In this issue:
- Watseka schools bill passes
- Mass transit bailout bill has hidden inflation factor
- Women in Agriculture Award accepting nominations
- Illinois turkey producers’ key role in agriculture industry
Watseka schools bill passes
On the final day of the fall veto session the House and Senate passed a bill which Senator Balkema and I sponsored to help one of our local school districts recover from a natural disaster. Our bill was the only Republican-sponsored bill to pass the General Assembly during the fall session.
Under our bill, the Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9 bonding authorization which was approved by local voters in 2021 will be extended. The Watseka community experienced a devastating flood several years ago, and multiple school buildings were damaged – one even had to be torn down. A building which survived the flood stands in a flood plain with ongoing risks, and high maintenance costs continue to occur.
The state and federal agencies charged with reviewing the school district’s request for funding are taking longer than expected to process the application, so this legislation extends the referendum timeline from five to ten years.
The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It is now on the Governor’s desk.
Mass transit bailout bill has hidden inflation factor
As Illinois families continue to deal with the added costs of inflation, the mass transit bailout bill which the General Assembly passed in the closing hours of the fall veto session looks like it will drive those costs up even more.
Among the ways which the bill’s sponsors chose to bring in more money for mass transit in the Chicago area is a 30% increase in tolls to be charged on heavy trucks using Illinois toll roads. If the trucks which bring food to our local supermarkets and gasoline to our local gas stations use these toll roads as they travel through the Chicago area on their way here, they will be affected by these increased tolls.
The costs of these additional tolls are likely to be passed on to the customers of the goods these trucks deliver. It is just another example of Illinois state government policy having a harmful effect on the cost of living for Illinois residents.
Generations of Women in Agriculture Award accepting nominations
Our district is home to some truly remarkable agricultural women, and I’d be thrilled to see a local family honored with this award!
Illinois Agri-Women created the “Generations of Women in Agriculture Across America” Award to recognize multi-generational families whose dedication, leadership, and passion for agriculture have strengthened both their communities and the industry.
Apply by January 31, 2026, at https://illinoisagriwomen.org/goag3-application/
Illinois turkey producers’ key role in agriculture industry
As Thanksgiving approaches, Illinois families gather around tables filled with gratitude—and turkey. But behind every golden roast is a hardworking network of farmers, processors, and small businesses that make up Illinois’ proud turkey industry. While our state is often celebrated for corn and soybeans, turkey producers are quietly driving economic growth, supporting rural communities, and keeping America fed.
Many turkey farms in Illinois are family-owned operations passed down through generations. These producers aren’t just raising birds—they’re raising standards. With a commitment to animal welfare, food safety, and environmental stewardship, Illinois turkey farmers are among the most efficient and ethical in the nation.
Read more here.
Congratulations Lady Timberwolves!
This week our district is celebrating a state championship – the Cissna Park Lady Timberwolves won their first state volleyball title at the IHSA state tournament in Normal after an astounding 25-game winning streak. The third time reaching the state finals proved to be the charm for this outstanding group of student-athletes.
Congratulations on the win, and I look forward to introducing you at the Capitol sometime soon!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope that you and your loved ones have a very happy Thanksgiving. Whether we are celebrating friends, family, a good year on the farm, a graduation, or any number of other blessings, this is a wonderful time of year to stop and take stock of all that we have to be thankful for.
Thank you for the honor of serving as your state representative.
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $1,962,548,481. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $2.2 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
State agency spending cut plans remain unclear following Pritzker’s order
Wager tax curtailing Illinois sports betting
Hundreds of great hiking trails in Illinois
Farmers can apply for second phase of disaster relief
University enrollment in Illinois grows to 10-year high despite some declines