Since April 2024, disability justice advocates have been asking Illinois senate president Don Harmon to meet to discuss what he's willing to support that would end illegal retaliation against nursing home residents.  

Letters, emails, personal visits, showing up at his town hall meetings, more letters, leafleting outside his fundraisers ... Harmon declined all these requests, meaning the necessary reform is delayed.

Then Dec 11 his spokesperson tells the SunTimes there's been some kind of negotiation taking place (news to anyone that doesn't run a nursing home for profit).

Harmon keeps saying it would be "extraordinary" for business owners (in the nursing home business, anyway) to have accountability for harms done in facilities they own.

Fear of retaliation for speaking up about abuse or violations silences residents, allows problems to fester, and helps owners skimp on care and maximize profits.

This proposed reform is based on proven anti-retaliation laws in rental housing that have been on the books in several Illinois cities and counties for many years.  

Facility residents are asking for your voice, to send a message that is too loud to ignore.

Many Senate leaders are standing with the people. Harmon says he agrees illegal retaliation against facility residents is a problem that should not be tolerated, but owners should not be held accountable (disregarding 'respondeat superior,' a core principle behind much civil rights and environmental justice law)

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See here for some of the groups calling for ending illegal retaliation, and holding owners accountable.