Wilcox Constituents Receive Added Bonus at Mobile DMV Event
When constituents showed up for REAL ID appointments at the event I co-hosted with Representatives Reick and Weber last week, they received a special surprise. Officials from the IL Tollway were also at the event and were able to help attendees switch out their plastic IPASS transponders for the new sticker technology. Nearly every individual who signed up for REAL ID services also took advantage of the opportunity to get a new IPASS sticker.
My deepest thanks go out to the representatives from the Secretary of State’s Mobile DMV unit and the IL Tollway who all made quick work of popular transactions regarding people’s vehicles. I also want to thank those who attended this event.
I am in the process of scheduling two IPASS events in the 32nd District for this fall. Details will be made available when we have dates, times, and locations.
New Laws Focused on “Justice Impacted Individuals” and Free State IDs for Inmates Highlight Illinois Democrats’ Misplaced Priorities on Crime
Legislation changing the term “offender” to “justice-impacted individual” in state statutes (House Bill 4409) became law last week, highlighting the misplaced priorities of majority party lawmakers when it comes to combatting crime and keeping Illinois families safe.
In recent years, crime has surged as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and his allies in the legislature have pushed dangerous “catch and release” policies. As of July 2024, Major crimes in Chicago have increased by nearly 60% compared to 2019 and 18% since 2022. During the 4th of July Weekend alone, more than 100 people were shot in Chicago.
Furthermore, the legislation signed last week will do nothing to reduce crime in Illinois and it joins many other recently-enacted laws that prioritize the rights of criminals over everyday citizens. HB 4409 was signed into law on August 2.
Summer Events Continue in 32nd Senate District
We have had several successful events already this summer. Please mark your calendar for these other upcoming events:
- August 17, District Office Open House: Wilcox Office, 209 N. Benton Street, Woodstock, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- September 11, Medicare 101: Nippersink Public Library, 5418 Hill Rd, Richmond, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 19, Barks & Brews: In cooperation with K9s4U at Kishwaukee Brewing Company, 1900 Dillard Court, Woodstock, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 25, Conversations Untapped: Richmond Brathaus, 10310 North Main Street, Richmond, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- October 2, Conversations Untapped: The Grove Pub and Grill, 2008 Main Street Road, Spring Grove, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- October 15, Senior Health Fair: Crystal Lake Park District Grand Oaks Building, 1401 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
You can visit the Events page on my website to learn more about these events.
Illinois Enacts Update to Biometric Privacy Law
Significant changes to the state’s controversial Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) took effect last week. The law was originally proposed to protect Illinois residents’ biometric data, but it created substantial unintended consequences, including multi-billion-dollar damage awards for situations that were never intended to be targets of the act. I voted against the legislation.
I voted in favor of Senate Bill 2979 when it came before the Senate earlier this year and consider it a good first step. I believe the new law will help balance the protection of individual privacy rights with the need to reduce the legal and financial burdens on businesses. I also believe, however, that the new law doesn’t do enough to address the shortcomings and ambiguities within BIPA. Rather than putting a Band-Aid on the issue, I believe lawmakers should work together to reform BIPA to ensure that it protects citizens’ privacy while also ensuring businesses aren’t overly vulnerable or exposed to costly ambiguous interpretation. SB 2979 was signed into law on August 2.
Illinois State Fair Underway
The 2024 edition of the Illinois State Fair officially opened on August 8. In the morning, there was a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by the annual Twilight Parade in the evening.
One of the event’s longstanding traditions is the construction and unveiling of the butter cow, a full-size sculpture made of roughly 500 pounds of unsalted butter on display in the Dairy Building.
The daily schedule for the Fair includes Agriculture Day on the first Friday, followed by Kids Day on Saturday, then Veterans and Gold Star Families Day, Senior & Scout Day, “Twosday,” Governor’s Day, Republican Day, First Responder & Healthcare Heroes Day, and then finally wrapping up the closing weekend with Park District Conservation Day followed by Family Day.
Grandstand concerts throughout the Fair duration include Keith Urban, Motley Crue, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jordan Davis, Lil Wayne, the Jonas Brothers, Miranda Lambert, and Shaboozey.
There will also be USAC and ARCA racing at the Grandstand during the final weekend. For more information, visit https://statefair.illinois.gov/.
Illinois Students Lagging in Recovery from Pandemic Disruptions as Federal Relief Nears End
A startling statistic emerged through a recent study from the University of Illinois System that reveals how many Illinois students are still struggling to recover from the learning disruptions caused by pandemic school closures. Despite efforts to lessen the impact, the findings indicate that only 25% of public-school students have returned to their pre-pandemic academic levels in English language arts, with even fewer achieving the same in math. This underscores the ongoing challenges in educational recovery.
Since the pandemic, Illinois has experienced a decline of nearly 60,000 students in statewide enrollment. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in chronic absenteeism, further complicating the learning loss being experienced in the school system. These troubling trends highlight the extensive impact of the pandemic on student attendance and engagement.
These challenges come as billions in federal relief funds, which have been critical for educational support, are set to expire this year. As these funds run dry, schools will need to seek alternative funding to maintain essential programs and continue addressing the learning gaps.