Happy Monday, I hope everyone has been staying cool during the recent summer heatwave!
The last few weeks have been filled with time spent back home in the 74th District. My 2025 Summer Tour is in full swing with great turnout at both the Coffee & Conversation and Town Hall events. It has been an honor speaking with so many constituents about how I can better assist and represent you.
Hoping everyone enjoys the upcoming 4th of July holiday this weekend! Remember to stay safe as we celebrate the founding of our great nation!
Fritts Joins Lawsuit Challenging Democrats’ Unconstitutional Practices
I officially joined my Republican colleagues in both the House and the Senate in a lawsuit filed to enforce the Illinois Constitution’s Three Reading Rule on SB 328.
The Illinois Constitution requires every bill to be read on three separate days in each chamber. Democrats ignored that requirement and pushed SB 328 through without proper transparency or public accountability. The Three Reading Rule is not optional. It is a safeguard to ensure that lawmakers and the public have time to examine legislation before it becomes law.
SB 328 is a clear example of why a bill needs to be read three times. If the governor signs this bill into law, it will allow anyone in the country to sue companies registered in Illinois—even if the case has no connection to the state. That would drive up costs, overwhelm the courts, and damage Illinois’ business climate.
The continued rule-breaking on behalf of Illinois Democrats needs to end. Breaking the rules that ensure transparency and accountability to the people of Illinois is blatantly wrong and undermines our democracy. Every time these rules are ignored, it harms the people we were elected to serve.
Stay tuned to future e-newsletters for updates as this lawsuit moves forward.
Upcoming Summer Tour Events
JULY 9 – Coffee & Conversation
Sterling – Maple Pancake House – 405 5th Avenue (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
JULY 9 – Town Hall
Lee Fire Station – 103 Lee Road (6:00 pm to 7:00 pm)
JULY 16 – Coffee & Conversation
Ashton – Huddle Cafe – 802 Main Street (8:00 am to 10:00 am)
JULY 16 – Town Hall
Paw Paw Community Center – 362 Chicago Road (6:00 pm to 7:00 pm)
To view the full Summer Tour schedule, click here.
June Local Business Highlight – Carquest Auto Parts
I chose to honor Carquest Auto Parts for my June Local Business Highlight because it is a local, family-owned auto shop that goes above and beyond for their customers and our community. They pride themselves on providing excellent service to uphold their family legacy and help the community. At a time when many large corporations focus on profit over customer satisfaction, Carquest is a great example of how business should be done.
Carquest Auto Parts began in 1953 as Shulz Engine Machine Shop. The shop was initially founded by the grandfather of current owners, Marc Blanc and Thelmarose Gerrits. Over time, the shop grew and changed into Carquest Auto Parts, now with five stores in the region. Two Carquest locations, in Dixon and Mendota, are located in the 74th District.
Carquest is also very involved in our local community, supporting organizations such as the Cub Scouts and Al Morrison Baseball. Both their community involvement and dedication to service made Carquest the perfect choice to be this month’s Local Business Highlight.
Carquest is located at 975 N. Galena Avenue in Dixon and at 1200 13th Avenue in Mendota. For more information, visit their website at Carquest.com.
Have a great local business that you want to recognize? Fill out my Local Business Highlight Submission Form to nominate a business for a future highlight!
Community Outreach
I hosted a Coffee & Conversation event at Ziggie’s in Mendota. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat and ask questions, along with Ziggie’s for hosting us! It’s always a pleasure to speak with constituents while supporting a great local business!
I welcomed constituents to a Town Hall event in Compton. This was a great opportunity for me to update residents about our recent legislative session in Springfield and answer their questions. Thanks to everyone who came out for this event!
I recently toured the City of Freeport’s new water treatment facility. This facility is a great addition to our local infrastructure. Thank you to the staff who took the time to give me a tour!
My office recently attended the Senior Fair hosted by the Lee County Council on Aging in Dixon. This fair is an amazing event for our seniors with multiple resources they may need all in one place!
The Rochelle VFW recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the unveiling of their new mural. Congratulations to the VFW on this incredible new addition, just in time for the upcoming Independence Day weekend!
Museum Pass
Are you looking to visit one of the incredible museums across the Chicagoland area? Utilize my office’s FREE museum pass, allowing admission to any participating museum for up to four people.
Reservations are required and must be made by completing our request form, which can be completed by clicking here.
Community Calendar
The Community Calendar is a great resource to view upcoming events throughout our community in one streamlined location. To access this calendar, visit my website or click here.
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.
Talk to you soon,
State Representative Bradley J. Fritts
District 74