It was great being back in the district last week, connecting with the community before heading back to Springfield tomorrow for the final stretch of the session. We have just a little over a month to finish our work before the May 31 deadline.
In the weeks ahead, we’ll review bills from the House and work to pass a responsible state budget. While the Governor has proposed a $56 billion plan that relies on new revenue, I remain focused on transparency and fiscal responsibility, because Illinois families can’t afford higher taxes or more short-term fixes.
Topics below include:
- Senate Advances Statewide Safety Rules for E-Bikes and Micromobility Devices
- Proposed Redistricting Amendment Raises Concerns About Fairness in Illinois
- New Ranking Shows Illinois Still Falling Behind
- Importance of Energy Choice
- Upcoming Property Tax Seminar
Senate Advances Statewide Safety Rules for E-Bikes and Micromobility Devices
The Illinois Senate recently gave unanimous approval to legislation (Senate Bill 3336) that would create consistent safety standards across the state for high-speed e-bikes and other micromobility devices, including electric scooters and skateboards. I supported this effort to bring clearer guidance to a fast-growing mode of transportation.
As these devices become more common and more powerful, the bill introduces commonsense measures such as age limits, safety requirements, and, for models capable of exceeding 28 miles per hour, licensing, registration, and insurance.
By replacing a patchwork of local ordinances with a uniform statewide framework, this proposal aims to enhance safety for riders and pedestrians alike while promoting responsible use of new technologies. If the House approves the measure and it is signed into law, the standards would go into effect on January 1, 2027.
Proposed Redistricting Amendment Raises Concerns About Fairness in Illinois
A proposed constitutional amendment advancing in the Illinois General Assembly is once again raising concerns about how legislative maps are drawn and whether the process will remain fair and transparent.
The proposal (HJRCA 28) would change the standards used to draw legislative districts, including adjusting how certain criteria are prioritized when maps are created.
These changes would weaken long-standing protections designed to ensure districts are drawn fairly and without undue political influence.
Illinois already faces scrutiny over its current legislative maps. The state received an “F” grade for gerrymandering from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, with critics pointing to district lines that divide communities and favor political insiders.
Concerns are growing that the proposed amendment could make it easier to draw similar maps in the future by reducing the importance of key standards used to evaluate fairness.
At the center of the debate is a basic principle of representative government: voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around.
I believe that maintaining fair and transparent map-drawing standards is essential to ensuring public trust and protecting the integrity of elections in Illinois.
New Ranking Shows Illinois Still Falling Behind
Illinois once again ranked near the bottom nationally for economic competitiveness, underscoring what Senate Republicans say is a troubling trajectory for the state’s future.
According to the 2026 ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index, Illinois ranked 49th in economic performance, based on state GDP growth, non-farm payroll employment growth, and domestic migration.
Senate Republicans say the report debunks the continued rhetoric coming from the Pritzker Administration. While Gov. J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly touted increases in the state’s population and economic growth, the data tells a different story. Illinois families and businesses continue to leave the state in search of greater opportunity, lower costs, and more relief, and pretending otherwise will not solve the problem.
Meanwhile, the report also found Illinois ranked 45th in economic outlook, a forward-looking forecast based on 15 state policy variables, including tax burdens and other measures tied to competitiveness.
None of this should come as a surprise. The state’s economic outlook ranking has remained in the bottom half in recent editions of the report, reinforcing Republican concerns that Illinois is not simply facing a temporary slowdown, but a long-standing problem with how this state is being run.
Importance of Energy Choice
Lawmakers and advocates gathered for a press conference held by the Clean Energy Choice Coalition (CECC). At the Springfield event, we shared the results of a recent statewide research poll that shows strong, bipartisan support for consumer choice in home energy decisions and a growing resistance to government mandates that restrict options.
The poll, issued to more than 900 individuals across Chicagoland and downstate Illinois, shows that Illinoisans want the choice to power their homes in their own hands, rather than accept one-size-fits-all energy policies.
According to the poll, 82 percent of Illinoisans support homeowners, renters, and homebuyers choosing how to power their homes, including with natural gas. That support spanned regions and political affiliations, and was strong even among households that currently use electric-only power sourcing.
The data also underscores that larger economic issues continue to shape Illinoisans’ mindsets. Across demographic groups, 64 percent of those polled reported that personal finances, cost-of-living concerns, including housing, groceries, and utilities, rank the highest among their ongoing concerns.
The poll results not only reflect residents’ sentiments but also point to real-world consequences already evident across Illinois. For the workers who build, maintain, and operate the state’s energy infrastructure, these policy debates directly affect jobs, grid reliability, and the security of delivering reliable energy to homes and businesses.
Upcoming Property Tax Seminar
Join me for an informative Property Tax Seminar on Monday, May 4 from 7:00–8:00 p.m. at Roanoke United Methodist Church.
He will be joined by Woodford County Supervisor of Assessments Janet Gibbs to help break down everything you need to know about your property taxes. Whether you’re looking to better understand exemptions, learn how to file an appeal, or get answers to your specific questions, this seminar is for you.
Attendees will:
• Learn about available tax exemptions
• Understand the assessment appeal process
• Have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A
If you have questions about your property, feel free to bring a copy of your tax bill and most recent assessment.
We hope to see you there!
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Have a great rest of your week! If you ever need anything, please reach out to my office! We are happy to help! See locations and contacts below.
Yours truly,
Senator Chris Balkema