ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – As part of his efforts to keep drugs out of the wrong hands, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is encouraging residents to safely dispose of their expired, unused or unwanted medications during National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 23.         

“In order to fight against the current opioid crisis and prescription drug abuse epidemic, we must all play a part in removing these medications from our home if they are unneeded or not being used,” said Yingling. “The longer that these addictive drugs are left around the house, the bigger an opportunity there is for someone to abuse them. Whether it’s to prevent addiction or simply to remove clutter from your home, I highly encourage residents to take advantage of the upcoming Drug Take Back Day.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were nearly 3,000 opioid-related deaths in Illinois in 2019, one of the highest amounts in the United States. In order to combat this crisis, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) partners with local law enforcement agencies and community organizations to provide a safe way for residents to get rid of their unneeded or old medications. For more information or to find a site near you, please visit takebackday.dea.gov.

Since entering the General Assembly, Yingling has worked to crack down on the abuse of opioids. He was a chief co-sponsor of the Heroin Crisis Act, bipartisan legislation that increased access to naloxone, an antidote for opioid overdoses. In addition, Yingling supported legislation increasing oversight of prescription medication and helping track the flow of controlled substances like opioids.

“With so many residents in our community struggling with opioid addiction, we must do everything we can to provide support to those recovering as well as work to prevent potential addiction before it ever happens,” said Yingling. “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of my constituents, and I look forward to continuing my work to ensure residents have the resources they need to prevent and overcome addiction.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – For Hispanic Heritage Month this September and October, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is promoting economic advancement for minority businesses.

“Hispanics and Latinos have played a significant role in the development of our communities,” said Yingling. “They provide a vibrant, rich, hardworking culture and are involved in every major aspect of our society from education, healthcare, labor, and countless others. I encourage everyone to take a moment and commemorate their integral contributions.”

The Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) along with the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) are offering minority businesses several workshops plus systems of support to promote and strengthen the economic growth of Hispanic and Latino communities. This assistance will be presented by way of several events including initiatives to provide small, minority businesses with means to increase their network, amplify employment opportunities and expand commercial activity in their areas.

“I’m proud to continue supporting measures to enhance the Hispanic and Latino community with drives in jobs, business support, and service.”

For more information on how to access these resources, please visit illinois.gov/dceo/OMEE or email ceo.omee@illinois.gov with any questions or concerns.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law backed by state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, will reduce gun violence and fix the broken FOID (Firearm Owner’s Identification Act) system.

“Ensuring that we find ways to increase public safety and awareness is a top priority of mine,” said Yingling. “By closing the private gun sale loophole and expanding security for FOID transactions, our police can have the tools they need to keep our communities safe.”

The Yingling-backed House Bill 562 will implement several new methods that increase the security of gun purchases, including the requirement for background checks for any private transaction of a firearm. Additionally, a stolen gun database will be created to assist investigations of gun violence throughout the state. House Bill 562 will be effective January 2022.

“Violence prevention will continue to be a crucial component of my efforts in Springfield,” said Yingling. “While there is still much to be done about gun safety in Illinois, this is a step in the right direction to end gun crime.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – To provide support to victims of violent crimes, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, supported legislation expanding the amount of information provided to sexual assault survivors regarding the recently-created online sexual assault evidence tracking system.

“Survivors of sexual assault deserve to know that their case is being taken seriously and not being pushed aside,” said Yingling. “Providing information to survivors regarding the online evidence tracking system will ensure they know that law enforcement is properly handling their evidence in a timely manner.”

Last year, the Illinois State Police created the CheckPoint system, an online evidence tracking system allowing survivors to check the progress of their evidence. To ensure survivors are aware of this critical system, Yingling voted in favor of the bipartisan House Bill 1739, which was recently signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. The legislation requires health care providers and law enforcement officers to notify survivors who they collect evidence from about the tracking system.

Throughout his time in the General Assembly, Yingling has worked to provide resources to survivors of violent crimes. This session, he supported legislation allowing civil, no-contact orders against defendants convicted of a sex crime to become permanent. He also has hosted a supply drive for domestic violence shelters to provide immediate resources to local survivors.

“It is unacceptable that survivors recover from traumatic situations without any support,” said Yingling. “While we have made progress, there is still much more that needs to be done, and I will continue to work to ensure no one is left behind after being the victim of a violent crime.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – As part of his efforts to provide relief to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is encouraging residents who incurred funeral costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of the Funeral Assistance Program.

