Hello Stephanie,

After every General Assembly session, I write to you and report what we accomplished, in a manner that is (hopefully) succinct and informative. This is a bit delayed but I was catching up on a few things these past couple of weeks.

With a total of 465 bills (House Bills: 207) (Senate Bills: 258) passed and sent to the governor, it would be hard to cover everything. Below I have highlighted the bills that I personally Sponsored or Chief Cosponsored.

This year I passed 28 such bills and eight resolutions. Bills require a signature from the governor before they become law; resolutions do not.

Overall, it was a very productive session and the atmosphere in Springfield was collaborative, bi-partisan, and respectful. I am now back home for the summer, meeting with my neighbors and constituents, supporting community events in the district and continuing to work on legislation for our Veto session in November.

It is an honor to represent you as your State Representative. Our work is far from over, and I look forward to working with you and others in our community to address the challenges that you face. My office is here to assist you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at (630) 585-1308 or via email me at Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

VETERANS

Chief Sponsor - Space Force (HB 5640): Updates Illinois statutes to include the United States Space Force in definitions of "armed forces" and "Veteran" across various laws, ensuring consistent recognition and benefits for Space Force members. The U.S. Space Force was established Dec. 20, 2019 and was the first new branch of the armed services in 73 years.

Chief Sponsor - Property Tax Exemptions (HB 612): Provides property tax exemptions to all Veterans with service-connected disabilities and provides a 100% property tax exemption for WWII Veterans. WWII Veterans can receive the exemption starting in the taxable year 2024 (paid in 2025), while disabled Veterans can receive theirs going back to taxable year 2023 (paid in 2024).

Chief Sponsor - Rights & Resources Poster (HB 4757): Mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) create, and the Department of Labor (DOL) make available, at no cost, a Veterans and service members' benefits, services, and protections poster that can be displayed in workplaces all across our state.

Chief Sponsor - Honoring Historic Graves (HB 4934): An initiative led by the Naperville VFW Post 3873 and members of the ‘Adopt a Veterans Grave Project’, aimed at honoring and restoring grave markers of Veterans aged 100 years or more. Now, organizations can maintain historic graves when warranted.

Chief Sponsor - Supporting Higher Ed Students (HB 5655): This bill requires a public institution of higher education to develop a policy which would allow a student to submit missed classwork and assignments due to that student participating in a drill, as required by members of the National Guard or the reserves. This issue came to my attention after meeting with National Guard and Reserves students at Northern Illinois University.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Social Work Licenses for Military Spouses (HB 5353): In addition to other long-needed reforms at the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR), this new law mandates that military spouses meeting the eligibility criteria for an Illinois Social Work license shall be granted temporary licensure to practice as a social worker or clinical social worker while their expedited licensure applications are under review, valid for the duration of the military spouse’s assignment in this State or until expedited licensure process is completed.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Higher Ed Veteran Service Act (HB 5450): This amendment to the Pension Code and the Higher Education Veteran Service Act gives Veterans' coordinators more time to compile and report certain financial information.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Daycare at Military Bases (HB 5596): An initiative of Blue Star Families that now provides a state license exemption to family childcare providers already credentialed as Defense Department-certified military childcare providers. These providers only provide childcare to military children and are located at the 8 military bases in the state.

Chief Sponsor - Permit Fee Waivers (SB 2751): Waives the building permit fees for Veterans with disabilities if the improvements are required in order to accommodate a disability of the Veteran.

Chief Sponsor - Closing the "Claim Shark" Loophole (SB 3479): Combats "Claim sharks" who offer services for Veterans, such as registering them for Veteran and military benefit services, that are already free to register for. The law will expand the types of services and programs a non-governmental business must disclose their fees for.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Veteran Applicants to Sheriff's Offices (SB 2778): This bill allows eligible Veteran applicants for deputy sheriff roles to request an earlier examination date. If successful they will be placed on the eligibility list immediately. This legislation does not change the applicant's eligibility to receive military preference points during the application process or employment.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Air Force Combat Action Medal Plates (HB 4108): Creates and allows the Secretary of State to issue Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates to a resident who was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Defense Distinguished Service Plates (HB 4365): Creates and allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as Defense Superior Service plates or Defense Distinguished Service plates to residents of the State who have received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.

Chief Sponsor - SAL Decals & Gold Star Family I.D. Designations (SB 2959): Creates a vehicle decal for the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) and allows Gold Star Families (GSF) to receive a GSF designation on their state I.D.s, which also grants them free entry to certain museums. All fees for SAL vehicle decals go into grants for the Illinois SAL.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Specialty Plates fo Motorcycles (HB 4966): Related to the above mentioned legislation, this bill finally allows the Secretary of State to issue specialty plates to motorcycles and autocycles. Previously, motorcycles did not have the option to register for special plates.

Chief Sponsor - Cold War Veterans Recognition Day (HR 443): This resolution Declares December 26, 2023 and December 26, 2024 as Cold War Veterans Recognition Day in honor of the contributions and sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces during the Cold War.

