Grab Your Fishing Poles — It’s Derby Time!
Join us at Heidecke Lake on Saturday, June 28 for a free Fishing Derby for kids 12 and under!
✅ Free rod & reel combos for the first 50 kids
✅ Prizes
✅ Snacks
✅ Water safety tips
Where? Morris, IL | 9–11:30 A.M.
Questions? View the “events” tab at senatorchrisbalkema.com
Illinois Republicans urge veto of Senate Bill 328, file lawsuit to expose Constitutional Violation
Last week, members of the Illinois House and Senate Republican caucuses came together to urge Gov. Pritzker to veto Senate Bill 328, legislation that would primarily benefit trial lawyers at the expense of jobs and economic growth. They also filed a lawsuit in Sangamon County court to enforce the Illinois Constitution’s Three-Readings Rule, due to the blatantly unconstitutional process the Democratic majority used to rush the special interest proposal through the General Assembly after midnight on the last day of the session.
The Illinois Constitution’s Three-Readings Rule is designed to give lawmakers sufficient time to evaluate legislation and ensure transparency for the public. It requires that bills be read on three separate days. However, Democrats have consistently disregarded this requirement.
The lawsuit specifically challenges the passage of Senate Bill 328, which Republicans argue was advanced without following the required legislative procedures. They contend that the bill poses an immediate threat to Illinois residents by exposing the legal system to greater exploitation by trial lawyers.
The legislation would overhaul Illinois’ judicial system and allow out-of-state businesses to be sued by out-of-state plaintiffs in Illinois courts for incidents with no connection to the state. A lesser-known provision in the law also allows foreign companies registered in the state to be held liable for lawsuits. It was passed using a variety of procedural gimmicks to avoid constitutional requirements and public scrutiny.
Similar legislation has twice been vetoed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and multiple national and state business groups, including the American Tort Reform Association and Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, have been echoing the Republicans’ call for a veto.
I think the lawsuit is a necessary step toward holding lawmakers accountable and restoring transparency and constitutional integrity to the legislative process.
Momentum Builds Against Illinois’ Unconstitutional Gun Ban
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has come out against Illinois’ 2023 ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms, including commonly owned rifles like the AR-15. In a legal filing, DOJ attorneys said the law violates the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
A federal judge in southern Illinois has already ruled the law unconstitutional. Illinois is appealing the decision to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which is now reviewing the case.
The ban unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners and that the DOJ’s position reinforces the long-standing constitutional right to possess commonly used firearms.
Backing that view, 35 Illinois State’s Attorneys have also filed a brief urging the court to strike down the ban, saying it punishes citizens without reducing crime. The court’s final decision could have a major impact on gun rights not just in Illinois, but across the country.
Illinois Bans Mini Shampoo Bottles in Hotels
Starting July 1, hotel guests in Illinois will no longer find single-use personal care products readily available in their rooms.
Signed into law last year, the Small Single-Use Plastic Act prohibits hotels from stocking hotel rooms with small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products.
The law will initially apply to hotels with 50 or more rooms and will subsequently extend to hotels with fewer than 50 rooms, effective January 1, 2026. Hotels found to be in violation will receive a written warning for a first offense and face fines of up to $1,500 for subsequent offenses.
However, hotels may still provide personal care bottles to guests upon request.
Senator Balkema opposes this legislation, calling it another example of government overreach that places unnecessary burdens on Illinois businesses.
Summer Reading Program – Ready, Set, Read!
I am inviting all students entering 1st through 12th grade to take on the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge! Read 8 books by August 1st and earn an official certificate from the Illinois Senate — plus, you’ll be invited to a fun ice cream social celebration!
How to participate:
✅ Be a student entering 1st–12th grade
✅ Read 8 great books
✅ Submit your completed form online or by mail
✅ Keep an eye out for your certificate and ice cream invite!
Questions? View the “events” tab at www.senatorchrisbalkema.com