its impact on state health programs such as Medicaid, and provide recommendations to the General Assembly based on findings from the investigation.
Education
House Bill 4788: CPR Manikins in High Schools It was an honor to work with Naperville Central High School Student Ashlynn Goldstein to address disparities in health outcomes for women suffering cardiac distress. The bill makes a small but critical change to high school CPR training requirements, mandating that students have the opportunity to practice on both breasted and non-breasted manikins. Training with both types of anatomically accurate manikins is important in improving confidence of community lay responders in performing CPR and reducing community level gender disparities. The bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.
House Bill 4791 : Head Start Investing in our critical early childhood workforce by allowing Head Start and Early Head Start programs to participate in the Smart Child Care Workforce Compensation Program. We must support the workforce behind the workforce for our communities to thrive.
Starting in the 2027-28 academic year, public elementary and high schools must include a comprehensive Latine history curriculum. It is still being worked on in the Senate.
Public Safety
House Bill 4911: Senior Fraud Reporting Cracks down on financial schemes and abuse targeting seniors by expanding mandate reporters to include bank tellers.
Supporting veterans’ mental health by continuing the Breakthrough Therapies for Veterans Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council within the Department of Public Health. It is our duty to protect the mental health of those who dedicated their lives to our safety and security.
Addressing the intersection of mental health and gun violence by mandating training on FOID and mental health reporting for mental health practitioners.
Creates new restrictions on immigration detention facilities in neighborhoods, restricting such operations within 1,500 feet of a home or apartment complex, as well as any school, day care centre, public park, or house of worship.
Requires that the biggest AI companies create frameworks to crack down on potential catastrophes; including threats of property destruction, major injury, and even loss of life.
Keeping personal health information private to limit abortion related medical information from crossing state lines.
Now that I’m back home for the summer, I’m excited to spend time in our district. You might spot me and my family cooling off at local pools like West Chicago’s Turtle Splash, the Batavia Quarry, or Barracuda Bay Water Park in Bartlett. We’ll also be at the Downtown Batavia Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning—come say hi if you see us grabbing some fresh produce, baked goods, or iced coffee! There’s nothing quite like summer in the 49th District!
Upcoming Community Events
Town Hall 6/30
Join Representative Hirschauer at her End of Session Town Hall on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:00 pm in the Bartlett Public Library. We hope to see you there!
WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — On the four-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, issued the following statement on the work she has done in Springfield to protect abortion and reproductive rights across the state of Illinois:
“Four years ago, the Dobbs decision marked the culmination of a long-running extremist effort to strip away reproductive freedom. By overturning nearly 50 years of constitutional protections, the Supreme Court opened the door for politicians to interfere in deeply personal medical decisions, criminalize essential healthcare, and put the health and lives of patients at risk.
“In Illinois, we have chosen a different path. We are committed to protecting the right to make personal healthcare decisions free from political interference. That commitment continued on Wednesday as the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act was signed into law—a measure I proudly advocated for and co-sponsored. This law safeguards sensitive reproductive health records, ensuring that out-of-state politicians and prosecutors cannot misuse private medical information to target patients or healthcare providers for care that is legal in Illinois.
“We also passed House Bill 3637, strengthening Illinois’ Shield Law by reinforcing protections for medication abortion and safeguarding healthcare professionals who provide lawful reproductive healthcare in our state. Together, these measures send a clear message: Illinois will not cooperate with attempts to criminalize reproductive healthcare.
“As attacks on reproductive freedom continue across the country, Illinois will remain a place where patients can access care with dignity, privacy, and confidence. I will continue fighting to protect reproductive freedom because every person deserves the right to make their own healthcare decisions—without fear, political interference, or government intrusion.”
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
“As a working mom, I’m at the grocery store every other day. I know that affordability is top of mind for all Illinoisans because I feel it too. Washington is failing to meet this moment. That’s why I’m working diligently in Springfield to pass legislation that creates a better path for Illinois, because we deserve better than what Washington is offering.”
A Better Path for Illinois
This session I made affordability, community safety, and protecting the common good a priority. Everyone in our community—whatever their political opinions—deserves more from Washington than we are getting. Our budgets are getting tighter, our expenses are getting higher, and our rights are getting chipped away.
We don’t have to accept Washington’s fevered vision where everything gets more expensive and every day feels like a struggle. I am fighting for a better path for Illinois, and I am proud to share the legislation that I passed this session bills with you:
Stopping AI-powered schemes that raise prices of groceries and everyday purchases. The Algorithmic Price Prohibition Act which will ensure fairness and transparency for Illinois consumers. Your browsing history and digital footprint should not become a tool to charge you more. This nation-leading bill bans the practice of surveillance pricing in Illinois.
