Community celebrates new school construction, expanded sports facilities

Senator Steve Stadelman participated this week in the official "kick off" of Mercyhealth Sportscore Two by booting one of the first soccer balls to fly in the expanded Indoor Sports Center at the Rockford Park District complex. Stadelman passed legislation to secure a funding mechanism for the Reclaiming First initiative, a campaign to regain for Rockford the No. 1 position in the state's sports tourism market through the $30 million Sportscore upgrade and the transformation of a vacant factory on the downtown riverfront into UW Health Sports Factory.
 

Stadelman also joined administrators, parents and students at a groundbreaking ceremony this week for a new school on Perryville Road south of Harrison Avenue. The $15.7 million, 86,000-square-foot building is the first new school built by Rockford Public Schools since 1998.  It replaces Cherry Valley, White Swan and Thompson elementary schools as part of a 10-year, $250 million facilities upgrade.
 
Senate Democrats pass fair funding for all Illinois schools

Illinois school districts, shortchanged for decades under the state's worst-in-the-nation education funding formula, could see a significant influx of funding to level the playing field between rich and poor districts under a landmark school funding reform measure passed in both houses of the General Assembly.

"A fix for our broken school funding system has been a long time coming," said Senator Steve Stadelman, a vocal advocate since 2012 before he was elected to his first term. "Our over-reliance on property taxes to pay for public education creates a fundamental inequity that hurts Rockford and many other less prosperous communities around the state. The quality of a child's education should not depend on his or her zip code."
 
Under Senate Bill 1, no school district would receive less funding than what the current formula provides. Rockford public schools would see a $5 million increase and Harlem public schools would get an extra $650,000, according to an analysis by Funding Illinois’ Future released this week.

The legislation would establish a formula that takes into account factors such as students with disabilities, English language learners and low-income students. It also offers property tax relief.

Failure to end budget impasse frustrates Stadelman

The deadline to approve a state budget without a three-fifths super-majority passed this week, leaving open the possibility of Illinois heading into a third consecutive fiscal year absent a spending plan.

"I'm disappointed the Governor and lawmakers failed to reach a budget agreement before the end of the spring session,"Stadelman said. "Every day there's no budget the state takes on $11 million more in debt. We need to continue negotiating so schools can open this fall and government can continue to operate."

Overtime session dates are expected to scheduled for later this month. Illinois begins its fiscal year July 1.

Stadelman votes for property tax freeze

State Senator Steve Stadelman voted this week for two measures imposing a two-year property tax freeze. Senate Bill 482 freezes property taxes for two years for all units of local government except school districts, while Senate Bill 484 is a two-year property tax freeze on all school districts not eligible for a financial hardship exemption as defined by the legislation.

“I know that the people of Illinois are suffering under the highest property tax rates in the country,” Stadelman said. “While a permanent tax freeze would be detrimental to school districts that rely on the property tax, I am hopeful this freeze will provide some relief while making sure underserved school districts are not harmed.”
SB 482 passed the Senate 38-11-9 and SB 484 passed 37-11-9. Both are headed to the House for consideration.

River Edge Historic Tax Credit extension heads to governor’s desk

An extension of the River Edge Historic Preservation Tax Credit has passed both legislative houses and is headed to the governor for approval. State Senator Steve Stadelman won passage of legislation this week, extending the urban redevelopment incentive for four more years starting in January 2018.

“The tax credit has already spurred hundreds of millions of dollars of development in Rockford alone,” Stadelman said. “This will help put crumbling infrastructure back to use, grow the economy and increase revenue.”

The credit, equal to 25 percent of the rehabilitation costs for a business in a historic building, has been an important economic tool for downtown Rockford projects like the $12 million renovation at the Prairie Street Brewhouse. In addition to Rockford, the credit is also available in Aurora, Peoria, Elgin and East St. Louis.

Stadelman conducts June 20 clinic to help consumers reduce utility bills

State Senator Steve Stadelman has invited experts from the Citizens Utility Board to conduct a free clinic where local consumers can learn ways to reduce their gas, electric and landline telephone bills.
 
“With the official start of summer upon us, many of us are bracing for the heightened cost of keeping our homes cool,” said Stadelman, D-Rockford. “This workshop offers a chance to learn about all the cost-savings options that are available.”
 
CUB advisors will offer one-on-one analysis of gas, electric and landline phone bills, information on spotting billing errors and incentives designed to help people improve energy efficiency.

UTILITY BILL CLINIC
When:  5-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 20
Where: Rockford Public Library, Montague Branch – Constance Lane Room, 1238 S. Winnebago St.
Register: (312) 263-4282 ext. 111 or citizensutilityboard.org (subject line “Rockford 6/20”)

Refreshments and free CFL bulbs are being provided. Consumers are encouraged to call or email to secure an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome and will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bipartisan resolution honors Lady Golden Eagles for national four-peat

Senator Steve Stadelman and four other Rockford-area lawmakers representing both political parties and both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly signed a resolution honoring the Rock Valley College girls softball team for its fourth consecutive National Junior College Athletic Association championship victory. The framed resolution was presented to Coach Darin Monroe at a celebration at RVC this week.

RVC set an NJCAA record for most back-to-back title wins by defeating Suffolk County (NY) Community College in 20-0 game that allowed the Lady Eagles to close the season without allowing a single run.



Stadelman backs bill to promote diversity in awarding state contracts

State Senator Steve Stadelman voted in favor of a proposal to attempt to increase the number of minority-owned, female-owned and veteran-owned businesses that receive contracts from the state. Senate Bill 262 would require companies that do business with the state to submit yearly reports outlining any minority-owned firms to which they award contracts. Having won Senate approval, the legislation is now pending in the House.
 

Senate unanimous on Automatic Voter Registration

After carefully negotiating changes requested by the governor, state agencies and other stakeholders, a plan to modernize the voter registration process has received unanimous approval in the Illinois Senate.

"Every effort should be made to make voting easier, not harder," said State Senator Steve Stadelman, a sponsor of the legislation. "Of the many issues I discussed with voters I represent during three recent Town Hall meetings, voting rights was among those that resonated most."

If enacted, eligible Illinois citizens would be given the option to opt out of registering when they interact with certain state agencies, as opposed to the current system that requires citizens to opt-in.

Currently, there are more than 2 million Illinoisans who are eligible to vote but aren't registered. Automatic voter registration will significantly reduce this number and will remove a barrier to voting for all eligible Illinoisans.

Rather than giving individuals the option to fill out a separate voter registration form when conducting business with a state agency, the measure would allow agencies to electronically transfer an individual’s data to the State Board of Elections. Automatic voter registration will streamline bureaucracy, do away with redundant paperwork and save taxpayer dollars.

Senate Bill 1933 is now pending in the Illinois House.
 
Senate protects "Right to Know"

State Senator Steve Stadelman helped Democrats pass a measure to give people more information about personal data that is collected and sold by commercial websites.

The Right to Know Act requires commercial websites to inform consumers of what data they have collected and with whom it has been shared when asked to do so by the consumer. Commercial websites including Facebook and Google collect data regarding the age, gender, sexual orientation, religion and other characteristics of site visitors.

Current Illinois law requires businesses that collect personal informational to implement security measures to notify customers of security breaches. However, commercial websites are not required to notify residents what data they collect or whom they share that data with. This new initiative would require commercial websites that collect personal information to notify customers of the information they have collected as well as any third parties with whom they may have disclosed personal information.

Senate Bill 1502 now moves to the House of Representatives for approval.