Hello and Happy Tuesday!
We are officially in our busy season down in Springfield. This week is our Senate Bill Committee Deadline, which requires us to move all bills that were passed out of the Senate through committee by Friday. Stay tuned for more details on which legislation we are keeping an eye on.
Also, we finally have some good news to share! A Constitutional Amendment that would allow Illinois Democrats to tighten their grip on power through more gerrymandering will not move forward in the Senate.
HJRCA 28 would make gerrymandering in Illinois even worse than it already is by making the compactness of a district the last of five considerations required of a redistricting commission. This would have been an absolute disaster in our state, which already has an F grade for map fairness, according to organizations like the Gerrymandering Project and Common Cause.
This is a huge win for fair elections in Illinois. I was a staunch NO vote on this ridiculous power-grab when it was voted on in the House, and I am thankful to my colleagues in the Senate who made the right call on this issue.
Upcoming Session Days:
- May 5-8 (Senate Bill Committee Deadline)
- May 12-15
- May 19-22 (Senate Bill 3rd Reading Deadline)
Keep up to date with scheduled session and committee times here.
Watch session and committee meetings live here.
Women to Watch Event
In April, I was honored to welcome Ellyn Schoenholz and Marla VanVickle to the Women to Watch Event Conference in Springfield, a networking and recognition event put on by the Illinois House Republicans.
Both Ellyn and Marla are incredible leaders who continually show up in our community to make it a better place. I was honored to bring them to Springfield as representatives of the 74th District.
Marla VanVickle is a registered Family Nurse Practitioner with a master’s degree and the founder of Fit2Fight, an innovative wellness program focused on preventative healthcare and fitness-for-duty evaluations for first responders. Ellyn Schoenholz is the Vice President of First State Bank in Mendota. She also helps run her family farm and is actively involved in multiple organizations across the 74th District.
The Women to Watch honorees were invited to Springfield for a one-day conference that included activities at the State Capitol Complex, a networking lunch event, and a panel discussion. The panel included the Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie and the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, Chris Gearhart Cournoyer.
Sharps and Rx Drop-Off Drive
Local residents are invited to safely dispose of their residential sharps and unused, expired, or unneeded prescription medications at our upcoming Sharps and Rx Drop-Off Drive!
WHEN: Thursday, May 14th, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
WHERE: Dixon Township Building, located at 315 Highland Avenue in Dixon
This event is in partnership with the Lee County Health Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Dixon Police Department, and Dixon Township.
Accepted Items Include:
- Tablets, capsules, and other solid forms of prescriptions
- Patches
- Residential sharps
- Vitamins
- Vaping devices and cartridges (lithium batteries removed)
- Pet medications
- Prescription ointments
Restricted Items Include:
- Liquids (including intravenous solutions)
- Illegal Drugs
2026 Educator of the Year Award Nominations Open Now!
Do you know an educator who deserves to be recognized? Nominate them for my Educator of the Year Award! This award seeks to acknowledge the exemplary educators in our community who deserve to be recognized for their dedication to education.
To be eligible, educators must work full-time at a school in the 74th District.
Nominations are due at 5:00 PM on Monday, May 18th.
Click here to fill out the nomination form.
Community Outreach
Another successful Medicare 101 event is in the books! These informational events are always a great resource for our senior community. Thanks to the Mills and Petrie library for welcoming us, and to the Northwestern Illinois Area on Aging for hosting!
My office attended the “Hands Around the City” event in Rochelle to bring awareness to child abuse in our community. This issue affects everyone, and it’s critically important that we continue the fight to end child abuse across Illinois. Thank you to the local leaders and organizations who hosted this event!
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.
Talk to you soon,
State Representative Bradley J. Fritts