Supportingveterans’ mental health by continuing the Breakthrough Therapies for Veterans Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council within the Department of Public Health. It is our duty to protect the mental health of those who dedicated their lives to our safety and security.
Investing in our critical early childhood workforce by allowing Head Start and Early Head Start programs to participate in the Smart Child Care Workforce Compensation Program. We must support the workforce behind the workforce for our communities to thrive.
Addressing the intersection of mental health and gun violence by mandating training on mental health reporting and FOID for mental health practitioners.
Strengthening orders of protection so abusers can’t access confiscated firearms from third-party services to provoke or harm others.
Additional Bills:
House Bill 4309 – Establishes an annual proclamation by the Governor for POW/MIA Recognition Day, the 3rd Friday in September each year. Passed the House – Read More Here
House Bill 5313 – Removes several provisions requiring HFS to establish benchmarks to reduce hospital readmissions, inpatient complications, and unnecessary emergency room visits to bring HFS into statutory consistency with the modern Medicaid managed care environment. Passed the House
House Bill 4566 – Establishes the Natural Resource Restoration Trust Grant Program which will provide grants to communities for the purpose of restoring natural resources. Passed the House – Read More Here
“Como madre trabajadora, voy al supermercado cada, otro día. Sé que la asequibilidad es una de las principales preocupaciones de todos los habitantes de Illinois, porque yo también me siento así. Washington está fallando en afrontar este momento. Por eso, estoy trabajando con diligencia en Springfield para aprobar leyes que abran un camino mejor para Illinois, porque nos merecemos algo mejor de lo que nos ofrece Washington.”
Un Mejor Camino para Illinois
En esta sesión, he priorizado la asequibilidad, la seguridad de la comunidad y la protección del bien común. Todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad – independientemente de sus opiniones políticas – merecen más de Washington de lo que estamos recibiendo. Nuestros presupuestos son cada vez más ajustados, nuestros gastos no dejan de aumentar y nuestros derechos están siendo socavados.
No tenemos que aceptar la visión fanática de Washington en la que todo se vuelve más caro y cada día se siente más difícil. Estoy luchando por un futuro mejor para Illinois, y me enorgullece compartir con ustedes los proyectos de ley que he aprobado en esta sesión:
Poniendo fin a las prácticas basadas en la inteligencia artificial que elevan los precios de los alimentos y los productos de uso diario. La Ley de Prohibición de los Precios Algorítmicos garantizará la equidad y la transparencia para los consumidores de Illinois. Tu historial de búsqueda y tu huella digital no deben convertirse en una herramienta para cobrarte más. Este proyecto de ley, líder a nivel nacional, prohíbe la práctica de los precios de vigilancia en Illinois.
Apoyando la salud mental de los veteranos mediante la continuación del Consejo Asesor del Programa de Terapias Innovadoras para la Prevención del Suicidio entre los Veteranos, dentro del Departamento de Salud Pública. Es nuestro deber proteger la salud mental de quienes dedicaron sus vidas por nuestra seguridad y protección.
Invirtiendo en nuestro personal de primera línea dedicado a la primera infancia al permitir que los programas Head Start y Early Head Start participen en el Programa de Compensación para el Personal de Cuidado Infantil – Smart Child Care. Debemos apoyar al personal que está detrás de todo el personal para que nuestras comunidades puedan prosperar.
Atendiendo la intersección entre la salud mental y la violencia armada mediante el entrenamiento sobre la salud mental y la licencia FOID para los profesionales de la salud mental.
Reforzando las órdenes de protección para que los abusadores no puedan acceder a las armas confiscadas a través de servicios terceros con el fin de intimidar o dañar a otros.
Más sobre los proyectos de ley en que estoy trabajando:
House Bill 4309– Establece una proclamación anual por parte del Gobernador para el Día de Reconocimiento de los Prisioneros de Guerra y Desaparecidos en Acción (POW/MIA), que se celebrará el tercer viernes de septiembre de cada año. Aprobado en la Cámara de Representantes – Lea más aquí
House Bill 5313 – Elimina varias disposiciones que exigen que el Departamento de Servicios de Salud y Familia (HFS) establezca parámetros de referencia para reducir los reingresos hospitalarios, las complicaciones durante la hospitalización y las visitas innecesarias a las salas de emergencia, con el fin de armonizar la ley con el entorno moderno de atención administrada de Medicaid. Aprobado por la Cámara de Representantes.
