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Chris Balkema

ILLINOIS STATE SENATOR
53RD DISTRICT

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      • Petition: Say No to Higher Taxes on Illinois Families
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      • Department of Early Childhood: Grants
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      • Department of Natural Resources (IDNR): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Public Health (IDPH): Funding Opportunities
      • Department of Transportation (IDOT): Grants and Funding
      • Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA): Veterans Cash Grants
      • Illinois Arts Council: Grant Programs
      • Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): Grant Opportunities and Information
      • Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA): Funding Opportunities
      • Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS): Grant Programs
      • Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA): Grants & Loans
      • Illinois Finance Authority (IFA): Programs
      • Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB): Grant Information
      • Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC): Financial Aid Programs
      • Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM): Grants and Loans
    • How to Appeal Your Property Taxes
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    • IL Public Safety Facts & Data
  • Home
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Biography
    • Objectives
    • District Map and Information
    • Photo Gallery
    • Media Contact
  • IL Senate
    • General Assembly Website
    • IL Senate Schedule
    • IL Senate Members
    • IL Senate Committees
    • IL Senate Live Video/Audio
    • Senator Balkema’s Sponsored Bills
    • Senator Balkema’s Committees
    • Legislation Passed in 2025
    • Petitions
      • Petition: Say No to Higher Taxes on Illinois Families
  • News
    • News
    • Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Media Contact
  • Resources
    • Grant Opportunities
      • Board of Higher Education: Grant Administration
      • Capital Development Board: Grants
      • Department on Aging (IDoA): Public Notices and Notice of Funding Opportunities
      • Department of Agriculture: Grant Programs
      • Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Early Childhood: Grants
      • Department of Human Services (DHS): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Natural Resources (IDNR): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Public Health (IDPH): Funding Opportunities
      • Department of Transportation (IDOT): Grants and Funding
      • Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA): Veterans Cash Grants
      • Illinois Arts Council: Grant Programs
      • Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): Grant Opportunities and Information
      • Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA): Funding Opportunities
      • Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS): Grant Programs
      • Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA): Grants & Loans
      • Illinois Finance Authority (IFA): Programs
      • Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB): Grant Information
      • Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC): Financial Aid Programs
      • Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM): Grants and Loans
    • How to Appeal Your Property Taxes
    • Official Illinois Website
    • Get Your Free Museum Pass!
    • State Government Resources
    • Helpful Information
    • How a Bill Becomes a Law
    • Scholarship Assistance
    • Veterans Resources
  • Events
  • Property Tax Map
  • Data Hub
    • IL Agriculture Facts & Data
    • IL Audit Facts & Data
    • IL Economy Facts & Data
    • IL Education Facts & Data
    • IL Energy Facts & Data
    • IL Pensions Facts & Data
    • IL Property Tax Facts & Data
    • IL Public Safety Facts & Data
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Chris Balkema logo
Chris Balkema

