Dear Stephanie,

The 2023 Spring legislative session of Illinois House ended on May 26th in early morning hours. During the session, a budget was passed that focused on the needs of communities across the state and was fair and responsible.

The FY24 Budget aims to establish Illinois' financial stability, while we work towards recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. This budget is balanced and prioritizes pension stabilization, education funding, support for small businesses, healthcare and Veteran services, and violence prevention.

Our latest newsletter focuses on legislative and budget updates from the recently concluded spring legislative session. Over 550 bills were passed into law in various sectors such as education, public safety, Veterans, healthcare, and mental healthcare.

As summer approaches, we are excited to meet you in the community, be it a farmers market, an event or local businesses. We encourage you to stay connected with us and share your feedback and queries.

Take note of our Upcoming Events:

• Facebook Live
• Shred and Recycle Day

I wish you all the best as we officially begin summer!

Take Care,

P.S. Please reach out to our office if you need assistance at (630) 585-1308 or send me an email.

Legislation I Passed

Here is a list of the bills I was the primary sponsor that passed the House and Senate.

In addition:

• 7 Primary Sponsor of Resolutions Adopted
• 67 Cosponsored Bills that Passed Both Houses



Additional information, and the look up legislation, can be found HERE

Work in the Pensions Committee

This Spring the Pensions & Personnel Committee heard days of testimony about fixing Illinois' pensions system for good. I introduced many of those measures in a consolidated bill designed to guide our conversations over the Summer as we continue working. I am committed to bringing all stakeholders together and implementing a comprehensive pensions system solution that will protect Illinois workers for generations.

HB 4098

I introduced this bill to begin the conversation on comprehensive pensions solutions. HB 4098 is the first step in ensuring that benefits are fair for our workers that give so much for the state of Illinois. The bill discontinues the General Assembly Retirement System (GARS) and the Judges’ Retirement System, creates a statewide Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), expands the Pension Buy-Out program to more participants, updates the target funding percentage, and more. HB 4098 encompasses a beginning point for productive conversations over the next year.

HB 4099

HB 4099 adjusts the pension age for individuals who provide various security duties for the state of Illinois. This bill will also be considered in full throughout the summer and fall months.

HB 2147

HB 2147 amends the Illinois Pension Code and helps address the teacher shortage by allowing retired teachers to accept employment as a teacher for a maximum of 120 days per year through 2026 without impairing their retirement status.

Delivering on Key Priorities

Making Healthcare Affordable

This Session I helped pass legislation to...

Create the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange, a state health insurance marketplace serving Illinois residents (HB 579).

Allow the Department of Insurance to reject or modify unreasonable health insurance rates (HB 2296)

Require insurance plans to cover one no-cost mental health prevention visit per year (HB 2947)

Cap the cost of insulin for families to $35 (HB 2189).

Require insurance companies to cover the cost of hearing aids

(HB 2443)

Prohibit prescription drug companies from price gouging essential medications in the generic form

(HB 3957)

Supporting Our Veterans

As one of the few Veterans in the Illinois House,

I have consistently worked hard to ensure that Illinois Veterans are properly recognized and respected along with their families. This year....

I honored Gold Star families by passing the Honor and Remember Act which adds the Honor and Remember flag as a symbol of the state’s commitment to honoring and remembering our fallen heroes who gave their life in defending our country.

(SB 1072 passed both houses)

I stopped counties from taking away benefits from disabled Veterans by passing legislation to ensure they those Veterans properly receive the Disabled Veteran Property Tax exemption. (HB 2507 passed both houses)

I streamlined a process for our active duty servicemembers when purchasing items that are sales tax-exempt. (SB 1705 passed both houses)

I sponsored legislation to expand the protections for victims of Military Sexual Assault for Illinois National Guard and reserve military service members to have access to the same rights as civilian sexual assault survivors. (HB 3103 passed both houses)

I presented House Resolution 104, remembering the contributions and sacrifices of our Vietnam Veterans on the 50th Anniversary of combat troops withdrawing from South Vietnam, to the Vietnam Veterans and the South Vietnam Army Veterans who came to Springfield to be honored for their service.

Supporting Our Children & Families

I made sure the budget provides $350 million in new funding for classroom education.

