Last week was an extremely busy week in Springfield, and we adjourned Friday and the first major deadline for bills to pass House committees is now passed. We saw thousands of homeschool families fighting against the Homeschool Act, which I strongly oppose, I’ll update you on some of my bills I got through committee, and I’ll let you know what I’ve been up to around the district.
BILLS
I got four of my own bills through committee so far and some more have a chance to pass through before the final deadline. My four bills are HB54, HB57, HB1108, and HB2833.
HB54 would make Soil Health Week the first week in March every year, as opposed to spending state resources to file resolutions each year.
HB57 is a bill to help CILA caretakers. When the Essential Support Person Act passed in 2023, the Act did not include CILAs, as they are licensed by IDHS, not IDPH. This bill would seek to ensure that residents in CILAs have the same visitation rights for essential support persons as other facilities.
HB1108 designates into law that the live-in family caretakers of an intellectually or developmentally disabled person does not have to fill out time sheets showing their hours taking care of person. Nurses and other non-family caretakers still would have to, but this would allow for family members to take care of their I/DD individuals freely.
HB2833 is a bill that small business owners came to me with, and it would like to raise the threshold for a small business to apply for state grants to keep up with the rise in material, labor and the cost of living. Essentially, since the definition of small businesses hasn’t changed in 10 years, this would allow for businesses who are still ‘small businesses’ to qualify for state grants, mirroring the United States Small Business Administration’s Table of Small Business Size Standards.
HOMESCHOOL ACT
Parents should be allowed to put their children in a learning environment that will help their own child succeed. Illinois is facing a budget deficit, skyrocketing crime, the cost of household goods on the rise, and many more problems. We should be addressing and fixing the problems that actually matter to Illinois citizens, not creating more bureaucracy to solve a problem that does not exist.
HB 2827, the “Homeschool Act,” was heard in committee last week and passed over the objection of tens of thousands of families choosing home or private school for their children. This bill mandates that non-public elementary and secondary schools register annually with the Illinois State Board of Education, and also requires homeschools to fill out a Homeschool Declaration Form or risk fines and even imprisonment. It further requires administrators to submit personal information about themselves and their students to state and local authorities.
The public has been vocal about their opposition to this state overreach. Over 50,000 motivated residents filed witness slips in opposition to HB 2827. Thousands of Illinoisans took to the State Capitol last Wednesday to express their opposition and speak to lawmakers about their positive experience with homeschooling.
I totally oppose forcing additional mandates on responsible parents. I support families making decisions that are best for their children, and I strongly oppose this bill.
HB 2827 was heard in the Education Policy Committee. Despite all Republicans voting in opposition, it passed committee, and can now proceed to the House Floor for a vote. Residents who agree HB 2827 should be stopped can sign House Republicans’ petition and file a witness slip at ilga.gov.
For more information on the Homeschool Act and how to fight, please visit The Caucus Blog.
iGAMING
A new proposal from a Chicago Democrat could bring slots and poker to the fingertips of millions of Illinoisans. HB 3080 would legalize so-called ‘iGaming’ in Illinois. This would mean that instead of going to a casino to play poker or a bar to play slots, participants could play on their phones or computers. I shed some light on the negative impacts that this bill would have on our communities.
There are mom-and-pop shops across my district, including American Legions, diners, and other local businesses, that have told me they will be hurt by this. These businesses cannot compete with the large online gaming companies. Gaming keeps their doors open and employees working. This would put them at risk, and make no mistake about it, this would cost people their jobs.
Several organizations expressed concerns about this legislation, including the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association, Illinois Gaming Machine Operators Association, and Penn Entertainment Inc., who operates casinos and video gaming throughout Illinois.
Aside from the detrimental effects this would have on local businesses, Meier says gambling addiction is a concern, too.
This bill opens the door wide open to a gaming addiction crisis that has skyrocketed since 2017. This will affect thousands of families.
I hope to garner local attention to HB 3080 and is encouraging Illinoisans who agree in opposing iGaming to sign his petition and fill out witness slips. My petition can be found at this link.
WEEK IN PHOTOS
Committee hearings and floor speeches as we had a very busy week. This was the first major deadline for this General Assembly, so we tried to get as many bills through as we could.
I meet with the Metro East Every Survivor Counts and IL Coalition Against Sexual Assault groups.
I hosted a meeting with the Illinois Wine Association in my office in Springfield.
The Capitol was filled with homeschool families and I was proud to stand with them against HB2827. This bill did pass out of committee and will be headed to the house floor this spring.
I always enjoy the ABATE Reception in Springfield.
Thank you to the Madison County Farm Bureau for a wonderful meeting last Friday. I enjoy attending and meeting with everyone.
While at the NRA fundraiser in Greenville, I purchase raffle tickets and was lucky enough to win the Winchester XPR 7MM.
I attended the Aviston / Albers Cub Scout breakfast last weekend in Aviston. It’s groups like the cub scouts that help our youth learn valuable leadership skills and I am always happy to support them.
Chicken Dinner Fundraiser at St. Dominic’s in Breese.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Last Monday was the funeral for my dad’s 1st cousin Henry Borgman. Henry always loved antique John Deere tractors. His family thought it would be special if he could go to the cemetery by tractor and asked if I could help. I got a tractor and wagon set up so he could go to the cemetery in style. Henry’s grandson, Jordan, drove the tractor.
Phenomenal sunset on the farm
Thank you for reading my update. More to come soon. As always, reach out to my office with any questions or concerns you may have with a state agency.