Many bills have been filed since the start of this second half of the legislative session. IFI is keeping a close watch on which get assigned to a committee so that you, as an Illinois voter, can make your position known by filing a witness slip. (Witness slips can’t be filed unless a bill is assigned to a committee and there’s a short window to do this once they have been assigned.)
Please follow the instructions below to file a witness slip. Please follow up with your own email to their offices.
Also, for an even bigger impact, call either your state senator or state representative’s office to tell him/her your positions on the bills listed below. They take notice when calls are made.
To make a call, first click HERE to find your state officials. They are listed as the last two under “State.” For a bill designated as HB, a call would go to your state rep. For a bill designated as SB, a call would go to your state senator unless we tell you otherwise. Keep these numbers handy for future calls.
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 representing a group, etc.
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 OPPOSE:
SB 2872, sponsored by State Senator Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet), would require public schools to teach children “relaxation activities to enhance the mental and physical health of students” at least once a week. These techniques include, but are not limited to, mindful-based movements, yoga, breathing, meditation, and guided relaxation and may take place in a social-emotional learning class. Learn more about social-emotional learning HERE.
If these techniques don’t yet raise a red flag, understand that many of these techniques are religious traditions of Buddhism, Jainism, and Hindu Darshana (a deity or philosophy) which involve asana (poses), moves such as mudra (hand gestures) and pranayama (breathing discipline).
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to SB 2872. Click HERE to send an email in opposition to SB 2872. Call your state senator to oppose SB 2872.
SB 2644, sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), establishes an electronic registry for POLST forms, which are forms that state a person’s wishes for end of life care. (IFI suspects this move is in preparation for physician-assisted suicide, which has been introduced in the General Assembly. We believe it’s in the best interest of a patient to keep his written end of life wishes among his close family members, especially the one he has chosen to be his health care power of attorney, and not to be made available in a statewide registry.)
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip. in opposition to SB 2644. Click HERE to send an email in opposition to SB 2644. Call your state senator to oppose SB 2644.
HB 2401, sponsored by State Representative Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumberg), amends the School Code by mandating that books that are part of any school curricula or course MUST include books written by diverse authors to “ensure that students in grades kindergarten through 12 receive exposure to diverse peoples, cultures, and backgrounds to better develop tolerance, understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of others.” Reading material may not perpetuate bias toward beliefs, gender, family dynamics and more. (IFI opposes this bill because its ambiguous requirement of “diverse authors” be mandated for children in K-12 in order to develop tolerance and acceptance of others and these books cannot perpetuate bias toward certain categories of people. More woke indoctrination in public schools.)
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 2401. Click HERE to send an email in opposition to HB 2401. Call your state representative to oppose HB 2401.
HB 4133, sponsored by State Representative Margaret Croke (D-Chicago), mandates bullying prevention programs in nonpublic, sectarian schools. (IFI opposes all forms of bullying, but the General Assembly’s definition of bullying includes accepting LGBTQ behavior.)
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in opposition to HB 4133. Click HERE to send an email in opposition to HB 4133. Call your state representative to oppose HB 4133.
BILLS TO SUPPORT:
HB 4332, sponsored by State Representative John Cabello (R- Machesney Park), increases penalties to a Class 1 felony for unlawful use, possession, or sale of a firearm when he/she knowingly sells or gives a firearm to a known felon or street gang member.
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of HB 4332. Click HERE to send an email in support of HB 4332. Call your state representative to support HB 4332.
HB 4623, sponsored by State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), provides that a person who is convicted of an obscene depiction of a purported child or an actual child engaging in sexual activity is ineligible to receive a school bus driver permit. Amends the definition of child pornography.
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of HB 4623. Click HERE to send an email in support of HB 4623. Call your state representative to support HB 4623.
HB 4889, sponsored by State Representative Dave Vella (D-Loves Park), increases the penalty of child pornography that does not involve a film, videotape, or other moving depiction to a Class 2 felony rather than a Class 3 felony; and possession of child pornography that does involve a film, videotape, or other moving depiction to a Class 1 felony rather than a Class 2 felony.
TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to file a witness slip in support of HB 4889. Click HERE to send an email to your state representative in support of HB 4889. Call your state representative to support HB 4889.
THANK YOU!