House Bill 4566 – Establece el Programa de Subvenciones del Fondo Fiduciario para la Restauración de los Recursos Naturales, que otorgará subvenciones a las comunidades con el propósito de restaurar los recursos naturales. Aprobado por la Cámara de Representantes. – Lea más aquí
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As the spring legislative session concluded Monday, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, highlighted her work to address the affordability crisis, increase consumer protections, and support vulnerable communities with a responsible and compassionate state budget.
“As a working mom, I’m at the grocery store every other day. I know that affordability is top of mind for all Illinoisans because I feel it, too,” said Rep. Hirschauer. “Hard working people should not live paycheck-to-paycheck, and we need to focus on bringing down the cost of everyday necessities.”
Some highlights of Hirschauer’s affordability agenda include:
Creating new protections against artificial intelligence (AI) schemes that use personal data to unfairly raise prices (House Bill 4248);
Freezing the state gas tax and instituting a sales tax holiday (Senate Bill 3019),
Making groceries and everyday purchases more affordable by giving everyone access to deals offered by digital coupons, so that the price people see is the price they pay (House Bill 45);
Delivering transparency requirements to crack down on hidden junk fees (House Bill 228);
Making everyday purchases more accessible by requiring retail establishments to accept cash payments for purchases under $500 (House Bill 4592); and
Protecting property owners from equity theft by ensuring no Illinois resident loses the equity in their home due to old taxes (House Bill 4537).
Hirschauer also backed a human-centered budget plan Monday that increases investment in schools, ensures no new taxes on working people, fully funds afterschool programs and pushes state agencies to realize an additional $65 million in reductions to government operations, reducing administrative costs to fully fund services that communities so desperately need right now.
“We cannot balance our budget on the backs of everyday people,” said Hirschauer. “That’s why I continue pushing for responsible revenue options that ask the wealthiest corporations to finally pay their fair share instead of forcing cuts onto our families. Our communities deserve leaders who are willing to protect critical services, stand up to corporate greed and fight for a government that actually reflects the people it serves.”
This session Hirschauer continued to fight for commonsense gun safety passing a bipartisan measure to expand access for FOID mental health exams in Senate Bill 3229. She also remained dedicated to advocating for our local schools and academic programs by leading House Bill 4791, which invests in critical early childhood workforce by allowing Head Start and Early Head Start programs to participate in the Smart Child Care Workforce Compensation Program.
“Keeping our communities safe, expanding access to critical supports, and investing in our children will continue to be my focus. Our children are the future, and we must provide them an opportunity to grow in an environment that has all the resources they need,” said Hirschauer. “There’s more work ahead, let’s continue to build a stronger Illinois that offers greater opportunity for every child.”
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A plan championed by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer , D-West Chicago, cracks down on online retailers discreetly using “surveillance pricing”—an AI-powered price gouging scheme that uses a shopper’s personal data to set higher individual prices.
“Technology should work for the people, not exploit them,” said Hirschauer. “Online retailers should not be using your private information to charge you more on everyday purchases. That is outrageous and clearly an invasion of privacy.”
Many apps and online stores are using personal data, browsing history, and financial and demographic profile, to set the highest price a consumer is willing to pay—a major factor driving the affordability crisis.
Hirschauer championed House Bill 4248, which creates the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act that bans online retailers from using a shopper’s personal data and demographic profile to set online prices to the highest amount merchants believe a given consumer will pay. Traditional, non-AI pricing models like voluntary rewards programs, manufacturing cost adjustments, and special discounts may continue.
“Now it’s time to stand up against harmful AI practices, because Illinois consumers are entitled to fairness and transparency,” said Hirschauer. “There’s innovation, and then there’s being unethical. Surveillance pricing might be cutting edge, but it’s not ethical.”
The measure passed the House on Friday, and now awaits consideration in the Senate.
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
CHICAGO – The House Democratic AI Working Group, chaired by state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, held a subject matter hearing on Monday, May 4, to discuss efforts to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) in order to protect consumers and safeguard elections in Illinois.
“These discussions are about protecting consumers and ensuring fairness in our state’s liability statutes,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “AI-powered technologies are no longer simply an emerging technology, they’re impacting almost every aspect of our lives right now.”
Four bills were discussed during the hearing, all pertaining to AI regulation and consumer protection.
Gong-Gershowitz’s House Bill 4557 would create the Digital Forgeries in Politics Act, which places new disclosure requirements on the use of digital manipulation in images, video and audio in political advertising.
