There has been a flurry of activity at the Capitol in Springfield which will continue until March 22nd before lawmakers break for for Spring Break. We urge you to take a few minutes to file witness slips for a dozen bills that will soon have a hearing.
Witness slips can be submitted only when a bill has been assigned to a committee and that committee has scheduled a hearing. Once the hearing is over, the opportunity is gone. If you want to make your position known, please act promptly.
Witness Slip Instructions
Section I. Enter your name, address, city and zip code. You can use “taxpayer” for the Firm/Business field and “citizen” for the Title spot.
Section II. Leave it blank if you are not a representative of a group or business.
Section III. Check your position: Opponent or Proponent.
Section IV. Unless you are filing a written statement, select Record of Appearance Only.
Lastly, agree to the terms of agreement by checking the box.
Click Create (Slip).
Bills to Support
SB 2824, sponsored by State Senator Steve McClure (R-Litchfield), would waive out-of-district tuition fees for students who moved because of an alleged abusive situation at home.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of SB 2824. Click HERE to send an email to your state senator urging them to support SB 2824.
SB 3350, sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville), provides that Dept. of Human Services set up a program to dispense and distribute fentanyl test strips to every agency that responds to medical emergency calls and train individuals to use them.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of SB 3350. Click HERE to send an email to your state senator urging them to support SB 3350.
HB 4332, sponsored by State Representative John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), increases penalties for unlawful use or possession of a firearm by a felon and/or selling or giving a firearm to a person who has been convicted of a felony or who is a street gang member.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of HB 4332. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to support HB 4332.
HB 4623, sponsored by State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), if someone is convicted of an obscene depiction of a purported child, that person is ineligible to receive a school bus driver permit. This bill goes after the AI usages in child pornography in which a child appears to be, rather than is, portrayed in a sexual act.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of HB 4623. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to support HB 4623.
HB 4889, sponsored by State Representative Dave Vella (D-Loves Park), increases penalties for those convicted of child pornography.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of HB 4889. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to support HB 4889.
HB 5134, sponsored by State Representative Nicole La Ha (D- Lemont), amends the Sex Offender Registration Act by including trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor in the definition of “sex offense” under the Act.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of HB 5134. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to support HB 5134.
Bills to Oppose
HB 2401, sponsored by State Representative LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), requires school districts (including charter schools) include books that are written by diverse authors, including, but not limited to, authors who are African American, women, Native American, LatinnX, and Asian. Reading material must not perpetuate bias against persons based on specific categories. (The language lists categories of diverse authors, but states “but not limited to” those categories. Under this language, authors writing about transgenderism, White Supremacy, Nazism etc., could be allowed in schools. Who decides what is bias?)
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 2401. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to oppose HB 2401.
HB 4133, sponsored by State Representative Margaret Croke (D-Chicago), mandates bringing bullying prevention programs that contain LGBTQ propaganda into religious schools. (This is against religious freedom as well as free speech.)
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 4133. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to oppose HB 4133.
HB 4595, sponsored by State Representative Edgar Gonzalez (D-Chicago), the Secretary of State shall add data fields on annual corporate reports for corporations to report information on their directors and officers such as their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 4595. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to oppose HB 4595.
HB 4895, sponsored by State Representative Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville), mandates teaching about climate change to students in public schools.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 4895. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to oppose HB 4895.
HB 5239, sponsored by State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), prohibits the state from cooperating or providing information to out-of-state law enforcement entities or agencies seeking to impose civil or criminal liability regarding abortion-related services. For example, an adult transporting a minor to Illinois from a state that requires parental notification or consent for abortion would be protected in doing so.
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 5239. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to oppose HB 5239.
SB 3316, sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), creates plans to administer mental health screenings of students in public schools. (Public schools that have failed woefully to educate students should not be taking steps to counsel them. Public schools that pride themselves on woke ideology should not be assessing children based on their standards of normalcy.)
Take Action: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to SB 3316. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative urging them to oppose SB 3316.
We are very grateful that you would take the time to make your views known and put these lawmakers on notice.
THANK YOU!
