WESTMONT, Ill. — State Rep. Marti Deuter, D-Elmhurst, issued the following statement after law enforcement detained a 19-year old individual accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora:                  

“A serious tragedy was avoided this week, one that could have ripped families apart and left a gaping hole in the fabric of our communities. Thanks to the actions of law enforcement and one concerned individual, that tragedy was avoided. It’s important now more than ever that we turn down the hate-filled rhetoric that encourages crimes like these. 

“Diversity is not a weakness of the United States; it is a great strength. I encourage all of us to see friends and neighbors as one community and focus on our similarities and our shared human experience.”

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, issued the following statement regarding the attack on attendees of AMP Chicago’s 4th Annual Palestine Fest:

“Yesterday, thousands of Palestinian families and neighbors from across Chicagoland gathered in Bridgeview for the 4th annual Palestine Fest, a day of music, food, poetry, and the kind of community joy Bridgeview is known for. By every measure, it was a beautiful day.

“It was a beautiful day despite the best efforts of a group of self-styled ‘crusaders’. Led by convicted January 6th insurrectionist Jake Lang, a man found guilty of violently assaulting Capitol Police officers, they came to our town for the explicit purpose of intimidating Muslim and Palestinian families on a day they had set aside to celebrate their history and culture. They came carrying symbols of war and openly calling for our erasure.

“The rally may have been protected speech, but it was no protest.

“It is absurd to think that white supremacists from out of town could walk into our community and claim to be ‘protesting’ our presence in our own homes. This was an act of intimidation, a deliberate attempt to instill fear and hate on a day of celebration and commemoration. Lang and his gang did not leave without doing harm. A local teenager was sent to the hospital after being assaulted. That is a serious offense that must be investigated as the hate crime that it is, and those responsible must be held accountable.

“This is the same tactic this group has used in Dearborn and Minneapolis: show up at a community gathering, provoke a reaction, and film it to flip the narrative.

“I thank the organizers, volunteers, and community members whose cool heads and coordination with local authorities that kept yesterday from playing into their hands and instead kept it a day of community, not a day of fear. We are resilient and, in the face of white supremacist violence, our strength will not waiver.”

HINSDALE, Ill. —State Rep. Marti Deuter, D-Elmhurst, is inviting community members to take advantage of her upcoming Mobile DMV event in Hinsdale.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

“It’s not always easy to budget the time to go to your local DMV office,” Deuter said. “Events like this bring the services of a DMV right into the heart of our communities, giving people a great chance to handle items ahead of holiday travel.”

Rep. Deuter is partnering with state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to host a Mobile DMV where residents can apply for a new driver’s license or renew an existing license or REAL ID, as well as register their vehicles.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to register as an organ and tissue donor, as well as register to vote.

The Mobile DMV will be held at The Community House, located at 415 W 8th St in Hinsdale, on Friday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Space is limited and appointments are required. Walk-in appointments will not be accepted. To reserve your space, please contact Rep. Deuter’s office at 630-413-1080. 

A list of acceptable documents for the issuance of first time IDs and REAL IDs can be found at www.ilsos.gov.

WESTMONT, Ill. —A measure backed by state Rep. Marti Deuter, D-Elmhurst, that will modernize Illinois’ newborn disease screening process was signed into law last week.

Senate Bill 3049 allows the renamed Universal Newborn Screening Advisory Committee to review additional medical conditions with FDA-authorized treatments and suggest they be added to the state’s screening protocols. Ultimate decision making will remain with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“This program has proven to be instrumental in the early identification of serious but treatable medical conditions in newborns,” Deuter said. “This legislation will allow us to update our processes and ensure the health and safety of our state’s newborns.”

The federal advisory body that traditionally evaluated new newborn screening conditions was recently disbanded, leaving states responsible for ensuring continued review and protection for newborns.

The bill will allow Illinois to stay up-to-date on the best practices for newborn screenings and implement new guidelines without changing what is currently screened for today.

“We are trying to keep Illinois at the forefront of newborn screenings and give the state the flexibility it needs to best serve newborns and their families,” Deuter said. “Earlier detection means earlier treatment, and the sooner we can give families a more complete assessment of their kids’ overall health, the better.”

Senate Bill 3049 passed the House and Senate with unanimous support, and was signed into law by Governor Pritzker last week.

CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker signed into law on Friday legislation from Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Bridgeview) that would create the PFAS Wastewater Citizen Protection Committee to protect Illinois’ water from dangerous long-lasting chemicals.