“Losing a loved one is extremely difficult in any circumstance, but in a year in which economic conditions were tough for many families, the financial costs associated with funerals were especially difficult,” said Yingling. “The last thing grieving families need to worry about is how to pay for expensive funeral bills after losing someone close to them.”

Yingling is reminding all Illinois residents that Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Funeral Assistance Program is available to help provide relief to those who have paid for a funeral for an individual who died due to the COVID-19 pandemic after Jan. 20, 2020. The program will cover up to $9,000 per funeral. For more information or to apply, please visit fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance or call 844-684-6333.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yingling has worked to provide relief to those hit hardest. He voted for legislation that would temporarily expand the number of seniors that are eligible for deferring their property tax payment in order to give them time to recover financially from the pandemic. He also supported legislation expanding rent relief for those who were impacted by the pandemic.

“In order to truly return to normalcy, we must ensure that all residents are getting the relief they need in order to recover from this difficult year,” said Yingling. “No one should be unsupported and left behind, and I will work to ensure that all residents are getting the resources they need.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – To keep residents safe, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, helped pass legislation that would restructure many of the laws relating to gun ownership in Illinois.

“As gun violence and mass shootings continue to rise, it is clear that we must take steps to keep residents safe from those looking to use firearms to harm themselves or others,” said Yingling. “When it comes to gun safety, it is critical that we do everything in our power to keep guns out of the hands of criminals without infringing on the rights of responsible gun owners.”

Yingling voted in favor of House Bill 1091, which would put a number of laws in place to ensure guns are not falling into the wrong hands. These measures include background checks for every gun sale, directs the Illinois State Police to share FOID card revocation information with other government agencies, and regulates firearm transfers. The bill also creates a Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force to crack down on gun violence, gun trafficking, and other violent crime.

Since entering office, Yingling has worked to implement commonsense gun legislation. This session, he helped pass legislation expanding Illinois’ “Red Flag” laws, which allow family members to petition the courts to temporarily remove firearms from an individual who is deemed dangerous. In previous sessions, he has worked to strengthen gun laws by voting to ban bump stocks, raise the age to purchase assault weapons, expand mental health protections and extend the waiting period for the purchase of assault weapons.

“It is critical that we are constantly working on creating up-to-date and comprehensive laws to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep residents safe,” said Yingling. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our community, and having strong gun laws is a major way we can crack down on crime and keep our communities safe.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, helped pass legislation that would extend confidentiality protections to human trafficking survivors in an effort to help keep them safe.

“With all that they have been through, it is important that we work to do our part in providing resources to survivors of human trafficking to help them recover,” said Yingling. “Forcing survivors to use their home address on public documents can put them and their families in danger, and they should have an alternative option if their lives are in jeopardy.”

Yingling voted in favor of Senate Bill 593, which passed the House with unanimous support. The bill will allow survivors of human trafficking to apply to be in the Attorney General’s Illinois Address Confidentiality Program (ACP). The ACP provides survivors with a substitute address to use as their home, school, and work addresses in order to keep their actual home address hidden on public documents and make it harder for perpetrators to locate survivors.

During his time in office, Yingling has worked to keep survivors safe. Recently, he helped pass legislation that makes no-contact orders against those convicted of sexual crimes permanent. In a previous session, he co-sponsored legislation adding sex trafficking to the list of offenses for which perpetrators must register as a sex offender and enacting harsher punishments for those who are convicted of the crime.

“In order to keep survivors safe, we must work to strengthen our laws and crack down on those who traffic people,” said Yingling. “We must explore all avenues available to make our laws as effective as possible in keeping residents safe.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – As part of his efforts to bring good government practices to Springfield, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, helped pass an ethics reform package that will crack down on corruption in state government.

“After decades of corrupt practices running rampant in Springfield, it is critical that we put rules in place that ensures elected officials are working for their constituents, not taking advantage of them,” said Yingling. “We must repair the public’s faith in their state government for the sake of our democracy.”

Yingling co-sponsored Senate Bill 539, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support due to its restrictions on state elected officials. The measure ends the practice of politicians receiving a full-month salary for less than a full-month’s work, prohibits officials from becoming lobbyists until 6 months after their term ends, and bans political fundraisers on legislative session days. The bill also strengthens the Inspector General’s investigative powers and requires additional transparency from lobbyists.

