Maria Peterson

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

Supporting legislation that expands the use of mental health professionals in responding to non-violent crisis calls—and backing local programs that support officer wellness, like therapy dogs in police departments, to improve both safety and morale. Learn more

Expanding mental health and disability resources across the district to reduce incarceration, prevent recidivism, and ensure people receive care—not punishment—when they need help the most. Learn more

Strengthening police and community relations so that mutual respect and trust is built. Learn more

Education

Fighting for childcare subsidies and universal pre-K because thousands of dollars yearly for every child for childcare in our area isn’t just unaffordable – it’s forcing parents out of the workforce entirely. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Recognizing that climate change is already here. Stronger storms, longer allergy seasons, and dangerous heat waves are affecting our health and economy. Maria supports community-based disaster planning and early warning systems to keep families safe. Learn more

Protecting the Fox River, a vital source of drinking water and recreation. When it’s polluted, we all pay—through higher water bills, lost tourism, and damaged ecosystems. Learn more

Modernizing stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding that regularly damages homes, businesses, and roads like Route 59. These emergencies are preventable with the right leadership. Learn more

Supporting smarter floodplain planning and giving local communities more control over water management—with reforms that improve both quality and accountability. Learn more

Committing to clean energy—including solar, wind, and nuclear—to reduce emissions, increase reliability, and lower utility costs. Illinois led the way with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Now we must defend that progress and make sure energy companies answer to the people they serve. Learn more

Guns

Strengthening Illinois’ red flag laws so that firearms can be temporarily removed from individuals in crisis – because tragedies like Highland Park are preventable when families have tools to intervene. Learn more

Supporting measures to keep schools free from gun violence – including school-based threat assessments, violence interruption strategies, and partnerships with trained mental health professionals. Learn more

Passing safe gun storage laws that keep firearms out of the hands of children – because gun responsibility starts at home. Learn more

Healthcare

Ending the stigma around mental illness and disability through public education, policy reform, and investments that prioritize dignity and inclusion in all aspects of healthcare. Learn more

Expanding mental health access so it’s treated with the same urgency as physical care, with timely services, community-based providers, and stronger support for youth, schools, and veterans. Learn more

Addressing healthcare costs that force families to ration medications and skip preventive care. No one should have to choose between their health and keeping their home. Learn more

Fighting to lower the cost of prescription drugs—including essentials like insulin, inhalers, and Epipens—and protect access to preventive care, including childhood vaccinations, for every Illinois family. Learn more

Housing

Working alongside our villages to encourage developers to convert unused commercial buildings into new residential units and low-income housing. Learn more

Supporting property tax reform to reduce the burden on working and middle-class homeowners while protecting local services. Learn more

Expanding access to affordable housing for veterans, people with disabilities, and low-income families—so no one is left behind after serving their country or community. Learn more

Expanding affordable housing options so the teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other essential workers who serve our communities can actually afford to live here. When our essential workers are priced out of their own districts, we all lose. Learn more

Challenging institutional investors who are buying up homes and apartment buildings, creating a monopoly – to give first-time home buyers, and/or low-income renters the opportunity to buy or rent before their listing goes public by providing a list-serve of those interested. Learn more

Immigration

Backing state-level solutions—like expanding access to work permits—that recognize the vital economic role immigrants and refugees play in our workforce and community life. Learn more

Promoting practical, bipartisan policies that respect due process, protect families, and focus on real-world outcomes over political rhetoric. Learn more

Supporting efforts that keep Illinois a safe place for law-abiding immigrant families while making it clear that individuals who commit violent crimes are not exempt from federal enforcement. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

We need progressive tax reform that asks those who can afford it most to pay their fair share. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

Strengthening and enforcing prevailing wage laws to make sure workers are paid fairly and contractors play by the rules. Learn more

Partnering with local governments to pass responsible bidder ordinances that reward fair labor practices and keep taxpayer-funded jobs in the hands of qualified, local union workers. Learn more

Fighting for guaranteed paid time off for illness, caregiving, and family loss—because the U.S. Shouldn’t be the only industrialized nation that treats medical leave as optional. Learn more