HB 2955 tasks the committee with developing a PFAS Action Plan to address the monitoring, mitigation, and elimination of PFAS in the state’s wastewater systems, and with identifying how to pay for that work so the costs also fall on the manufacturers that produce PFAS rather than on just wastewater agencies, taxpayers, and ratepayers. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widely used, break down slowly, and contaminate water and soil, making them an ongoing risk to Illinois communities.

Rep. Rashid released the following statement on the Governor signing this critical bill into law:

“I’m proud Governor Pritzker signed this vital legislation into law. Access to safe, clean water is a basic human right that we have a duty to protect.

“For decades, corporations have used our water systems as a dumping ground –  poisoning the water our families depend on with cancer-causing chemicals and leaving local communities to foot the bill for the cleanup.

“That ends today. This law creates a science-based, coordinated plan to protect our communities’ access to safe, clean water and hold polluters accountable.” – Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid

The signing of HB 2955 comes one year after the landmark passage of HB 2516, which made Illinois one of the first states to ban the sale of a broad range of consumer products containing PFAS. HB 2516, also sponsored by Rep. Rashid, was signed into law by Governor Pritzker in 2025.

SPRINGFIELD, – Ill. — With online harassment and technology-facilitated abuse presenting new challenges for survivors, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is lauding the signing of legislation to strengthen protective orders and give courts greater authority to address digital harassment, tracking and the misuse of private images.

“Technology should never be used as a weapon to intimidate, threaten or control another person,” Lilly said. “Survivors deserve protections that reflect the realities of today’s world. This legislation gives courts stronger tools to address digital harassment and helps ensure those being targeted have meaningful avenues for protection and accountability.”

Senate Bill 3020 modernizes Illinois’ protective order laws to address evolving forms of harassment, including doxing, electronically generated or digitally altered content, sexual private images and digitally-altered sexual images. The law empowers courts to order individuals subject to protective orders to stop creating, using or distributing harassing material and to require its removal and deletion. It also gives courts the authority to order the removal of electronic tracking devices, monitoring systems and tracking information and establishes procedures for extending plenary protective orders. Additionally, the legislation makes corresponding changes to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, strengthening protections for survivors facing both traditional and technology-facilitated forms of abuse.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes, communities and online,” Lilly said. “I am proud to sponsor legislation that strengthens protections for survivors and ensures our laws keep pace with the ways harassment and abuse are evolving.”

The new law reflects Illinois’ continued commitment to strengthening protections for survivors and addressing emerging forms of abuse. By recognizing the ways technology can be used to harass, monitor and control others, Senate Bill 3020 helps ensure survivors have stronger legal protections and that those who misuse technology to cause harm can be held accountable.

JOLIET, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, joined state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, and Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse on Aug. 13 to cut the ribbon on the new Hufford Junior High School in Joliet.

The new Hufford building, along with the new Gompers Junior High School, were funded in part through a $99.5 million bond referendum approved by Joliet voters in 2023. The former Hufford and Gompers school buildings were each more than 69 years old. 

“The overwhelming approval of this referendum reflects our community’s shared commitment to its students,” Rep. Manley said. “With 71.6% of voters in support, District 86 residents made clear that our children deserve schools that are built for learning, growth and opportunity.” 

The new schools include larger classrooms and hallways, upgraded technology, improved ADA accessibility, increased safety and security, greater energy efficiency, and more. Geothermal systems at the schools will lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions while providing comfortable classrooms year-round.

Beyond the replacement of Gompers and Hufford junior high schools, the referendum will support security and safety upgrades, accessibility improvements, and restroom renovations at all 21 schools throughout the district.

“These facilities are a true testament to what we can achieve when we come together as a community to invest in our youth,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors President Matthew Pritz, “The Board is deeply committed to providing exceptional learning environments that will empower our dedicated staff, inspire our students today, and serve as strong cornerstones for our entire community for decades to come.”

Joliet Public Schools District 86 serves 9,295 students across 15 elementary schools, four junior high schools, one early childhood center and one alternative school. Hufford Junior High is located at 1125 N. Larkin Ave. in Joliet, and Gompers Junior High is at 1501 Copperfield Ave. in Joliet. 

CHICAGO – State Rep. Mike Crawford, D-Chicago, is calling for increased state investment across Illinois’ entire education system; from early childhood classrooms through colleges and universities, as lawmakers prepare for their upcoming veto session and future state budgets.

Crawford said Illinois must continue increasing its investment in the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula for K-12 schools, particularly as school districts face increasing costs and work to provide students with the teachers, support staff, academic programs, and services they need to succeed.