I supported expanding access to full-day kindergarten for every student. (HB 2396 has passed both houses) 

I sponsored legislation that will help the widows of officers and rescue workers who lost their lives while on duty, in addition helping to ease the burden of property taxes. (HB 2507 passed both houses)

I co-sponsor on a bill to stop deceptive practices and hold telemarketers accountable to stop financial fraud and exploitation. (SB 160 passed both houses)

... And More!

• HB 2471 Healthy School Meals For All Program
• HB 1633 Native American History Is Illinois' History
• HB 3903 Right Light and Speed Camera Industry Restrictions
• HB 0923 Veteran Service Organizations State Charter Act
• HB 2789 "Right to Read" Law

*You can view all bills at www.ilga.gov

FY24 Budget

The FY24 budget has been passed by both chambers and is awaiting the Governor's signature. It is a balanced budget that prioritizes the future of the state while being fiscally responsible. To continue paying down debt and improving credit ratings.

The budget increases

• Rainy Day Fund by $138 million
• Surpasses the mandatory pension stabilization payment by $200 million

The budget also invests in education, housing, and workforce development with:

• $8.27 Billion for Education Based Funding
• $28 Million for Housing and Rental Assistance
• $350 Million in new funding for classroom education
• $22 Million in the Workforce Equity Initiative
• $45 Million in Vocational Education
• $100 Million for public safety, is allocated for training and resources for first-responders, including in-car cameras.

Early Childhood

To support the Governor's early childhood plan

• Smart Start IL has allocated $250 million for the first year.
• $50 million is allocated for early childhood capital improvements.

K-12

• $350 million for K-12 evidence-based funding formula
• $45 million for the first year of a three-year pilot to fill teacher vacancies o $3 million to expand access to computer science coursework
• $1.6 million to launch Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide

Higher Education

• $100 million in additional MAP grant funding, ensuring everyone at or below the median income can go to community college for free
• $100 million increase for public universities ($80.5 million) and community colleges ($19.4 million) – the highest increases in more than two decades

Fighting Poverty

• HOME ILLINOIS — $85 million increase, bringing state funding to over $350 million, to support homelessness prevention, affordable housing, outreach, and other programs
• $20 million investment in a new Illinois Grocery Initiative to expand grocery access to underserved rural towns and urban neighborhoods

Health and Human Services

• Nearly $75 million increase for DCFS to hire 192 staff, expand training and protection, increase scholarships for youth in care, and improve facilities
• $22.8 million in funding to begin implementing the new Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative
• $18 million increase to support reproductive health initiatives
• $24 million for a rate increase for home workers who assist the elderly,
• increased outreach to the elderly, and an increase for Adult Day Service
• Continued funding for the $250 million Reimagine Public Safety Act to prevent
• gun violence and expanded funding for youth employment programs
• $53.5 million to overhaul IDPH disease monitoring IT and prepare for future
• public health emergencies
• Over $200 million increase to better serve Illinoisans with developmental
• disabilities

Economic Development

• $400 million to close major economic development deals and attract businesses and jobs to the state
• Expanded workforce development programs to build a pipeline in the industries of the future, like data center, EV, and clean energy
• Taking another step towards phasing out of the franchise tax
• $20 million to Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Program
• $40 million for forgivable loans to launch more social equity cannabis

businesses

• $10 million to fund a “one-stop business portal” to foster entrepreneurship

Annual 2023

Shred & Recycle Event

Saturday, July 22

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Our Constituent Museum Education Card initiative provides you with the opportunity for first hand trips to Chicago's museums, zoos, gardens, and aquariums. With over 15 million visitors per year, these remarkable institutions offer visitors priceless opportunities to explore and enjoy the arts, sciences, nature, and culture. 

Visit my website now and fill out the request form! Limited to groups of 4 or less

Reserve Tickets Here

Welcome to a new section where I answer your Q's about any topic. This week's Questions:

Q: As Marine, what was your favorite memory or experience during your time in the service?

A: Serving overseas in Japan. It is so important for individuals to experience a different culture.

Q: What's your favorite comfort food or guilty pleasure when it comes to food?

A: French fries with cheese or nachos

Q: What message or advice do you have for aspiring young individuals looking to make a difference in their communities?

A: To get involved, there are so many avenues to be active in their own communities.

Click Here to Submit Your Own Question

Watch the most recent Coffee Chat on Facebook!

Or, subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 (NEW)!

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.