This week in Springfield bills are being assigned and I have been busy with session and committee hearings, including Public Health, Transportation, and Labor. Members wore red in support of American Heart Month, and as always, the Capitol building is buzzing with constituents and advocates! (1/2)

We celebrate Black History Month now and always. As the first Black person to serve as State Senator of the 7th District and a member of the Illinois Black Legislative Caucus, I will continue to fight to preserve, remember, and advance Black excellence in all its forms.

Check out my latest newsletter that includes news on $1.1 billion in medical debt relief, a town hall recap, and my reaction to the Governor’s proposed state budget. Read it with my link in bio and stories!

Happy Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse! 🐎 As always, It was a blast attending multiple Lunar New Year events on Saturday, including Chinese Mutual Aid Association's celebration at St. Augustine College, Southeast Asia Center’s luncheon at Furama, and the Lunar New Year parade on Argyle! (1/2)

I held a press conference at the capitol yesterday to announce that the Illinois Medical Relief Program, which I passed into law in 2024, has provided over $1.1 billion in debt relief to over 500,000 Illinoisans. I am grateful for Governor Pritzker’s commitment, and we're just getting started!

The governor’s proposed FY27 budget is a good starting point. As always, I will not support cuts to vital human services. Furthermore, I support a budget that supports those affected by ICE, fully funds SNAP/Medicaid, and funds housing solutions.

Next in our series for Black History Month, we are highlighting an everyday leader, constituent, and volunteer Gary McCollum!

The district office at 1040 W Bryn Mawr is closed Monday, February 16th, 2026 in observance of Presidents Day. Normal hours will resume Tuesday, February 17th at 9:00am. If you are in need of assistance, leave us a message at 773-769-1717 or email [email protected].

Happy Valentine’s Day from elementary school students to seniors! ❤️💜💙 Every year, my team and I visit senior buildings around the district to hand out Valentine’s day cards to seniors that were made by local students. Thank you to (1/2)

Our ICE, SNAP, Policy Town Hall went very well yesterday with over 60 neighbors in attendance at Clarendon Park in Uptown! I shared details of the over 50 bills I filed this session alongside SNAP work requirement and ICE response updates. Thank you for everyone who came out and (1/2)

🚨Alert! 🚨 My first Town Hall of 2026 is this Thursday, February 12th in Clarendon Park Fieldhouse (4501 N Clarendon Ave) from 5:30-6:30pm. RSVP at bit.ly/simmonsTHfeb!

Last week, I joined Bowmanville Community Organization for their annual housing meeting. I shared my actions to alleviate the housing crisis in our communities. This includes passing HB648 in 2021 to raise the cap on rental subsidy programs from 30 to 35%, SB1484 in 2023 which establishes a (1/2)

To kick off Black History Month, my office will be highlighting small businesses, community leaders, and everyday constituents. First, I talked with Elijadji, owner of Teranga about what Black History Month means to him and about Senegalese food. (1/2)

Join me on Thursday, February 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for my first Town Hall of 2026 at the Clarendon Fieldhouse (4501 N. Clarendon)! I will give updates on the over 50 bills I have filed this Spring 2026 Session. I am looking forward to seeing you! RSVP at bit.ly/simmonsTHfeb

ICYMI, check out my latest newsletter that covers our 2025 Year in Review, quick legislative updates from Springfield, and important updates about SNAP work requirements! Read with the link in bio.

This Black History Month, we honor the past by protecting the future. Black history isn’t just something we celebrate — it’s something we protect. (1/2)

The Illinois Accountability Commission is collecting evidence from Operation Midway Blitz from Sep to Dec 2025 that could be used for potential prosecution. If you encountered DHS operations firsthand, you can submit evidence or testify at the next hearing by visiting ilac.illinois.gov in my bio.

On Monday, I joined students at Loyola University Chicago for a conversation about gun violence prevention hosted by Loyola Stands Against Gun Violence. We had a great talk about Karina’s Law, the assault weapons ban, violence prevention programs, and how (1/2)

The 2025 Senator Simmons recap is here! While 2025 was a year of many challenges that brought our community closer together, I am proud to share it was a record-breaking year for connecting with constituents. (1/3)

Hello Bluesky! 👋🏿 State Senator Mike Simmons from Illinois’ 7th Senate District here on my new and official government account! Follow for legislative updates and more.