Chief Sponsor - Honoring Fallen Service Members (HR 819): This resolution honors the American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines from the State of Illinois who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the previous tribute. This year we honored the xx Active Servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice

WORKERS

Chief Co-Sponsor - Privacy for Injured Railroad Workers (HB 5189): Makes all reports of railroad fatalities and all communications between police and train crew members regarding those incidents non-public records inaccessible to the public, with few exceptions to make them accessible to certain individuals.

Chief Co-Sponsor - College Credit for Masonry Programs (HB 5369): Requires a community college district to accept transfer credit from a student who completed at least 30 credit hours in a Masonry program at another institution.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Strengthen's Whistleblower Protections (HB 5561): Gives the Attorney General authority to investigate and prosecute violations of the Whistleblower Act, and allows employees to report violations on a “good faith belief”.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Construction Industry Employment Freedom Act (SB 2770): Restricts non-compete and non-solicitation agreements for construction workers, regardless of whether an individual is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Chief Sponsor - Honoring Illinois Tradeswomen (HR 752): Commends the women in trades who are breaking down barriers, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication, and serving as role models for others, and encourages ongoing efforts to support tradeswomen.

SAFETY

Chief Sponsor - Protecting Emergency Responders from Dangerous Chemicals (SB 3448): Directs the State Emergency Response Coordinator to maintain a reporting system for Tier 2 chemicals, which allows the facility entering the report to check the accuracy of the location information using mapping software before reporting addresses to local governments, ensuring that first responders have information about dangerous chemicals they have to deal with.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Preventing Youth Vaping (SB 2662): Prohibits advertisement of electronic cigarettes in a way that would mislead a parent, guardian, teacher, or other person to believe that an e-cigarette is anything other than a product that contains tobacco.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Teaching Drivers About Roadworker Safety (SB 3151): During drivers education courses, when discussing safe driving in highway construction zones and maintenance areas, instructors must also discuss worker safety in those construction zones and maintenance areas.

Chief Sponsor - Motorcycle Awareness Month (HR 657): Declares the month of May 2024 as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the State of Illinois, and recognizes the 37 years of A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) of Illinois, Inc., the more than 589,510 registered motorcyclists statewide, and the continued role that Illinois serves as a leader in motorcycle safety, education, and awareness.

GOOD GOVERNMENT

Chief Co-Sponsor - Creating an 8-Year Driver's License (SB 275): Requires Secretary of State to begin issuing an 8-year driver’s license to qualified applicants for an increased $60 fee no later than 2027.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Building New Schools (SB 464): States that no referendum will be needed for purchasing or building a school building if 75% of the costs will be provided by Public Schools on Military Installations grant funding.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Updating Corporations (SB 2765): Allows courts to pierce the corporate veil and hold a limited liability company (LLC) and its members personally liable for the company’s debts, obligations, and liabilities if the company is a closely held corporation with a single owner who intentionally undercapitalized the corporation or failed to observe corporate formalities. The courts seek to avoid unjust enrichment of the corporation.

Chief Co-Sponsor - Improving Our Property Tax System (SB 3455): Initiates a IDOR & DCEO study to evaluate the state's property tax system, its equity across the population, and issue recommendations for improvements.

Chief Sponsor - Real Estate Transfer Tax Stamps (SB 3275): Requires counties to phase out the use of paper stamps for Real Estate Transfer Tax and to instead use electronic revenue stamps to be more efficient.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Chief Co-Sponsor - Reaffirming Support for Taiwan (HR 572): This resolution reaffirms Illinois’ support for Taiwan—also known as Taiwan, Republic of China, further urges Illinois companies and the United States to continue to refer to Taiwan as Taiwan and continue exploring economic partnerships and trade opportunities with Taiwan, and supports Taiwan’s continued involvement in international organizations.

HEALTHCARE

Chief Co-Sponsor - Expand Insurance Coverage for Diabetes Treatments (SB 3414): Requires insurance coverage for continuous glucose monitors and related supplies for any individual diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, not just Types 1 & 2.

RECOGNIZING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES

Chief Co-Sponsor - Congratulations to Just a Dollop (HR 727): This resolution congratulated Rachel Costabile, Ashley McLeod, Ruth Pligge, Bridget Brown, and Erika Kissel on the successful creation and operation of their small business, Just A Dollop, while wishing them continued success on their entrepreneurial journey and encouraging the entrepreneurship of people with developmental disabilities.

RECOGNIZING OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS

Chief Sponsor - Fox Valley Park District Executive Director Jim Pilmer (HR 811): This resolution congratulated Jim Pilmer on his retirement as executive director of the Fox Valley Park District and commends him for his exemplary career, his many accomplishments, and his unquestionable service.

Chief Sponsor - WWII Veteran Richard A. Miller (HR 796): In this resolution, the general assembly congratulated Richard A. Miller on his 98th birthday and thanked him for his military service and sacrifice to the United States of America, commending him for his dedication to his family and community and wishing him the best in all his future endeavors.

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I continue to host Monday Morning Coffee live via Facebook at 9:00am-10:00am where you can post your comments and questions.

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