Message From The Joint Chairman

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) stands as a pillar of advocacy and progress, dedicated to ensuring that Black communities across our state have the resources and opportunities necessary to thrive. As Joint Chairwoman, I am honored to lead this historic body in the fight for policies that uplift, protect, and empower our people.

Our mission is clear: to build a more just and equitable Illinois. This means expanding economic opportunities, improving access to quality education, advocating for healthcare equity, and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system. We know that when Black communities prosper, our entire state benefits.

Equity in education is not just a goal—it is a necessity. Every child in Illinois deserves a strong foundation and the tools to reach their full potential. We will work to eliminate barriers to academic success and ensure that our schools are equipped to support the next generation of leaders.

Economic justice is central to our work. We are committed to fostering an environment where Black businesses can flourish, workers have access to good-paying jobs, and families can build generational wealth. By investing in entrepreneurship, workforce development, and equitable economic policies, we can create pathways to lasting financial stability.

At the core of our efforts is a commitment to social justice. We will continue pushing for reforms that address systemic inequalities, protect civil rights, and create opportunities for those who have been historically marginalized. Our communities deserve fairness, dignity, and a government that works for them.

The work ahead is not easy, but together, we are powerful. The ILBC will continue to be a force for change, using our collective strength to break down barriers and build a future that reflects the values of equity, opportunity, and justice for all.

In Solidarity,

Senator Lakesia Collins 5th district 

Joint Chairwoman

Senator

Lakesia Collins

5th District

ILBC Joint Chair

Committee Assignments:     Early Childhood Education; Financial Institutions; Human Rights (Vice-Chair); Public Health; Revenue.

Representative

Rita Mayfield

60th District

ILBC Joint Vice Chair

Committee Assignments: Appropriations-Public Safety (Chairperson); Approp-Elementary & Secondary Educ; Appropriations-Human Services; Consumer Protection; Elem Sec Ed: School Curric Policies; Energy & Environment; Insurance; Police & Fire Committee (Vice-Chairperson); Product Safety Subcommittee (Sub-Chairperson); Special Issues (INS) Subcommittee (Sub-Co-Chairperson); Law Enforcement Subcommittee; Firefighters and First Responders; Small Business,Tech Innovation.

Senator

Willie Preston

16th District

ILBC Senate Chair

Committee Assignments:     State Government (Vice-Chair); Insurance; Appropriations- Public Safety & Infrastructure; Education; Sp. Comm on Criminal Law and Public Safety.

Senator

Adriane Johnson

30th District

ILBC Treasurer

Committee Assignments: Education (Chair); Veterans Affairs; Appropriations; Transportation; Local Government; Behavioral and Mental Health; Environment and Conservation (Vice-Chair).

Representative

Kimberly du Buclet

5th District

ILBC Secretary

Committee Assignments: Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT; Appropriations-Higher Education; Health Care Availability & Access; Personnel & Pensions; Public Utilities; Adoption & Child Welfare (Vice-Chairperson).

Representative

William Davis

30th District

ILBC Sergeant of Arms

Committee Assignments: Approp-Elementary & Secondary Educ (Chairperson); Appropriations-Public Safety; Energy & Environment; Executive (Vice-Chairperson); Labor & Commerce; International Trade & Commerce; Minority Impact Analysis Sub..

Senator

Christopher Belt

57th District

Committee Assignments: Education (Chair); Criminal Law; Energy and Public Utilities; Insurance; Labor; Licensed Activities; Transportation; App-Education (Sub-Chair); Redistricting- Southwestern IL (Sub-Chair); Redistricting- Southern Illinois (Sub-Vice-Chair); Licensed Activities- Special Issues (Sub-Chair).

Senator

Napoleon Harris, III

15th District

Majority Caucus Whip

Committee Assignments: Insurance (Chair); Commerce (Vice-Chair); Energy and Public Utilities; Executive; Health; Pensions; App-Government Infrastructure; App- Personnel and Procurement (Sub-Chair); App- Revenue and Finance; Appropriations; Subcommittee on Public Health; Redistricting- South Cook County (Sub-Chair); Executive- Cannabis (Sub-Vice-Chair); Executive- Tobacco (Sub-Chair).

Senator

Mattie Hunter

3rd District

Assistant Majority Leader

Committee Assignments: Behavioral and Mental Health; Energy and Public Utilities; Ethics (Vice-Chair); Executive; Executive Appointments (Vice-Chair); Healthcare Access and Availability; Transportation; Revenue (Chair); App- Criminal Justice (Sub-Chair); App-Health; Appropriations; Redistricting; Redistricting- Chicago South; Executive- Gaming (Sub-Vice-Chair); Executive- Procurement (Sub-Vice-Chair); Executive- Special Issues (Sub-Chair).

Senator

Kimberly A. Lightford

4th District

Majority Leader

Committee Assignments: Assignments (Chair); Education; Executive; Higher Education; Labor; App-Education; App- Personnel and Procurement; Redistricting- Chi. West and W Cook (Sub-Chair); Executive- Cannabis; Executive- Government Operations (Sub-Chair); Executive- Special Issues (Sub-Vice-Chair).

