National Urban League & Affiliates Proud to Stand with Illinois as it Adopts the Clean Slate Act

NEW YORK (January 16, 2026) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to Illinois adopting the Clean Slate Act:

“The National Urban League applauds Governor JB Pritzker, Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth, and Illinois legislators for enacting the Clean Slate Act—one of the most significant criminal justice reforms in the nation and a powerful affirmation of the belief that people deserve the chance to rebuild their lives.

"Too many Illinoisans have been denied a fair shot at a stable job or a safe place to live, even decades after paying their debt to society.  When people have access to good jobs and stable housing, recidivism declines and communities grow stronger. Business leaders in Illinois understand this, which is why major employers—from manufacturers to retailers—stood firmly behind this legislation. Clean Slate will help unleash billions of dollars in lost wages back into the state’s economy each year, fueling growth for families, businesses, and entire communities.

"The National Urban League is proud to stand with Illinois — and proud of the role our affiliates played as part of the Clean Slate Illinois Coalition — as the state joins the growing movement to end the cycle of permanent punishment and expand opportunity for all. This is the kind of bold, bipartisan progress our nation needs. We urge other states to follow Illinois’ lead and ensure that a past mistake is not a lifelong sentence.”