It has been a busy time for Illinois legislators down in Springfield. In the last week and a half, we attended four days of Lame Duck session, were sworn into office, and had our first day of session in the 104th General Assembly.
Inauguration
On Wednesday, January 8th, I was proudly sworn in for my second term as your State Representative. Serving the people of the 74th District is the honor of a lifetime and I am humbled to begin my second term representing my community.
As the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly, I am committed to creating positive change that ensures future generations can live and thrive in our state. I look forward to another productive term upholding the values of rural Illinoisans, engaging with my community, and being a voice for common-sense change in Springfield.
Shabbona State Park Land Transfer Passes the House
On Tuesday, January 7th, a bill to cede portions of the Shabbona State Park to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation passed the Illinois House of Representatives with a vote of 63-42-1.
I am deeply concerned with the passage of Senate Bill 867. I am not outwardly opposed to conversations regarding honoring an agreement made in 1829, but there are many glaring issues with this legislation that this bill’s sponsor never addressed.
I am immensely frustrated that this bill’s sponsor, who lives three counties away from Shabbona State Park, refused to listen to the voices of people actually living in this community. As the State Representative for this area, I had many in-depth conversations with Shabbona residents and released a survey for my constituents on this issue. The response is clear: residents have many concerns about this legislation as it is written.
My main concerns with this bill are:
- No protections for landowners who currently reside on land included in the land transfer agreement.
- No regulations surrounding the type of development permitted.
- No consideration for taxpayers as the State of Illinois will be giving away a State Park worth tens of millions of dollars.
Unfortunately, the majority party in Springfield decided that winning political points should supersede crafting good public policy on what may be one of the most critical pieces of legislation this Assembly has ever seen. There was no regard for local residents, for the taxpayers of Illinois, or for the landowners who are now in legal limbo regarding their ownership of this land.
For any of my constituents who have questions or concerns about this issue, please feel free to contact my office by email at Fritts@ilhousegop.org or by phone at 815-561-3690.
Shabbona State Park Town Hall
Have questions about the Shabbona State Park land transfer? Join us for an in-person town hall meeting on January 16th from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Flewellin Memorial Library, located at 108 West Comanche Avenue in Shabbona.
IPASS / ICASH Event – February 4th
Join the Office of Rep. Fritts for a joint IPASS and ICASH event on February 4th from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Sterling Public Library, located at 102 W. 3rd Street in Sterling.
PASS – IPASS representatives will be available to assist constituents with updating their old transponder to the new IPASS sticker tag.
ICASH – Representatives from the Illinois Treasurer’s Office will be on hand to help constituents who may have unclaimed property with the state.
Medicare Event – February 11th
Attend a FREE Medicare seminar on February 11th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce, located at 601 W. 10th Street in Rock Falls. This event is hosted by Representatives Brad Fritts and Ryan Spain and facilitated by the Illinois Department on Aging. This Medicare 101 seminar will include information about who is eligible, coverage details, and how to get help with out-of-pocket expenses.
Community Calendar
During my time touring the 74th District, I’ve heard from many constituents and organizations who want to support our local communities but don’t know where to start. To meet this need, I am proud to introduce my new ‘Community Calendar’ on my official state website! Here, residents can view upcoming community events in one streamlined location.
To view the calendar, click here!
If you are interested in submitting a community event, please click here for instructions.
Please note that as state ethics laws apply to this site, event restrictions apply. For-profit, political, or personal events will not be posted. Final decisions on which events are allowed are made at the discretion of the Office of Rep. Fritts.
Keep Up to Date
Click here to visit my website. There you can contact my office, see what legislation I am working on, and more.
Click here to “like” me on Facebook for more frequent updates.
I will continue to update you via this e-newsletter to keep you up to date on my efforts to pass bills in Springfield and serve you in the district.
Talk to you soon,
State Representative Bradley J. Fritts
District 74