|
Dear Stephanie,
I hope this message finds you all safe and well after the severe storms and tornadoes that swept through our state this week. It's during times like these that we truly come together as a community, supporting and helping one another. If you or your loved ones were affected by the storms, please know that my office and I are here to assist, please reach out. The Attorney General issued a statement to be aware of scams. You can read his warning here.
Illinois Joining Forces is coming to Aurora to help area Veterans and their families with a series of exciting initiatives aimed at fostering unity and community engagement. I encourage you to mark your calendars for July 28th and join fellow Veterans and their families. Information is provided below.
In other news, I am pleased to share that our state has ended the fiscal year with a record $50.7 billion in base revenue, leading to a small surplus. This achievement is a testament to the resilience and hard work of our state. Additionally, I'm thrilled to inform you that Governor Pritzker has signed several impactful bills that I helped pass into law. Read on to find out what measures will be coming into effect soon.
In the realm of infrastructure, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has unveiled an ambitious six-year, $41 billion plan for infrastructure projects. This plan will improve our roads, bridges, public transit systems, and much more. It's a testament to our commitment to modernizing our state and ensuring a safe and efficient transportation network for all.
Lastly, I have some encouraging news for our seniors in the collar counties. A bigger property tax break is on the horizon, potentially leading to lower tax bills. It's an initiative that aims to alleviate financial burdens and provide our seniors with the support they deserve. It has passed both Chambers and is awaiting the Governors signature.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
| |
P.S. Please reach out to our office if you need assistance at (630) 585-1308 or send me an email. | |
|
Shred & Recycle Event
Saturday July 22, 2023
| |
|
Shred & Recycle Event
Saturday, July 22
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
| |
|
Constituent Education Card
Free Admission Across Chicago
Request the Card HERE
| |
American Legion Band Concert
Thursday July 27, 2023
| |
|
Illinois Joining Forces Aurora Events
Friday July 28, 2023
| |
|
Aurora Area Regional Summit
Friday, July 28th | 1:00 – 4:00 PM
RSVP HERE
| |
|
Military & Veterans Night Out at Blackberry Farm
Friday, July 28th | 5:00 – 8:00 PM
RSVP HERE
| |
Save the Date
American Legion Golf Outing
September 21, 2023
| |
|
3rd Annual Roosevelt-Aurora Post 84 of the American Legion Golf Outing
Join me and my fellow Veterans for the 3rd Annual Post 84 Golf Outing. It is a fun event and all the proceeds go to help area Veterans and Post 84.
| |
Starting or Running a Small Business? | |
July is Parks and Recreation Month! | |
|
Celebrate Parks and Recreation month by attending a fun summer event at your park district!
District 84 residents have access to a variety of programs at the Fox Valley, Oswego, and Naperville Park Districts. This July, go outside for free morning yoga, watch a summer play, or cool off with a dive in movie.
Visit each district's event page linked above for more programs, information, and registration.
| |
Governor Pritzker Signs Bills Into Law | |
|
House Bill 3733 - Makes changes to labor laws in order to provide updated and modernized procedures. This will require employers to provide copies of records to employees by mail or email upon request, and will require any employer with remote or traveling employees to make information regarding labor rights available electronically.
House Bill 3351 - Requires that Illinois Solar for All program projects are subject to prevailing wage.
House Bill 3227 - Clarifies the unclaimed wages process for the Illinois Department of Labor.
House Bill 2776 - Requires the City of Chicago to publicly post annually on its website data describing its progress toward lead service line replacement, including number of lines replaced and average cost, progress meeting contractor diversity requirements, waivers of lead service line replacements, and financing options.
Senate Bill 1935 - Adds minority owned and Veteran owned small businesses to the list of entities that may receive preference in the disposition of transferable property.
| |
Effective January 1, 2024 | |
|
House Bill 3755 - Grants committed persons greater access to reentry programs by allowing them to transfer custody to the sheriff of the county in which they reside.
House Bill 3097 - Allows the Illinois Department of Labor greater oversight over Amusement Ride and Attraction safety.
House Bill 2582 - Removes duplicative license testing requirement for motorcycle drivers under the age of 18.
House Bill 2562 - Sets heating and cooling standards for buildings that are limited to people 55 years and older.
House Bill 2005 - Requires housing authorities to develop and implement policies granting housing preferences for homeless Veterans.
