In this issue:
- Legislative survey now available
- Spring session right around the corner
- Dresden and Clinton nuclear power plants granted licensure extensions
- Illinois headlines
Legislative survey now available
As we start a new year and get ready for the spring session of the General Assembly to convene later this month, I want to hear what is on the minds of the people of the 106th District.
My 2026 spring legislative survey is hitting mailboxes around the district this week, but you can also take the survey online if you choose. Click here to fill out the survey online and to share your thoughts with me.
Thank you for taking the time to let me know your opinions on the issues we expect to take on during the spring session. It helps me to better represent our district in Springfield if I hear from residents of our area about what is important to you.
As always, you can contact my office with your comments and questions anytime throughout the year.
Spring session right around the corner
The 2026 spring session of the Illinois General Assembly will convene later this month in Springfield. The Senate will return to the Capitol next Tuesday, and the House will follow on January 20. Both chambers will be in session throughout the spring, with a targeted adjournment date of May 31.
Every year we must pass a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. We also have several important issues that we need to address this year, including public safety, ethics reform, property taxes, electricity costs, and much more. I will keep you updated during session on the goings-on at the Capitol, and I hope you will reach out to me as well with your thoughts.
Dresden and Clinton nuclear power plants granted licensure extensions
Two Illinois nuclear power plants, including one in our area, were granted 20-year licensure extensions by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission following recent inspections.
Two reactors at the Dresden Clean Energy Center near Morris were approved through 2049 and 2051. The nuclear power plant at Clinton, located between Bloomington and Decatur, will be allowed to continue its operations through 2047. Both facilities are operated by Constellation Energy. Together, the two plants support more than 2200 jobs and provide over $8 billion in tax revenue.
Constellation has pledged to invest another $370 million in safety and operational upgrades and refits. The company has made commitments to firms operating data centers to provide them with power, something which has been emerging as a significant issue as more of these energy-hungry data centers locate in Illinois.
The extensions were announced on December 16.
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 $2,192,195,705. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $2.4 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
Trump administration sues Illinois over state law limiting federal immigration actions
Health care data breach affects 600,000 patients, Illinois agency says
Flu activity in Illinois “very high” according to public health officials
Education key in Illinois’ human trafficking fight, social services CEO says
DCFS accepting applications for scholarship program for current and former youth in care