Since entering office, Yingling has worked to fight corruption in Illinois. This session, he backed a proposal to ban red-light cameras in response to a recent probe revealing corruption allegations surrounding the use of red-light cameras. In previous sessions, he worked to decrease corruption at the local level by passing legislation stopping elected officials from taking both a taxpayer-funded salary and pension from the same position at the same time and requiring contract vendors to disclose relationships with county officials before they can win contracts, among other reforms.

“After a year in which so many residents and small businesses struggled to stay afloat, it is more important than ever to ensure that elected officials are putting all of their effort into providing support for their constituents,” said Yingling. “There is still much more work that needs to be done, and I will continue to work to end corrupt practices and bring good government measures to both state and local government.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, supported a number of pieces of legislation that will provide immediate relief to residents and set the stage for a strong post-pandemic recovery.

“Now more than ever, residents are counting on relief from state government,” said Yingling. “This session, my priority was to position our state to make a strong economic recovery while ensuring that those who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic get the relief they need.”

Yingling helped pass a budget that puts an emphasis on funding vital programs that will provide relief to the individuals and communities most heavily impacted by the pandemic. In order to put Illinois on track for financial sustainability, the budget also prioritized paying off debt and obligations without placing additional tax burdens on residents.

“As we begin to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked together with new leadership to pass a responsible budget that protects funding for critical services that help those who need it most while cutting back on unnecessary spending,” said Yingling. “My constituents sent me to Springfield to make sure that state government is working in their best interest and getting them the resources they need, and this budget is in line with that goal.”

Throughout this session, Yingling worked to cut the tax bill of his constituents. He introduced legislation that would increase the amount of savings taxpayers would receive under the General Homestead Exemption and the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. He also backed legislation allowing businesses to circumnavigate the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap, ensuring businesses wouldn’t be double-taxed.

“After a difficult year financially for individuals and businesses, one of my top priorities was identifying ways to help residents save on their tax bills,” said Yingling. “High taxes, and especially high property taxes, place a massive burden on the middle-class, and I will continue working in Springfield to get residents the relief they deserve.”

Yingling also supported a variety of pieces of legislation aiding students. He supported legislation that would ban the use of unsafe and inhumane “quiet rooms,” which are used to lock students, many of whom have special needs, in a room alone for up to hours at a time. Yingling also supported legislation giving college students more information on the federal loan options available to them to prevent them from taking out unnecessary private loans.

“When it comes to our students, we must do everything we can to ensure that they have access to education, as well as a safe learning environment,” said Yingling. “Over the past few months, we have made major progress on a variety of issues, but there is still work that needs to be done. One of the most important ways for me to be a voice for my constituents in Springfield is to hear directly from them. I will be using the upcoming months to meet with and speak to as many residents as possible to hear their thoughts and opinions on what issues are important to them and how I can best advocate for them in Springfield.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – To ensure that businesses are receiving support during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, helped pass legislation that provides relief to companies by allowing them to receive a full State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction.

“Growing up working in my parents’ small business in Round Lake Beach, I know how important small businesses are to our communities,” said Yingling. “Even during the best of times, running a business is hard, let alone trying to stay afloat during a pandemic. Our businesses need relief, and allowing them to not have a capped SALT deduction will help them for years to come.”

In 2017, the federal government capped the SALT deduction, which allows those that pay various types of state and local taxes to deduct them from their federal income tax to avoid double taxation. Most businesses are taxed in a way that makes it so the SALT cap does not apply to them; however, there are still some businesses that the SALT cap applies to. To ensure that those businesses are receiving the most tax relief possible, Yingling voted for Senate Bill 2531, a bipartisan measure that allows businesses to be taxed in a way that circumnavigates the SALT cap.

Yingling has been a strong advocate for the needs of small businesses during his time as state representative. He has supported legislation that would cut costs for business by expanding tax credits for small to medium-sized businesses. In addition, Yingling regularly visits with small business owners throughout the district to hear their thoughts on what can help their businesses thrive.

“Small businesses are a boon to local economies, and it is important we have an economic environment that is favorable for small businesses,” said Yingling. “While helping businesses circumnavigate the SALT cap is a good step forward, I will continue to work in Springfield to ensure small businesses have as much support as possible.”