Your Voice Matters! – Fill Out 2025 Legislative Survey
I want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to fill out this quick survey and share your thoughts on the issues that matter most. Your feedback helps me better represent our community and fight for the priorities that impact you and your family. Fill out the survey by clicking here.
Survey Results SB 1872: Plastic Bag Ban
Thank you to everyone who participated in our survey last week! The results are clear—80% of respondents oppose Senate Bill 1872, which would ban plastic bags and impose a minimum 10-cent fee on paper bags, effectively creating a new tax.
While 20% support the bill, believing it will help reduce waste, I stand firmly against it. Families are already struggling with high prices on groceries, gas, and everyday essentials, and these added costs will only make it harder to make ends meet. The last thing working families need is another expense every time they shop.
Instead of making life more expensive, we should be focusing on providing real relief.
Democrats Seek to Ease Restrictions on Sex Offenders
In yet another display of their misplaced priorities, Democrat lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow convicted sex offenders to live closer to schools, playgrounds, and childcare facilities.
Currently, registered offenders cannot live within 500 feet of these types of facilities. However, Senate Bill 2254 would reduce the distance by half, allowing offenders to live within 250 feet of these facilities.
Additionally, the legislation would lower penalties for violations of the sex offender, arsonist, and violent offender registries from felonies to misdemeanors and shortens the registration period for the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry from 10 years to 5 years. The measure also requires law enforcement to waive registration fees for indigent offenders.
Rather than seeking to reduce safeguards put in place to protect children, Senate Republicans argue that more should be done to hold those who abuse accountable for their crimes.
This includes legislation I am co-sponsoring, SB 284, which closes dangerous loopholes that have allowed offenders to escape full accountability by prohibiting plea deals for individuals charged with grooming, trafficking in persons, or involuntary sexual servitude of a minor while also imposing stricter restrictions on convicted offenders. The proposal also expands restrictions on where convicted child sex offenders can work, volunteer, or be present, barring them from facilities that cater specifically to minors.
Illinois Senate Moves to Honor Route 66’s Historic Legacy in 2026
As the 100-year anniversary of the historic Illinois Route 66 is fast approaching. To honor its impact, I successfully passed Senate Joint Resolution 12 out of the Senate, one step closer to officially declaring 2026 as the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Year.
SJR 12 highlights Illinois’ key role in Route 66 history, as the first state to fully pave the highway and the location of its starting point.
For nearly a century, Route 66 has connected communities, fueled local businesses, and drawn visitors from around the world,” said Balkema. “Pontiac, with its iconic Route 66 Museum, historic murals, and classic roadside attractions, is a shining example of how this highway continues to shape our district. I am proud to lead this effort to celebrate its 100th anniversary and preserve its legacy for future generations.
The resolution now moves to the House for further consideration.
You can watch a video of me discussing the resolution on the senate floor here.
Capture the Heart of Illinois Agriculture in the Cream of the Crop Photo Contest!
The Illinois Treasurer’s Office is launching the Cream of the Crop Photo Contest, inviting students ages 8-18 to submit photos that best represent Illinois agriculture. Entries are accepted until June 13 and can be submitted electronically at Illinois Treasurer’s Cream of the Crop Photo Contest.
The contest features three age categories:
- Ages 8-10
- Ages 11-14
- Ages 15-18
Prizes include Bright Start scholarships of $1,000, $500, and $250 for the top three winners in each category. Each student may submit up to two photos.
Snapshots for the Cream of the Crop Photo Contest may be submitted electronically at: https://illinoistreasurer.gov/Invest_in_Illinois/Ag_Invest/Cream_of_the_Crop_Photo_Contest
