BELLEVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, joined local leaders for a ribbon cutting Thursday at Belleville’s Laderman Park as community members celebrated the installation of a new playground and other enhancements.

“This is a beautiful new playground that families are going to love,” Hoffman said. “I want to thank and congratulate Mayor Jenny Gain Meyer, Parks and Recreation Director Jason Poole, state Sen. Christopher Belt and everyone else involved in making these improvements a reality. It’s a great place where families will continue to make memories for years to come.”

Funding for the renovations included $200,000 in state support secured by Hoffman, with a revamped playground serving as the centerpiece. The new equipment replaces an aging playground set dating from the 1990s, and includes swings, slides, a climbing net and other activities for children to play with.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.

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BELLEVILLE, Ill. – With cooler weather approaching, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, is encouraging qualified residents to take advantage of the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as the application period opens up Thursday, Oct. 1 for those age 60+, individuals with a disability, families with children age 5 or younger and households disconnected from utilities.

All other eligible households can apply starting Nov. 1.

“LIHEAP helps families with utility costs for natural gas, propane and electricity,” Hoffman said. “It’s a critical program that ensures households stay warm during the winter, and I encourage those who can be helped by it to not delay in applying.”

Households that meet the qualifications and provide proper documentation will receive support until funding is exhausted. The priority application system is designed to ensure those most in need are able to apply first, a group that is expected to represent more than half of this year’s applicants. This year’s income eligibility is found below:

Additional information and an online application will be available starting Oct. 1 on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website at dceo.illinois.gov.

St. Clair County residents may also visit the St. Clair County Community Action Agency, located at 19 Public Square, Suite 200 in downtown Belleville.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law led by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, is targeting telecommunications wire thieves by restricting who can sell and purchase the wire, as well as banning cash purchases of $100 or more at recyclable metal dealers.

“Telecommunications wire can contain copper, and unfortunately thieves see it as an easy opportunity to make a quick buck,” Hoffman said. “This can cause disruptions for telecommunications providers and their customers, so we’re taking action.”

Hoffman’s House Bill 4943 updates the state’s Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law by making it a violation to sell or purchase telecommunications wire unless the seller is an authorized agent of a licensed contractor of a public utility or telecommunications service.

It also updates existing law that prohibited recyclable metal dealers from paying cash for copper, including copper tubing or wiring, that has a value of $100 or more. House Bill 4943 clarifies that this prohibition also applies to telecommunications wire.

“We want to eliminate the financial incentives driving this behavior from bad actors,” Hoffman said. “I appreciate the strong bipartisan support this legislation received, it’s important that we continue to look at ways to deter these thieves.”

House Bill 4943 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Residents asked to serve on a jury will continue to be compensated by their employer at their normal rate under a new law spearheaded by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea.

“Jury duty shouldn’t create economic barriers that prevent people from participating,” Hoffman said. “In some places, it was costing jurors more to park their car than what they were being paid for their service. We want our juries to be representative of all demographic and economic backgrounds, and this measure better enables us to allow everyone to participate.”

Under Hoffman’s House Bill 4844, employees that serve on jury duty will continue to be compensated by their employer at their normal rate. The measure applies to businesses of 26 or more workers, and updates existing practice under which employers were not obligated to compensate employees for time taken off for jury duty.

Hoffman’s plan builds on current protections. Residents summoned to serve on a jury must be given time off from employment to attend, and employers cannot discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate or coerce employees from attending their service.

“Right now, there’s a patchwork of ways in which jurisdictions compensate jurors, and the amount of compensation is inadequate,” Hoffman said. “This law reaffirms the importance of jury service, and addresses real concerns facing individuals as they look to perform their civic duty.”

House Bill 4844 will be effective Jan. 1, 2027.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – As part of efforts to address regional flooding challenges for at-risk communities, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and state Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea, have secured $3 million in state funds to support Southern Illinois University’s (SIU) Office of Community Engagement as it develops a regional plan to identify and prioritize relevant infrastructure projects.

“Handling area flooding issues will require a unified effort with leaders on the state, local and federal level,” Hoffman said. “SIU’s work will strengthen our approach, enabling us to maximize resources and develop a regional framework that prioritizes projects based on feasibility, measurable outcomes and regional impact for residents.”