“When voters can no longer trust what they see and hear, democracy itself is at risk,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “AI-generated deepfakes of political candidates and elected officials are not a distant threat — they are already being weaponized to deceive the public, suppress participation and undermine elections. HB4557 draws a clear line: if you use artificial intelligence to fabricate the words or likeness of a political figure to deceive voters, there will be consequences. Illinoisans deserve to make their voices heard based on facts.”
House Bill 5044, also by Gong-Gershowitz, would create the Chatbot Provider Liability Act, defining chatbots as products and establishing that providers have a duty to ensure that the use of a chatbot does not cause injury to a user.
“We have always held manufacturers accountable when their products cause serious harm — and an AI chatbot is a product,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “When companies deploy these systems knowing they have the potential to deceive, manipulate or injure the people who interact with them, they should be held to exactly the same standard we apply to any other dangerous product under Illinois law,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “This legislation closes a loophole that Big Tech has been counting on. If your chatbot causes real harm, you bear real responsibility — full stop.”
State Rep. Daniel Didech’s House Bill 4705 would create the Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act, requiring frontier AI developers and large chatbot providers to create a public safety and child protection plan.
“The pace of AI development and the capabilities of frontier models are accelerating, and the General Assembly has an obligation to ensure that Illinois residents are protected from catastrophic outcomes,” Didech said. “This legislation puts enforceable guardrails in place so Big Tech companies must prioritize safety, be transparent about the risks tied to their systems and take responsibility for preventing serious harm, especially when it comes to protecting children.”
State Rep. Maura Hirschauer’s House Bill 5756, would create the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act, requiring online retailers to disclose their use of “surveillance pricing”—a growing phenomena that uses artificial intelligence-powered tools to charge higher prices for certain customers based on a user’s personal data.
“House Bill 5756 prioritizes transparency and fairness,” Hirschauer said. “This legislation makes clear that pricing powered by personal data cannot happen in the shadows. By requiring disclosure, banning the use of sensitive information, and guaranteeing an opt-out, we are putting fairness and accountability back into the marketplace.”
The House Democratic AI Working Group was established by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch earlier this year in order to launch a multifaceted approach to AI policy in Illinois.
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, helped pass a bill encouraging and expanding access to youth civic engagement. It requires high schools to provide voter registration opportunities and information and is inspired by the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.
“The future of our democracy depends on the voice of our young voters, that’s why it’s important that schools provide the opportunity for them to register to vote,” said Hirschauer. “Empowering young voters to become essential members of their communities by providing them with information on how they can register and why it matters is crucial to send them towards the path of adulthood.”
House Bill 4339, also known as the Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act, ensures that all public high schools offer students of voting age the opportunity to register to vote. This opportunity will take place during the school day in an accessible and nonpartisan environment. Registering to vote can be complicated, especially for first-time voters. This bill will give high schoolers a safe space to learn, ask questions, and take steps towards civic engagement.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. famously said, “On that graduation day or night, we must put a diploma in one hand symbolizing knowledge and wisdom, and put a voter registration card in that other hand symbolizing power and responsibility.” This bill honors Rev. Jackson, Sr. and his dedication to equal rights and public service.
“Every U.S. citizen has the fundamental right to vote and participate in our democracy. Voters have the power and responsibility to vote for someone who represents their morals, values, and community needs. That’s why it is important for young voters to be taught, and given, those fundamentals before graduating from high school,” said Hirschauer.
House Bill 4339 passed the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new bill led by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-West Chicago, would require online retailers to disclose their use of “surveillance pricing”—a growing phenomena that uses artificial intelligence-powered tools to charge higher prices for certain customers based on prior browsing history and demographic information inferred by a consumer’s digital footprint.
“HB 4248 is about drawing a clear line: no more secret pricing games. If companies are using your personal data to charge you more, you have a right to know—and a right to say no. This bill forces transparency, bans the use of deeply personal characteristics, and cracks down on deceptive tactics designed to trick consumers. It protects real choice, real fairness, and real accountability. HB 4248 makes it clear: in Illinois, consumers come first.”
With the growing consumer preference for mobile shopping, retailers are increasingly collecting data from online shoppers. Hirschauer is sponsoring House Bill 4248 which would create standards for businesses utilizing surveillance pricing. The measure would require online businesses to provide a clear disclosure when they are using the consumer’s personal information or search history to dictate the cost of a good or service. The bill would further allow consumers to opt-out and pay a baseline price. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of sensitive personal information, like race, religion and immigration status, to determine pricing.
House Bill 4248 is now on second reading and awaits a vote on the House floor.
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia) 49th District
Springfield Office: 270-S Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1653
District Office: 946 Neltnor Blvd #104 West Chicago IL 60185
