Woodstock Willie Predicts Early Spring!
Woodstock Willie, the prognosticator of prognosticators and ultimate weather predictor, made his annual appearance early this morning on the Woodstock Square, and much to the delight of the over 1,000 attendees who bundled up to attend the event, Willie indicated that we’re in for an early spring!
As sometimes happens, Woodstock Willie’s official prognostication differed from that of Punxsutawney Phil, who predicted six more weeks of Winter. But because our Woodstock Willie is all-knowing and is the wisest of his kind, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the upcoming arrival of an early spring!
Senate Returns to Springfield Ahead of Key Bill Filing Deadline
The Illinois Senate returns to Springfield this week as lawmakers continue the work for the spring legislative session. The Senate is scheduled to be in session for three of the four weeks in February, with committee hearings and floor action increasing as legislation moves forward.
An important deadline arrives this Friday, February 6, which is the cutoff for lawmakers to introduce new bills. In the days leading up to that deadline, lawmakers will be finalizing proposals that reflect their priorities for the remainder of the session.
The weeks ahead will be crucial as we debate policies that impact families, job creators, and communities across Illinois. The focus will remain on advancing practical solutions that address affordability, public safety, and accountability in state government.
You can follow my bill sponsorships and co-sponsorships through my website and through the State of Illinois website. Each legislator has a page on the State website that lists our office addresses and phone numbers, our committees, our bill sponsorships and co-sponsorships, and a short biography. You can visit my state page here.
My individual website includes an even wider variety of information about my activity, outreach events, and advocacy on behalf of constituents. You can visit my personal site by clicking here.
Witness Slips Allow You to Provide Meaningful Input on Bills
As bills begin moving through the legislative process, they are assigned for committee hearings. It is at this point that you can engage and have your official support or opposition entered into the record. The witness slip portal opens when a bill is assigned for a hearing, and closes immediately following a bill’s hearing.
Your opinions are important! Please click here to view a short video on how to submit a witness slip. These showings of support or opposition are a vital part of the process. We do pay attention and look at the witness slips prior to committee hearings. I strongly encourage you to engage in this meaningful way. Of course, you are also always welcome to call my office or send an email to express your feelings about pending legislation.
Internship Opportunities in Senator Wilcox’s Office
I am launching a paid internship program, and am looking for bright high school and college students interested in learning more about the legislative process and how a legislative office operates.
These internships offer hands-on experience and provide direct exposure to District 32 operations. Interns will gain valuable professional skills in the areas of communication and community outreach, and develop meaningful connections with elected officials that can support future careers in law, government, or advocacy.
To learn more about my paid internship program, please click here. You can also contact John from my staff at jpicciotti@sgop.ilga.gov.
Final Week for Submitting Valentines for Seniors
This Friday, February 6, is the deadline for submitting valentines for my 6th Annual Valentines for Seniors program. Amazing and heartwarming cards and cheerful notes are being delivered daily, and I am once again delighted to see the community coming together to help bring joy to seniors who often feel lonely or isolated.
Homemade or store-bought cards will be delivered to assisted living centers, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities across the 32nd Senate District during the week of Valentine’s Day. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to create a few cards. Your efforts will help put smiles on the faces of thousands of seniors across the region.
Cards and drawings can be mailed to or dropped off at my legislative office at:
209 North Benton Street
Woodstock, IL 60098
For additional information about this program, please contact Abby at amccarthy@sgop.ilga.gov, or call my office at (815) 455-6330.
Illinois Still Hasn’t Opted Into Federal Scholarship Program
Governor Pritzker has yet to opt in to a new federal tax-credit scholarship program that would expand educational options for families without using state or local education dollars. As you may recall, Illinois had a similar program that benefited thousands of Illinois families, but Democrats eliminated the program two years ago.
The federal program is very similar to the canceled Illinois program. It allows individuals to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit when they donate to scholarship organizations that help students pay for private school tuition or cover education-related costs, such as tutoring or after-school programs.
The program is unique because it does not divert funding from public schools and does not impact the state budget. Scholarships are funded entirely through voluntary private donations, and participation simply requires the state to opt in. More than two dozen states have already chosen to participate.
Governor Pritzker has said he is still evaluating whether Illinois will join the program. The federal scholarship program offers families more flexibility without taking resources away from public schools. Opting in would give parents additional options while protecting classroom funding and respecting the role of local schools. I believe the decision to participate in the federal program should be an easy one, and urge Governor Pritzker to opt in without delay, especially since participation does not cost one cent in state tax money. Participation can change the lives of struggling students. Parents deserve this option to be available to them.
Illinois Sees Third-Worst Loss of Residents to Other States
New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Illinois continues to lose residents to other states at one of the highest rates in the nation. Between mid-2024 and mid-2025, more than 40,000 Illinois residents moved to other states, ranking Illinois third-worst nationally for domestic population loss, behind only California and New York.
While Illinois posted a modest overall population increase, Census data show that growth was driven almost entirely by international migration. Without that influx, Illinois would have continued to lose population, as the state saw only a small increase from births while thousands of residents chose to leave.
Experts and past surveys point to high taxes as a major reason Illinoisans are moving elsewhere. Census and IRS data consistently show that the vast majority of residents who leave Illinois relocate to states with lower tax burdens. Illinois continues to rank among the highest in the nation for overall state and local tax burden.
The numbers confirm what families have been saying for years: Illinois must address affordability, rein in taxes, and adopt policies that make it easier for residents to stay, work, and raise families here instead of watching more people leave every year.
Scholarships Available for Illinois High School Seniors
As Illinois seniors reach the final stretch of their K-12 educations, there are some new, exciting scholarship opportunities I’d like to share.
The Illinois Conservation Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 Conservation Achievement Scholarships. The Foundation will award up to four one-time scholarships of $2,000 each to Illinois high school seniors committed to conserving the state’s natural resources.
The scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated sustained, voluntary dedication to preserving, protecting, enhancing or promoting Illinois’ lands, waters and wildlife. One scholarship is reserved annually for a dependent of an Illinois Department of Natural Resources employee.
Applicants must be Illinois residents and seniors enrolled in an Illinois high school during the year the scholarship is awarded. Applications must be received by March 1. More information and application materials are available at ilconservation.org/Scholarships.
Similarly, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association recently launched the Illinois Retail Scholarship Challenge, which encourages high school seniors to develop creative, practical solutions to real business challenges facing the retail sector, with teams competing for scholarships of up to $60,000. Supported by grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the contest is designed to spark innovation, engage students, and strengthen the retail industry.
This scholarship challenge is open to all Illinois high school seniors, and the application deadline is March 30. Additional details can be found at https://irma.org/illinois-retail-challenge-scholarship-competition/.