“The Metro East has a unique geographic setup that leaves us vulnerable to dangerous flooding,” Belt said. “Just in the last few years we have had to endure some of the worst flooding in the entire state. In July 2022 and July 2024, the Metro East was hit with devastating floods that damaged thousands of homes, businesses and vehicles. Thanks to this new funding, we are combining our efforts, resources and knowledge with Southern Illinois University in order to protect our neighborhoods.”

Hoffman and Belt helped secure a $3 million appropriation in this year’s state budget to support SIU’s regional plan to address flooding challenges in the American Bottom – a flood plain of the Mississippi River that affects communities including Brooklyn, Cahokia Heights, Caseyville, East St. Louis, Fairmont City, Granite City, Madison, Pontoon Beach, Venice and Washington Park.

SIU’s Office of Community Engagement will work with federal agencies, congressional offices and local stakeholders to review and merge existing, fragmented ideas into a master regional plan. Solutions to increasing stormwater storage capacity will be a focus, aiming to alleviate neighborhood flooding concerns and improve residents’ quality of life.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Residents will be able to join a virtual utility bill clinic and learn tips on how to save on their bills at an online event hosted by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Wednesday, July 15 at noon.

“Every dollar matters for families, and this program can provide helpful information to save money moving forward,” Hoffman said. “Following the presentation, residents can submit their utility bills and a CUB staffer will reach out at a later date to set up a one-on-one appointment over the phone or video call to review the bills submitted.”

The now virtual event will be available over Zoom, and will focus on spotting unnecessary charges, efficiency strategies and financial assistance programs. Attendees can access the link and passcode by visiting bit.ly/bellevilleubc. A reservation is not required.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com. Additional information about CUB, including online resources, can be found at https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/.

Who: State Rep. Jay Hoffman, Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
What: Free Virtual Utility Bill Clinic
When: Wednesday, July 15; presentation begins at noon
Where: Online via Zoom, link and passcode can be accessed at bit.ly/bellevilleubc

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, is highlighting a series of Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Grants that will support local organizations and help uplift communities.

“These are great local organizations that support people in crisis, provide stability and offer programs that strengthen the community,” Hoffman said. “R3 Grants are an opportunity to invest in people and create a better future for our area, and I want to congratulate our local organizations and leaders who have been awarded this funding.”

Administered through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), the R3 Program was created under Illinois’ cannabis legalization efforts in 2019. Under the law, 25% of all cannabis tax revenue is directed to support communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. R3 Grants prioritize civil legal aid, reentry, economic development, violence prevention and youth development.

Local awardees include:

• MAC Institute of Beauty LLC: $266,533
• Journey of Hope Home: $184,500
• Good Samaritan Ministries of the Metro East: $123,408

More information on this year’s awards and a full list of grantees can be viewed at https://icjia.illinois.gov/news/icjia-invests-nearly-51-million-in-fourth-round-restore-reinvest-and-renew-grants/.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – A plan led by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, to reinforce the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund by updating decades-old statutes to better align with current needs and better serve Metro East property owners is now law.

“Mine subsidence is a frustrating challenge for homeowners in our area, and the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund plays a critical role,” Hoffman said. “This is a needed measure that updates our state law governing the fund so that it can operate effectively for homeowners across our state.”

Hoffman worked on House Bill 5376 in conjunction with the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund, which is a taxable, private reinsurer created by state statute to ensure financial resources are available to owners of property damaged by mine subsidence. The insurance fund effectively fills a gap in the insurance market for the benefit of Illinois property owners at risk of experiencing mine subsidence damage.

Mine subsidence can occur when the roof of underground mines collapse, causing the ground above to sink or subside. The issue is a concern in the Metro East region, which is home to numerous old mines dating back to the 1800s that can cause above ground issues, such as cracked foundations.

Prior to the creation of the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund in the late 1970s, homeowners did not have recourse because property insurance did not cover the issue. The fund has played an important role for homeowners since, and Hoffman’s House Bill 5376 modernizes the decades-old state statute to better reflect the needs of today.

His measure adjusts definitions to reflect operational practices and industry standards, updates the fund’s governance, improves transparency for homeowners, further empowers research programs and removes a deductible for policies issued on or after Jan. 1, 2027.

House Bill 5376 received bipartisan support in the General Assembly, and was signed into law last Friday by the governor.

Additional information on the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund can be found at https://www.imsif.com/.

For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.