In 2020, the Governor announced the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program. Operated by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the program used federal tax revenue to give $585 million in grants to businesses to provide relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent […]

One week after the General Assembly passed the FY 2024 spending plan, questions remain about whether the budget will truly be balanced at the year’s end. Senate Republicans point to hidden spending found throughout the budget that could put the state’s spending well over expected revenues.One […]

Late last week, the Illinois General Assembly passed the state’s budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, which represents the largest spending plan in Illinois history at $50.6 billion. The proposal now heads to the Governor to be signed.In the Senate, the plan received bipartisan opposition, in […]

As the Fiscal Year 2024 budget is finalized, State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is pushing for the Invest In Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program to become permanent in Illinois.“Invest in Kids provides funds that allow lower-income students in underperforming schools to improve their chances for academic […]

SPRINGFIELD- Both chambers of the Illinois General have now given their approval to a plan filed byState Senator Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) to reform teacher licensing requirements and provide some relief from the statewide teacher shortage. Bennett’s legislation addresses the heavily criticized edTPA requirement. “We keep […]

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers have unanimously approved legislation sponsored by State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) to allow more people to report suspicions of abuse that may have contributed to a senior citizen’s death. House Bill 2858 states that any person may report information about the suspicious […]

Last week, Ameren Illinois filed new electric rates with the Illinois Commerce Commission following the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) seasonal planning resource auction.Last summer, downstate consumers were hit with a dramatic increase in electric rates, resulting in many families paying over 90 percent more on […]

Legislators return to Springfield this week as discussions continue on the budget. Currently, the Governor’s proposed budget stands at almost $50 billion, an increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, revenue is slowing as pandemic-era federal funding is drying up and a recession looms.A major point of […]

Senate Bill 76 passes House, heads back to Sente for final approval Springfield, IL – Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and Illinois State Representative Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) are excited to announce that the Illinois House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 76, which would lift […]

Democrats, Republicans, law enforcement and school officials seek to include critical response mapping to save lives SPRINGFIELD – Working across the aisle and in tandem with police chiefs and education officials, members of the Illinois Senate outlined an initiative at a press conference Thursday to enhance […]