A new law Chief Co-sponsored by State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) to address food insecurities and deserts across the state of Illinois is now on the books following a bill signing event by the Governor in Venice on Friday. The first of its kind, this $20 million investment will open and expand grocery stores in underserved rural towns and neighborhoods, as more than 3 million people live in food deserts across our state. “This new law serves as a critical resource and lifeline to those who have been impacted by food deserts across our state,” said Senator Fowler. “Access to fresh, nutritious food can be hard to find, especially in the 59th District and it’s important we squash food insecurities as a direct result of this problem. I worked closely with the University Illinois Extension in compiling data from surveys addressing the challenges our many family-owned grocery stores owners face, sadly in my district I have one entire county without a single grocery store." Senate Bill 850 creates the Grocery Initiative Act requiring the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to study food insecurity in urban and rural food deserts. The new law will further expand access to healthy foods in food deserts across the state by providing grants and technical assistance to independently owned for-profit grocery stores as well as grocery stores owned and operated by local government units. “Nobody should have to drive hours to access healthy produce, and the Illinois Grocery Initiative will provide reliable food access to families living in food deserts,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “Investing in new and existing grocery stores will spur economic development in the communities that need it the most.” Through the Illinois Grocery Initiative, $20 million will be invested in addressing these food deserts. SB850 gives hope by providing opportunities for relief to qualifying stores such as capital funds for infrastructure, renovation projects, grants for energy efficient equipment, business plan development, marketing, community engagement and much more. The new law goes into effect January 1, 2024. |
State Senator Dale Fowler is pleased to announce that more than $250,000 in state-sponsored library grants have been approved for libraries and other community literacy programs in the 59th Senate District. “Libraries play a crucial role in our communities, serving as a tremendous resource especially in the most rural areas across our state,” said Senator Fowler. “My hope is that this money will be used to better serve each library and community literacy programs across the 59th District.” Libraries and literacy agencies in the 59th Senate District that will receive funds include: - Anna, Illinois Veterans’ Home: $50,000 grant to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to support library services for 4 facilities statewide
- Anna, Stinson Memorial Public Library District: $20,000, Library Services and Technology Act Grants - Project Next Generation
- Carbondale, Carbondale Public Library: $37,810, Library Services and Technology Act Grants - Project Next Generation
- Carbondale, WSIU-Southern Illinois Radio Information Service: $21,353, Blind and Physically Handicapped - Radio Information Service
- Carterville, Anne West Lindsey District Library: $15,631, Library Services and Technology Act Grants - Project Next Generation
- Carterville, John A. Logan College: $40,090, Community Literacy
- Harrisburg, Harrisburg Public Library District: $5,357, Library Services and Technology Act Grants - Project Next Generation
- Marion, Marion Carnegie Library: $30,666, Library Services and Technology Act Grants - Project Next Generation
- Vienna, Shawnee Correctional Center: $15,000, library services
- Vienna, Vienna Correctional Center: $15,000, library services
The Library Grant program is overseen by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. For a full list of available grant opportunities, click here. |
On Aug. 11, the Governor signed a pair of bills directed at establishing scholarship programs to attract talented high school graduates to attend Illinois universities and colleges.
The first bill, House Bill 301, permanently establishes Illinois’ Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Grant Pilot Program. AIM HIGH was originally a statewide pilot program that provided merit-based scholarships to Illinois high school graduates to incentivize more high-achieving students to attend Illinois public universities, rather than them taking out-of-state offers with the chance they never return.
The second bill signed into law, House Bill 1378, establishes the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program. The iGROW program awards scholarships in order to recruit and train individuals to work in technology jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high wages. Scholarships may be made through the 2029-2030 academic year for a maximum of eight academic semesters.
Senator Fowler says both scholarship programs should help the state deal with the ongoing “brain drain” of young, talented high school graduates and help ensure that Illinois’ workforce remains full of strong and qualified candidates. |
Recently, Gov. Pritzker announced the signing of House Bill 218, which allows the Attorney General, counties, and private citizens to sue members of the firearm industry for vaguely defined so-called “unlawful business and marketing practices.”
Proponents claim the new law is intended to clarify that the gun industry is subject to Illinois’ Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act for marketing firearms, accessories and related products in a way that promotes illegal paramilitary or private militia activity in Illinois or that encourages people younger than age 18 to illegally possess, purchase, or use firearms.
Opponents of the new law note that the gun industry is already subject to the state’s Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, like every other business. The changes within House Bill 218 have very little, if anything, to do with actual consumer fraud or deceptive business practices.
Opponents also point out that House Bill 218 was intentionally written with broad language to make it easier for the Attorney General and anti-gun groups to target gun manufacturers and Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) in order to put them out of business.
Two days after the Governor signed House Bill 218, opponents of the law filed a lawsuit in the federal Southern District of Illinois. The lawsuit claims the new law violates the First Amendment right to free speech, the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and the 14th Amendment guarantee of due process. The lawsuit also claims that the law imposes liability in Illinois for actions committed by other individuals or in other states and is preempted by the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
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As the 60-day deadline for executive action approached, the Governor took action on all remaining bills.
Some of the Governor’s final actions included the signings of several bills supported by Senate Republicans. Those bills included:
Senate Bill 1782 – States that a minor younger than age 16 is considered engaged in the work of vlogging when at least 30 percent of the vlogger’s compensated video content produced within a 30-day period included the likeness, name, or photograph of the vlogger’s minor child.
House Bill 2317 – Allows anyone older than age 26 who has not purchased a fishing license in the last 10 years to be eligible to receive a one-time annual resident fishing license for $5. Any nonresident who has not purchased a nonresident fishing license in the past 10 years shall be eligible to receive a one-time annual sport fishing license for a fee of $10.
House Bill 3326 – Requires insurance or managed care plans to offer, for an additional premium, coverage for hearing instruments if prescribed by a hearing care professional.
House Bill 3814 – Allows students who participate in FFA and 4-H to be excused from school when attending their official events, and to be considered in attendance. |
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