Senate Bill 1913 - Requires Medicaid coverage, whether through fee-for-service or managed care, of mental health and substance use disorder treatment or services delivered as behavioral telehealth services. Such services shall be reimbursed on the same basis as in-person encounters.
Find more information at ILGA.GOV
| |
State Ends Fiscal Year with Record $50.7 Billion in Base Revenue, Sparking Small Surplus | |
|
Revenues – excluding federal stimulus funds – outperformed estimates by $12B over the past 2 years.
State revenues once again reached a record high in the fiscal year that ended June 30, creating what Gov. JB Pritzker called a “one-time” budget surplus of over $700 million.
FY 2023 marked the second consecutive year in which state revenues exceeded initial estimates by billions of dollars. FY 2022’s base revenues of $50.3 billion – again, a number that excludes federal pandemic aid – topped that year’s initial estimate by nearly $8 billion.
Read More Here
| |
IDOT Unveils 6-Year, $41 Billion Plan for Infrastructure Projects | |
|
The Illinois Department of Transportation unveiled a plan on Friday for spending nearly $41 billion in federal, state and local funds over the next six years to repair and upgrade roads, bridges, airports, rail lines and other infrastructure throughout the state.
The latest version of the plan, which IDOT updates annually, is the largest multiyear plan in state history. It’s driven by the state’s 2019 Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure program. The initial six-year Rebuild Illinois plan included $33.2 billion for transportation, funded largely by annualized increases to the state’s motor fuel tax and increases to driving-related licensing fees that took effect in 2020.
Through four years of the Rebuild Illinois program, IDOT has completed $12.1 billion of improvements statewide, including 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges, and 762 other safety improvements.
MORE INFORMATION
| |
Governor Pritzker Joins GLSEN’s Rise Up Campaign, Pledges to Protect LGBTQ+ Youth | |
|
This week Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker joined GLSEN’s Rise Up campaign and released a proclamation declaring Illinois communities a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ+ youth.
GLSEN’s Rise Up for LGBTQ+ Youth campaign calls on every adult and ally in a position of authority who supports equal educational opportunity and believes that schools must be free from transphobia, homophobia, racism, and all forms of bigotry and discrimination to rise up and say so.
Read the Proclamation Here
| |
Collar County Seniors Are in Line for a Bigger Property Tax Break, if Not Lower Tax Bills
| |
|
Eligible homeowners 65 and older in the five suburban collar counties will see the value of their senior citizen property tax exemption increase by $3,000 next year.
The property tax break is automatic for homeowners who already receive the exemption in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, which amounts to more than 20% of all residential properties in those counties, according to a Daily Herald analysis of collar county property tax records.
The increase is thanks to a law passed nearly unanimously in 2022 boosting the exemption to $8,000 from $5,000, matching the value of the benefit seniors in Cook County already receive. The value for eligible homeowners in downstate counties remains at $5,000.
MORE INFORMATION
| |
CNBC’s Annual Top States for Business Rankings
Show Continued Improvement for Illinois
Four Years Running
| |
|
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today highlighted Illinois’ top rankings in CNBC’s 2023 Top States for Business publication – an annual report that ranks states based on 10 broad categories of competitiveness.
This year, Illinois ranked in the top 10 in the nation for four categories of competitiveness, and six categories in the top 20. Illinois is ranked 17th best state for business, rising ahead two spots from the 2022 ranking and up from 30th in the 2019 ranking.
Highlights include:
- #2 in the nation for infrastructure (up from #3 in ‘22)
- #2 in the nation for education (up from #6 in ‘22)
- #6 in the nation for access to capital (up from #8 in ‘22)
- #9 in the nation for cost of living (up from #20 in ‘22
| |
Watch the most recent Coffee Chat on Facebook! | |
Or, subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧! | |
|
I continue to host Monday Morning Coffee live via Facebook at 9:00am-10:00am where you can post your comments and questions.
I realize not everyone has Facebook. The good news is that you can still participate. If you would like to join us on Monday mornings, you can join in via ZOOM! Once connected via ZOOM, you'll be able to interact just as if you were on Facebook. Don't worry you will not be on live - your video feed and mic will be muted.
The ZOOM link will be emailed to everyone separately for Monday morning participation.
If you would like to join us, please email Michelle@ILDistrict84.com or call the
office at 630.585.1308.
| | | | |
