Welcome to Senator Robert Peters legislative website
Peters’ law ensuring equal justice in public defense system to take effect
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters’ law creating the Office of the State Public Defender, an independent office under the state’s Judicial Branch – marking one of the most substantial reforms of Illinois’ public defense system since 1949 – goes into effect July 1.
“When I worked to get this law over the finish line last spring, it was with the knowledge that Illinois not only has disparities in its justice system, but also that we have a duty to reduce them,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “There are too many instances where someone is punished with a harsher sentence or a wrongful conviction, and this law is going to directly mitigate that harm in our communities and preserve residents’ constitutional right to counsel.”
A state public defender is a government-employed lawyer who provides legal representation to individuals accused or convicted of crimes who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. Public defender offices are one of three methods through which states and localities ensure defendants are granted the 6th and 14th Amendments right to counsel.
Peters reacts to proposal to keep Chicago Bears in Illinois
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the Senate passed House Bill 958, a measure that would create an avenue to keeping the Bears in Chicago:
“As a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears and the state senator who represents Soldier Field, I would like nothing more than for the team to stay in Illinois, specifically in Chicago and in the stadium our taxpayers have been funding for over 20 years.
“My understanding is this proposal gives the Bears everything they’ve publically asked for and gives Chicago a good chance to keep the team in the city, which is why I voted ‘yes.’ If the Bears break the trust of our great city, then it is vitally important that we ensure Soldier Field and the Museum Campus – our state’s front yard – receive the infrastructure improvements they so desperately deserve.
“Since the Bears first looked to move to Arlington Heights in 2021, I’ve held the opinion that the Chicago Bears should be a Chicago-based team and should be dedicated to the betterment of Chicago’s lakefront communities. However, it cannot be at the expense of our taxpayers who have already put billions into the pockets of the team’s owners. My priority is and always will be my residents, and HB 958 puts residents first.”
Peters: Spending plan centered around fairness, stability for all residents
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to the Senate’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 spending plan:
“With many Illinoisans stretched thin, and the Trump administration directly targeting funding for highly populated states like Illinois, lawmakers stepped up to the moment to ensure we passed a responsible spending plan centered around fairness and stability for all residents.
“I was proud to see the inclusion of a new revenue enhancement that would hold tech giants in Illinois accountable for paying their fair share, proving our commitment to fighting for working and middle-class families and ensuring we have a stable funding source for public services – like education and mental health resources.
“After a tough year and difficult conversations, this spending plan reflects our dedication to prioritizing affordability for Illinoisans, with investments in education, health care, food security and violence prevention programs statewide. This is not a perfect spending plan, but it is practical, and it will act as a security net to mitigate continued harm for our communities perpetrated by the Trump administration.”
Peters leads measure to protect consumers from AI-driven discrimination
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SPRINGFIELD — Artificial intelligence has been a source of consumers’ data and privacy concerns for over a decade, but in recent years, a new branch has started to stem from these concerns, as reports indicate stores may be using AI-gathered personal data to charge certain customers more for goods and services. To protect Illinoisans from this practice – known as surveillance-based discrimination – State Senator Robert Peters advanced legislation that would block the use of modern technology to set personalized prices.
“Every Illinois consumer is affected by these exploitative policies, whether they realize it or not, and we cannot sit back and watch the unjust targeting of the finances, privacy and equality of residents at a time when the price of living is becoming increasingly unreasonable,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Prohibiting companies from utilizing surveillance-based data to influence consumer pricing is a commonsense solution to protecting residents from price gouging, discrimination and data privacy threats.”
Surveillance pricing data includes personal information such as browsing history or behavioral patterns, and companies typically collect and analyze the data using AI and algorithms to charge personal prices for customers. In July 2024, the Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation seeking information from companies that utilize surveillance-based pricing. In the findings, the FTC reported retailers use consumer behaviors – such as mouse movement on a webpage or the types of items added to online shopping carts – as well as demographic information and geolocation, to modify consumer pricing.
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Welcome
Dear Friends,
Thank you for visiting my legislative website. It is my honor to serve the citizens of the 13th Senate District in the Illinois General Assembly. On this website, you can learn a little bit about me, my record in the General Assembly, and the services I can provide you.
I always welcome feedback from my constituents, so if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Robert Peters
State Senator, 13th District
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Contact Us
District Office:
1304 E. 47th St., Suite 205
Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 363-1996
Text:
(773) 830-2598
Springfield Office:
635 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-5338