“Education cannot be something we fund in pieces,” Crawford said. “We need to look at the entire continuum; from Pre-K to Ph.D., special education to student affairs, and make sure Illinois is making the investments necessary for students to succeed at every stage. That means strengthening early childhood education, continuing to increase Evidence-Based Funding for our K-12 schools, and making higher education more affordable and accessible.”

Crawford has made strengthening Illinois’ investment in higher education a priority of his work in the General Assembly. As chief sponsor of the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act, Crawford will lead House efforts to advance a new funding model designed to provide Illinois’ public universities with more adequate, equitable, and stable state support, reducing reliance on tuition and fees and helping make a college education more affordable for Illinois students and families.

The proposed model represents a significant shift from the state’s traditional approach to university appropriations by establishing adequacy targets and directing new state resources toward closing funding gaps across Illinois’ public university system.

“We cannot have a serious conversation about college affordability without talking about the state’s investment in our public universities,” Crawford said. “When institutions are forced to rely too heavily on tuition and fees, students and families bear more of the cost. Illinois must be a stronger financial partner.”

Crawford emphasized that increased higher education funding should complement, not compete with, Illinois’ commitments to early childhood and K-12 education.

“We shouldn’t be forced into a conversation about whether we fund a four-year-old, a fourth-grader, or a first-generation college student,” Crawford said. “Illinois needs a comprehensive education strategy. Pre-K to Ph.D. means recognizing education as one continuous pipeline and investing accordingly.”

Crawford said he will continue advocating for increased education appropriations, including additional EBF investments and the resources necessary to move Illinois’ public universities toward adequate and equitable funding.

“Education is both an investment in people and an economic development strategy,” Crawford said. “When Illinois invests in education at every level, we are building our workforce, strengthening communities, expanding economic opportunity, and positioning our state to compete for generations to come.”

A longtime higher education administrator and educator, Crawford brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education to his work in the General Assembly. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership.

WESTMONT, Ill. —State Rep. Marti Deuter, D-Elmhurst, is reminding families of the ongoing Back-to-School State Tax Holiday, and encouraging community members to take advantage of her upcoming Mobile DMV event.

“The back-to-school season can be stressful for many families. Paying for new school supplies, special course fees and new clothes can quickly add up, and as extracurricular activities ramp back up, spare time to run errands will quickly become a luxury,” Deuter said. “To that end, I encourage everyone to take advantage of the savings from our ongoing tax holiday and the convenience of our upcoming Mobile DMV.”

The ongoing Back-to-School State Tax Holiday reduces state sales tax on certain items from 6.25% to 1.25%. It comes as a result of Deuter’s work to pass a compassionate and fiscally responsible state budget.

Items in the tax holiday include:

• Clothes and school uniforms,
• Shoes, boots and sandals,
• Seasonal apparel, including coats, rain jackets, swimwear, hats and gloves,
• School and office supplies, including paper, calculators, writing tablets, pens and pencils, 
• Backpacks, lunchboxes and more.

The Back-to-School State Tax Holiday started on Friday, Aug. 7, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 16.

Additionally, Rep. Deuter is partnering with State Sen. Suzy Glowiak-Hilton and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to host a Mobile DMV where residents can apply for a new driver’s license or renew an existing license, as well as register their vehicles.

The Mobile DMV will be held at the Elmhurst Public Library at 125 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois on Monday, August 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Space is limited. To reserve your space, please contact Rep. Deuter’s office at (630) 413-1080 or office@repmartideuter.com. 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is celebrating the governor’s signing of legislation she sponsored to expand education for health care professionals on perimenopause and menopause, helping improve care for women during often overlooked stages of life.

“For far too long, women’s concerns surrounding perimenopause and menopause have been dismissed or misunderstood,” Lilly said. “With this legislation now signed into law, Illinois is taking an important step toward ensuring health care professionals are better equipped to recognize these stages of life and provide the knowledgeable, compassionate care women deserve.”

Senate Bill 3325 allows a course covering perimenopause and menopause to count toward the implicit bias awareness training requirement that licensed health care professionals with continuing education obligations must complete during each license renewal period beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The law also defines perimenopause and menopause in Illinois statute, helping ensure providers receive education on the physical and medical changes associated with these stages of life.

“Education leads to better care, earlier conversations and improved health outcomes,” Lilly said. “By making this topic part of continuing education, we are helping create a health care system where women feel heard, supported and treated with the respect they deserve.”

Senate Bill 3325 was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.