Senator

Robert Peters

13th District

Committee Assignments:    Public Safety (Chair); Criminal Law; Environment and Conservation; Health; Human Rights; Labor; Revenue; App- Criminal Justice; App-Emergency Management (Sub-Chair); Subcommittee on Children & Family (Sub-Chair); Sub. on Long-Term Care & Aging; Redistricting- Chicago South (Sub-Chair); Sealing and Expungement.

Senator

Mike Simmons

7th District

Committee Assignments: Behavioral and Mental Health; Healthcare Access and Availability (Vice-Chair); Tourism and Hospitality; Transportation; App-Health; Redistricting- Chicago North (Sub-Vice-Chair).

Senator

Doris Turner

48th District

Committee Assignments: Agriculture; State Government; Tourism and Hospitality; Veterans Affairs (Vice-Chair); App-Health; Redistricting- E Central & SE IL (Sub-Vice-Chair); Redistricting- West Central IL (Sub-Vice-Chair); Redistricting- Southwestern IL (Sub-Vice-Chair).

Representative

Carol Ammons

103rd District

Committee Assignments:  Appropriations-Higher Education; Counties & Townships; Economic Opportunity & Equity; Energy & Environment; Ethics & Elections Committee; Higher Education; Campaign Finance Subcommittee; Small Business,Tech Innovation (Chairperson).

Representative

Kambium Buckner

26th District

Assistant Majority Leader

Committee Assignments: Executive; Higher Education; Judiciary – Criminal; Tourism Committee (Vice-Chairperson); Judiciary – Civil; Commercial & Property Subcommittee.

Representative

Mary Beth Canty

54th District

Committee Assignments:  Appropriations-Public Safety; Child Care Access & Early Childhood; Cities & Villages; Housing; Police & Fire Committee; Public Health.

Representative

Lisa Davis

32nd District

Committee Assignments: Adoption & Child Welfare; Child Care Access & Early Childhood; Economic Opportunity & Equity; Judiciary – Criminal; Restorative Justice; State Government Administration; Approp-Pensions and Personnel.

Representative

Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

33rd District

Assistant Majority Leader

Committee Assignments:    Labor & Commerce (Chairperson); Appropriations-Human Services; Ethics & Elections Committee; Executive; Health Care Availability & Access; Revenue & Finance; Business & Innovation Subcommittee (Sub-Chairperson); Minority Impact Analysis Sub. (Sub-Chairperson); Wage Policy & Study Subcommittee (Sub-Chairperson); Workforce Development Subcommittee; Income Tax Subcommittee (Sub-Chairperson); Medicaid & Managed Care Subcommitte.

Representative

LaShawn K. Ford

8th District

Committee Assignments:    Appropriations-Higher Education (Chairperson); Financial Institutions; Labor & Commerce; Public Utilities; Restorative Justice Committee (Vice-Chairperson); Fair Lending and Community Reinvest.

Representative

Sonya M. Harper

6th District

Committee Assignments: Agriculture & Conservation (Chairperson); Appropriations-Public Safety; Economic Opportunity & Equity; Elem Sec Ed: School Curric Policies; Energy & Environment; Revenue & Finance; Health Care Availability & Access; Sales, Amuse., & Other Taxes Sub.

Representative

Thaddeus Jones

29th District

Committee Assignments: Insurance (Chairperson); Judiciary – Civil; Labor & Commerce; Prescription Drug Affordability; Minority Impact Analysis Sub.; Workforce Development Subcommittee; Special Issues (INS) Subcommittee (Sub-Chairperson); Family Law & Probate Subcommittee.

Representative

Camille Y. Lilly

78th District

Assistant Majority Leader

Committee Assignments:    Rules; Appropriations-Human Services; Appropriations-Public Safety; Executive; Restorative Justice Committee; Special Issues (AP) Subcommittee; Redistricting Committee.

Representative

Yolanda Morris

9th District

Committee Assignments: Appropriations-Public Safety; Health Care Availability & Access; Housing; Human Services; Mental Health & Addiction; Public Health.

Representative

Nicholas K. Smith 

34th District

Majority Officer/Sergeant at Arms

Committee Assignments: Economic Opportunity & Equity (Chairperson); Appropriations-Higher Education (Vice-Chairperson); Energy & Environment; Insurance; Prescription Drug Affordability; International Trade & Commerce (Vice-Chairperson).

Representative

Curtis Tarver II

25th District

Committee Assignments:  Energy & Environment; Judiciary – Civil (Vice-Chairperson); Revenue & Finance (Vice-Chairperson); Income Tax Subcommittee; Property Tax Subcommittee; Redistricting Committee (Vice-Chairperson); Civil Procedure & Tort Liability (Sub-Chairperson).

Representative

Maurice West

67th District

Assistant Majority Leader

Committee Assignments:  Higher Education (Vice-Chairperson); Judiciary – Criminal; Mental Health & Addiction; Public Utilities; Restorative Justice Committee; Revenue & Finance; Special Issues Subcommittee; Property Tax Subcommittee; Utilities Subcommittee; Criminal Administration and Enforce; Firearms and Firearm Safety Subcomm; Juvenile Justice and System Involve; Sex Offenses and Sex Offender Reg.; Sentencing, Penalties and Criminal.

Representative

Jawaharial Williams

10th District

Committee Assignments:    Labor & Commerce; Public Utilities; Transportation: Regulation, Roads (Vice-Chairperson); Transportation: Vehicles & Safety; Financial Institutions; Utilities Subcommittee.

Brief History
Of The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus