Hello Stephanie,

As we begin 2025, I remain deeply honored to serve as your State Representative for the 84th District. Looking back on my time in the General Assembly, I feel an immense sense of gratitude—for the trust you’ve placed in me, for the colleagues I’ve worked alongside, and for the residents I continue to serve every day.

The 103rd General Assembly finished with a lame duck session from January 4th through January 7th; and I have provided information on a few of the bills that passed. Most importantly, we passed Karina's Bill. This bill will provide more protections to victims of domestic abuse who need orders of protection from firearms. You can find more information on the bill here as it heads to the Governor's desk.

January 8th was the Inauguration of the 104th General Assembly and I am excited to hit the ground running in the new session. My focus remains on delivering results that improve lives, from supporting working families to advocating for Veterans and ensuring our government works for everyone.

While Illinois has turned the corner and we are heading in the right direction, there is a lot more work that needs to be done. In these next few weeks I will be filing legislation to continue my work on Pensions, in addition to filing other pieces of legislation that have come from individuals in the community. I will email my list of legislation in my next few emails while I work to submit them.

I also want to thank my team in the district and in Springfield. They all continue to do a phenomenal job supporting our residents, and their commitment makes our office stronger every day. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and remain committed to having a welcoming environment for all who reach out to us for help. I am happy to announce that Nick is going to be moving on to a great opportunity, and we will be transitioning into another great person who will take his place. Demi is joining our team and she is serving in the Illinois National Guard and will continue to keep our communications coming your way.

Thank you for your continued support and input. As always, I along with everyone in the office is here to help you any way we can. Please make sure you are careful with this cold weather.

Take care, stay safe, and 104th Generall Assembly is now in session!

State Representative Stephanie Kifowit

Illinois House, 84th District

During the four-day lame duck session that included the capital city being hit with a blizzard, we approved a number of new bills ready to be sent to the governor.

The Kinship in Demand Act, or KIND Act - Puts an obligation on the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)to use a “kin-first approach” when placing children in foster care settings. (HB 4781)

Senate Bill 727 - Requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to conduct statewide sampling of certain community water supplies to assess the levels of dangerous chemicals.

Karina’s bill - A person who seeks an order of protection can now ask the court to issue a search warrant that will allow local law enforcement to seize firearms from the alleged abuser. (HB 4469)

Boost to renewable developments - The legislation gives state regulators more authority to balance the budget for a key renewable energy financing tool, partially by shifting financial risk to electric utility customers. It also sets up a study of energy storage technology that is intended to form the basis of a new bill later this year. (HB0587)

Potawatomi Land Transfer - The culmination of nearly 20 years of negotiations between the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the state. It authorizes the director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to deliver a quitclaim deed to the tribe for land that currently makes up Shabbona Lake and State Park.

Nearly two centuries ago, the Tribe lost its reservation in Illinois in a land sale that most people now concede was illegal. (SB867)

Learn more here

Nearly 300 new Illinois laws go into effect this week. Here are some of the most notable:

New $15 minimum wage - The state minimum wage will jump from $14 to $15 per hour, for workers 18 years and older, on Jan. 1. The minimum wage for tipped workers will also increase to $9 per hour. In 2024, tipped employees earned at least $8.40 an hour. Overtime must be paid after 40 hours of work per week at time and one-half the regular rate.

Expansions on reproductive rights - Starting Jan. 1, the new law will prohibit discrimination based on a person's reproductive health decisions, such as fertility care and abortion, and extend protections in the Illinois Human Rights Act to ensure Illinoisans can engage in reproductive health decision-making without facing discrimination.

Pay/benefit transparency for job listings - The law requires employers with 15 or more employees to include pay scale and benefits information in all job postings. The bill was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2023. 

Protections for family responsibilities in employment - Illinois workers who provide care to family members will be protected from employment discrimination based on family responsibilities as of January 1.

Limits on landlord retaliation against renters - Based on the new law taking effect, an Illinois landlord may not knowingly terminate a lease, increase rent, or bring or threaten to bring a lawsuit against a tenant in response to a tenant's complaint.

Creation of digital IDs - An Illinois law taking effect Jan. 1 allows Illinois residents the option of obtaining a digital version of their driver's license or state ID.

SB 2442 - Prohibits hospitals from directly billing a patient that is 138% below the federal poverty line.

SB 2737 - Eliminates "do not compete" and "do not solicit" clauses from employment agreements for individuals providing mental health services to first responders and veterans. (SB 2770, meanwhile, "prohibits non-compete and non-solicitation agreements in the construction industry.")

HB 4590 -Provides that an animal shelter or animal control facility may waive the adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person adopting the dog or cat is a veteran and meets specified criteria.

HB 4911 - Expands the number of ways a customer may cancel a contract for physical fitness services to include by email, if an email address was provided in the contract, or online, if the contract was entered into online.

HB 5431 - Ensures pregnant and postpartum prisoners are made aware their rights, are not forcibly restrained and have access to supplemental nutrition while imprisoned. Also ensures all female prisoners receive a medical screening within 14 days of arrival to a county or state facility.

HB 5465 - Allows a juvenile charge that was a result of human trafficking be expunged from a victims record.

The full list of New Laws is posted on our website at ildistrict84.com. FULL LIST HERE

Attention High School Seniors: the Township Officials of Illinois' 2025 Scholarship is now open! Since 1989, TOI has awarded $389,500 in scholarships to help 229 students achieve their educational goals at Illinois colleges and universities.

Are you next? Apply now and take the next step toward your future! Apply HERE

Questions? Contact TOI at 217-744-2212 or teresa@toi.org.

Join my Community Coffee Chat on Monday, January 13!

Tune in on Facebook to share concerns, ask questions, and get the latest updates on what's happening in the State of Illinois.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Did you know? Illinois has a State Microbe!

In 2021, Illinois designated penicillium rubens NRRL 1951 as the official state. The designation recognizes the contribution of Mary K. Hunt, also known as Moldy Mary, and the Northern Regional Research Library—now known as the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research. Due to their research and work, penicillin's yield soared at a time when demand was high all across the world.

Our "Museums in the Park" program continues to be available to all District 84 residents.

Take advantage of 4 FREE tickets per visit to one of the many museums, zoos, and aquariums all across the Chicagoland area!

Request Your Tickets Today!

(Requires 2 week advance notice)

Looking for info from a previous newsletter? All past editions are available here on our website.