State Representative Nicole La Ha (R-Homer Glen) and State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) are honored to announce the passage of Senate Bill 3016 through the Illinois House this week. For Rep. La Ha, this was far more than a legislative victory. The bill is deeply rooted in the experiences that first inspired her to step into public service.
“As a mother, this moment is incredibly emotional for me,” said Rep. La Ha. “Long before I ever held public office, I was simply a mom trying to navigate a world that was not always built with children like my daughter in mind. The challenges our family faced opened my eyes to how many families feel overlooked, isolated, or left out of spaces that should welcome everyone. That journey changed my life and ultimately led me to public service.”
SB3016 encourages communities across Illinois to prioritize accessibility and universal design in park and recreation projects, helping create spaces where children, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities can fully participate together.
Sen. DeWitte carried the legislation in the Senate. “It was a privilege to carry SB 3016, a bill that will make a meaningful difference for children of all ability levels,” he said. “This legislation was born from Representative La Ha’s vision and personal passion for ensuring every child has access to safe, inclusive play opportunities. I was proud to help lead her effort in the Senate and support a measure that will bring more joy, dignity, and accessibility to families across Illinois.”
Rep. La Ha’s advocacy has always been personal. Her daughter, Ashlynn, lives with cerebral palsy, and that experience reshaped how La Ha viewed accessibility, mobility, and inclusion in everyday life. She experienced firsthand the struggles of inaccessible playgrounds, public spaces that created barriers, and the emotional weight families carry when their children cannot fully participate alongside others.
Instead of remaining silent, Rep. La Ha turned that pain into purpose. In 2021, while serving on the Homer Glen Board of Trustees, she became a founding committee member and the first chairperson of Homer Glen’s Ability Awareness Committee, the community’s first recommending body dedicated to advocating for residents with disabilities and improving quality of life for individuals of all abilities.
Then, in 2022, her message reached a national stage when she was crowned Mrs. America, becoming only the second woman from Illinois in the organization’s 46-year history to receive the title. During her year of service, she traveled across the country advocating for accessibility, accessible playgrounds, and stronger support systems for children and families living with disabilities.
“This was the exact platform I carried across America as Mrs. America,” Rep. La Ha said. “I spoke about accessibility, belonging, and creating communities where children with disabilities are seen and included. To now stand in the Illinois House and watch legislation connected to that mission move forward is something I will never forget.”
Her advocacy eventually brought her to Capitol Hill, where she testified alongside the Cerebral Palsy Foundation in support of federal funding and resources for individuals living with cerebral palsy and their families.
“Most importantly, I want other families to know they are not alone,” Rep. La Ha said. “Every child deserves the chance to laugh, play, connect, and experience the same joy as every other child. Every family deserves to feel welcomed in their community.”
Rep. La Ha said the passage of SB3016 represents years of advocacy, conversations, and lived experience from families across Illinois who have fought for more accessible public spaces.
“This legislation means so much because I know the families behind it,” Rep. La Ha said. “I know the parents who have carried wheelchairs through gravel or mulch because there was no accessible path. I know the children who sat on the sidelines because the playground was never designed for them. Today is for those families.”
Click here to view a video response from Sen. DeWitte and Rep. La Ha: SB 3016 Sen. Don DeWitte Rep. Nicole La Ha