Hello,
I hope you had time to get outside and enjoy the weather this weekend! This week, the Senate and House are back at the Capitol working to move legislation out of committee and onto the floors for a vote.
During the current 104th General Assembly that runs through December 2026, I am privileged to serve on the following 7 committees:
- Agriculture
- Appropriations for Education
- Behavioral & Mental Health
- Education
- Labor
- Pensions
- Revenue
You can view the Senate’s weekly committee schedule here.
Topics below include:
- Sen. Balkema’s Bill Would Expand Death Certificate Reporting Requirements
- Legislation Targets Greater Transparency for Taxpayer Costs
- Chicago Bears Survey Results
- Survey Finds Illinois Among Least Affordable States
- Recent Postal Service Changes Could Impact this Year’s Tax Filings
Legislation Introduced to Resolve Death Certificate Reports
I introduced new legislation that will improve transparency and accuracy on how deaths are documented under Illinois’ medical aid in dying law that was signed into law earlier this year.
Senate Bill 3937 would amend the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act to require that death certificates include both a patient’s underlying terminal illness and the use of medical aid in dying.
Under current law, when the Act takes effect on September 12, 2026, death certificates for patients who self-administer life-ending medication will list only the individual’s terminal condition. Coroners have reported that they would be put in a situation where they are not allowed to tell the full truth of why a person passes away. My bill resolves this issue.
It changes the standard by ensuring that both the terminal diagnosis and the use of medical aid in dying are recorded.
This bill promotes greater accountability and consistency in medical documentation, strengthens the quality of public health data, and enhances public confidence in the reporting process.
Senate Bill 3937 has been referred to committee for further review.
Legislation Targets Greater Transparency for Taxpayer Costs
Legislation has recently been introduced to strengthen transparency and accountability in the Illinois legislative process by ensuring lawmakers have access to fiscal impact information before voting on legislation.
I am co-sponsoring Senate Bill 2094, which amends the Illinois Fiscal Note Act to guarantee that when a member of the General Assembly requests a fiscal note on legislation, the request must be honored and cannot be dismissed by chamber vote.
Fiscal notes are reports that provide estimates of how proposed legislation may affect state revenues or expenditures. The idea is to know how much it will cost the taxpayers if a bill becomes law. Any legislator may request a fiscal note for a bill. However, such requests may be voted down, stopping that information from being made public. SB 2094 ensures that fiscal notes are prepared whenever legislators request them.
The aim of this legislation is to promote greater transparency and ensure that lawmakers have access to the fiscal impact legislation will have on the taxpayers of this state.
Senate Bill 2094 is currently awaiting committee assignment.
The Chicago Bears Survey Results
Last week, I asked for your thoughts on the future of the Chicago Bears and whether Illinois should take action to try and retain the Bears in Illinois.
When asked if you support efforts to keep the Bears from moving to Indiana:
- 65% said no
- 35% said yes
I also asked whether you support using state funds to build publicly owned infrastructure, such as improved roads and access, for a multi-use stadium:
- 78% said no
- 22% said yes
While there are much more pressing economic issues that I am working on, I do appreciate everyone who took the time to share your perspective. The survey results reflect on the fact that we must drive solutions to the real economic conditions that are adversely affecting the quality of life in Illinois. I will focus on driving these solutions.
Survey Finds Illinois Among Least Affordable States
A new survey found that most Americans believe the country is facing a cost-of-living crisis, and Illinois ranks among the states viewed as less affordable.
According to 2026 research commissioned by Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, 87 percent of Americans say the United States is in a crisis due to a lack of affordability. More than half of those surveyed said they are struggling to pay bills on time, while half report difficulty affording basic necessities like groceries.
The survey also found that nearly eight in ten respondents said everything became more expensive in 2025, and nearly half believe affordability will get even worse in 2026.
In Illinois, just 27 percent of respondents described the state as affordable, ranking it among the lowest-ranked states in the country and on par with California and New York.
It is no surprise Illinois is facing an affordability crisis with the state’s unfriendly business climate, growing tax burden, and escalating utility costs. I am in an uphill battle but am pushing extremely hard to reduce taxes and make Illinois affordable for constituents.
Recent Postal Service Changes Could Impact this Year’s Tax Filings
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is warning taxpayers that recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changes to postmarks could affect 2026 tax filings.
Under the new system, postmarks will show when mail is first processed, not when it is dropped off, which could create potential risks for meeting deadlines on time-sensitive items like tax returns and payments.
IDOR urges taxpayers to mail documents earlier than usual, ahead of the April 15 deadline, to avoid penalties. Those who are mailing close to the deadline should request a free manual postmark at the post office, which will reflect the actual drop-off date. IDOR also emphasizes that electronic filing is the most reliable option to ensure timely submission. Alternatively, taxpayers can drop off returns at an IDOR office, where documents will be date-stamped as proof of receipt.
For more information on this change, click here.
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.
Senator Chris Balkema