ILLINOIS STATE SENATOR
53RD DISTRICT

Contact Senator Balkema
  • Home
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Biography
    • Objectives
    • District Map and Information
    • Photo Gallery
    • Media Contact
  • IL Senate
    • General Assembly Website
    • IL Senate Schedule
    • IL Senate Members
    • IL Senate Committees
    • IL Senate Live Video/Audio
    • Senator Balkema’s Sponsored Bills
    • Senator Balkema’s Committees
    • Legislation Passed in 2025
    • Petitions
      • Petition: Say No to Higher Taxes on Illinois Families
  • News
    • News
    • Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Media Contact
  • Resources
    • Grant Opportunities
      • Board of Higher Education: Grant Administration
      • Capital Development Board: Grants
      • Department on Aging (IDoA): Public Notices and Notice of Funding Opportunities
      • Department of Agriculture: Grant Programs
      • Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Early Childhood: Grants
      • Department of Human Services (DHS): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Natural Resources (IDNR): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Public Health (IDPH): Funding Opportunities
      • Department of Transportation (IDOT): Grants and Funding
      • Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA): Veterans Cash Grants
      • Illinois Arts Council: Grant Programs
      • Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): Grant Opportunities and Information
      • Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA): Funding Opportunities
      • Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS): Grant Programs
      • Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA): Grants & Loans
      • Illinois Finance Authority (IFA): Programs
      • Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB): Grant Information
      • Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC): Financial Aid Programs
      • Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM): Grants and Loans
    • How to Appeal Your Property Taxes
    • Official Illinois Website
    • Get Your Free Museum Pass!
    • State Government Resources
    • Helpful Information
    • How a Bill Becomes a Law
    • Scholarship Assistance
    • Veterans Resources
  • Events
  • Property Tax Map
  • Data Hub
    • IL Agriculture Facts & Data
    • IL Audit Facts & Data
    • IL Economy Facts & Data
    • IL Education Facts & Data
    • IL Energy Facts & Data
    • IL Pensions Facts & Data
    • IL Property Tax Facts & Data
    • IL Public Safety Facts & Data
  • Home
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Biography
    • Objectives
    • District Map and Information
    • Photo Gallery
    • Media Contact
  • IL Senate
    • General Assembly Website
    • IL Senate Schedule
    • IL Senate Members
    • IL Senate Committees
    • IL Senate Live Video/Audio
    • Senator Balkema’s Sponsored Bills
    • Senator Balkema’s Committees
    • Legislation Passed in 2025
    • Petitions
      • Petition: Say No to Higher Taxes on Illinois Families
  • News
    • News
    • Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Media Contact
  • Resources
    • Grant Opportunities
      • Board of Higher Education: Grant Administration
      • Capital Development Board: Grants
      • Department on Aging (IDoA): Public Notices and Notice of Funding Opportunities
      • Department of Agriculture: Grant Programs
      • Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Early Childhood: Grants
      • Department of Human Services (DHS): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Natural Resources (IDNR): Grant Opportunities
      • Department of Public Health (IDPH): Funding Opportunities
      • Department of Transportation (IDOT): Grants and Funding
      • Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA): Veterans Cash Grants
      • Illinois Arts Council: Grant Programs
      • Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): Grant Opportunities and Information
      • Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA): Funding Opportunities
      • Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS): Grant Programs
      • Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA): Grants & Loans
      • Illinois Finance Authority (IFA): Programs
      • Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB): Grant Information
      • Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC): Financial Aid Programs
      • Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM): Grants and Loans
    • How to Appeal Your Property Taxes
    • Official Illinois Website
    • Get Your Free Museum Pass!
    • State Government Resources
    • Helpful Information
    • How a Bill Becomes a Law
    • Scholarship Assistance
    • Veterans Resources
  • Events
  • Property Tax Map
  • Data Hub
    • IL Agriculture Facts & Data
    • IL Audit Facts & Data
    • IL Economy Facts & Data
    • IL Education Facts & Data
    • IL Energy Facts & Data
    • IL Pensions Facts & Data
    • IL Property Tax Facts & Data
    • IL Public Safety Facts & Data

Quick Links:

  • Concealed Carry Handbook
  • How to File a Witness Slip Online
  • Helpful Links for Veterans
  • 2025 Legislation Approved by the General Assembly
  • New Laws Jan 2026
  • Register to Vote
  • Visit the Capitol
  • 53rd District IDOT Road Projects
  • Fill Out My Legislative Survey - I Want to Hear from You
As Senate Republicans, our goal is to encourage job growth by developing an efficient, transparent, ethical state government with less regulation and lower taxes. We must leave a legacy of responsible government that will last for generations.

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Springfield Office
A-Section Stratton Building
Springfield, IL 62706
P: (217)782-6597

Springfield Office Hours:
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Monday – Friday

Pontiac District Office
305 W. Madison St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
P: (815)844-9179

Pontiac Office Hours:
8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Monday – Thursday and
appointment only on Fridays

Watseka District Office
1001 E. Grant St.
Watseka, IL 60970
P: (815)844-9179

Watseka Office Hours: call to schedule a visiting time

El Paso District Office
125 W. Front St.
El Paso, IL 61738
P: (815)844-9179

El Paso Office Hours:
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Every Tuesday

Chris Balkema

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