Wednesday, may 1

We’re headed to Springfield!

League of Women Voters members are invited to join us for Lobby Day at the Illinois State Capitol during the 2024 spring legislative session.

You can make a difference! During Lobby Day, you’ll meet with your legislators and advocate for the issues you care about. Never lobbied in Springfield before? No worries, we will provide assistance and can partner you with a more experienced advocate.

We will meet up in Springfield on Wednesday, May 1 at 9:45 am. The day will wrap around 1:30 pm. 

 
 

Want to attend but aren’t sure?

  • You don’t need to have experience.  We all had to start somewhere!

  • You can complete the Interest Survey and register later

  • Taking our Interest Survey may make it easier for you to attend if you…

    • Want to be paired up with someone who has been to Springfield before

    • Need help getting to Springfield and want to carpool

    • Can take the train but need to be transported to our meeting place

    • Are willing to drive and want company

Which bills will we be advocating for?

  • Funding for a state Child Tax Credit (CTC). The tax credit is an immediate, meaningful way to directly support to families of half of Illinois’ kids (HB4917 / SB3329)

  • $550M increase in Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) for education in the budget, as well as EBF spending transparency (HB3446)

  • Protecting critically important wetlands (SB0771 / HB5386)

  • Requiring that every Illinois public high school includes a unit of instruction addressing climate change (HB4895)

  • Changing the misleading titles of Unlawful Use of a Weapon (to Unlawful Possession) and Armed Habitual Criminal (to Persistent Unlawful Possession) because the current language unfairly misstates the severity of the crime and impacts people’s ability to secure housing and employment (HB 4500 / SB 2864)

  • Prohibiting so-called “crime-free housing and nuisance property” ordinances (CFNOs), which can unfairly lead to the eviction of survivors of domestic violence and people with disabilities (HB 5314 / SB 3680)

What should I wear?

Remember that you are representing the League of Women Voters. League members should plan to wear a WHITE shirt and comfortable shoes. We plan to have a sash for you to use for the day that identifies you as a member of the League.  

Will LWVIL Provide Lunches?

We will be holding a Lobby Day that is conscious of our impact on the environment, and we are asking League members to:

  • Pack a waste-free or limited-waste lunch and bring it along. (You may also dine or order out as you wish.  No lunches will be provided.)

  • Bring a reusable drink container for water or your favorite beverage.

  • Carpool or take the train to reduce our use of fossil fuels. (The train is about a 15-minute walk to the AFL-CIO headquarters, where we will start the day.  We will be seeking volunteers to pick people up and drop them off at the station.)

Tentative Agenda

 9:45–10:15 Gather attendees and distribute materials

Meet-up location:
AFL-CIO Headquarters Conference Room
532 S 2nd Street 
Springfield IL 62701

 10:15–10:30 Kick-off by LWVIL President Becky Simon

 10:30–12:30 Meet with lawmakers 

11:30 Rally with partner “Funding Our Futures” out EBF (optional)

12:30–1:15 Speaker presentation and lunch back at AFL-CIO Conference Room

 1:15–1:30 Group photo op

 1:30 Meet with lawmakers OR depart

(Attendees may depart when their activities are complete)


This information will be updated as we get closer to May 1.  Please check back for updates.