Illinois State Senator Donald P. Dewitte
Recent News About Illinois State Senator Donald P. Dewitte
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Legislative News from Senator Don DeWitte
Senator Don DeWitte and State Rep. Jeff Keicher recently teamed up with AARP Illinois to advocate for the end of a discriminatory driving law in Illinois. Speaking at a bipartisan press conference, Senator DeWitte highlighted the need for House Bill 4431 to eliminate the requirement for extra driving tests for individuals aged 75 and over, regardless of driving record or ability. DeWitte emphasized the importance of focusing on factors that determine driving capability, such as health conditions and accidents, rather than solely relying on age.At the same event, Rep....
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Senator Don DeWitte's Latest Legislative Updates
Senator Don DeWitte has announced the kickoff of his 2024 spring/summer events calendar with a FREE document shredding event scheduled for Saturday, May 4 in St. Charles. In partnership with State Rep. Dan Ugaste, the event will take place at the Salvation Army Tri-City Corps Community Center. DeWitte encourages participants to bring their sensitive documents for shredding and non-perishable food items for donation. Regarding the event logistics, DeWitte stated, "A shred truck will be on site... from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM or until the truck is full."Expressing his...
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Senator Don DeWitte Addresses Key Legislative Issues in Illinois
Senator Don DeWitte recently participated in a panel hosted by Safe Suburbs USA in Geneva, where he discussed crime trends in Kane County alongside other esteemed panelists. DeWitte highlighted the concerning increase in child sexual exploitation and stolen vehicles in the county, emphasizing the importance of addressing these crimes against children. He noted that the newly established Child Exploitation Unit in Kane County, with retired Naperville detective Rich Wistocki as a special investigator, has shown promising results but stressed that more work needs to be done....
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Shouldn’t Those who Defraud the Pandemic Relief Fund be Prosecuted?
DeWitte Questions Executive Inspector General During Senate Appropriations MeetingDuring a recent Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, Senator DeWitte raised concerns about the alleged fraudulent activities related to the pandemic relief fund. He questioned Executive Inspector General Susan Halling about the status of investigations into state employees involved in the fraud, inquiring specifically about potential prosecutions.Legislation Proposed to Keep At-Risk Veteran Homes AffordableIn response to the escalating costs associated with housing options for...
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Legislative News from Senator Don DeWitte
Senator Don DeWitte has been at the forefront of introducing new legislation aimed at assisting struggling families and addressing vital issues affecting the state of Illinois. The proposed bills aim to provide financial relief to families with children, improve broadband access, raise awareness for developmental disabilities, and address environmental concerns.Senator DeWitte, in co-sponsoring Senate Bill 2717 and Senate Bill 3104, highlighted the importance of providing financial support to families with children in daycare and pre-K programs. In his statement, he...
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Senator DeWitte Engages Public with Legislative Survey, Introduces Bills, and Supports Agriculture Students
Senator Don DeWitte has invited the public to participate in the Spring 2024 legislative survey, seeking opinions on pending legislation and bills that have passed in recent years. The Senator expressed his eagerness to receive feedback, stating, "I will read every survey that is submitted, and I look forward to your comments."One of the key initiatives supported by Senator DeWitte is the Constitutional Amendment to Ensure U.S. Citizenship Required to Vote in Illinois. Regarding the proposed Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 14, the Senator emphasized the...
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Legislative News from Senator Don DeWitte
Senator Don DeWitte is seeking input from constituents on pending legislation as the committee deadline approaches in Illinois. DeWitte stated, "In my initial review of legislation still waiting to be heard, I decided this was a good time to seek input from my constituents." He has created a survey to gather opinions on pending legislation and bills that have passed in recent years.In response to Governor JB Pritzker's non-citizen welfare policies, Senator Don DeWitte has cosponsored legislation aimed at increasing transparency on state spending related to migrants....
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Senators DeWitte and Wilcox Distribute over 9,000 Valentines to Local Seniors
State Senators Don DeWitte and Craig Wilcox recently spread love and joy to local seniors by delivering over 9,000 homemade valentines to those living in nursing homes and assisted living centers. The initiative was part of the Senate Republicans’ annual Valentines for Seniors program.DeWitte, representing the 33rd Senate District, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “This is my favorite event of the year because the community really comes together to make Valentine’s Day special for area seniors.” He highlighted the importance of combating loneliness among...
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Legislative News from Senator Don DeWitte
Last Tuesday, Senator Don DeWitte joined the Illinois Manufacturing Association (IMA) and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to unveil the IMA's 2024 legislative agenda. The agenda focuses on strengthening Illinois' workforce, advancing cutting-edge technology, and supporting the state's clean energy goals.One of the key bills in the IMA package is Senate Bill 163, which Senator DeWitte proudly serves as the Chief Sponsor. This bill aims to make the temporary Research & Development Tax Credit in Illinois permanent. Senator DeWitte emphasized the importance of this bill...
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Senator Don DeWitte Joins IMA to Launch 2024 Legislative Agenda
State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) has partnered with the Illinois Manufacturing Association (IMA) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to announce the launch of the IMA's 2024 legislative agenda. The agenda aims to strengthen Illinois' workforce, promote cutting-edge technology, and support the state's clean energy goals.In a press conference, Senator DeWitte emphasized the need to address the shortage of technology jobs in the state. He stated, "There are tens of thousands of open technology jobs in the State of Illinois right now, and legislators need to create a...
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Legislative News from Senator Don DeWitte
Governor Finally Allows Co-Pays for Undocumented HealthcareIllinois Governor JB Pritzker has finally announced that co-pays will be allowed for undocumented immigrants receiving free healthcare in the state. The decision comes after months of delay and little transparency on the matter. While the co-pays were initially proposed as a way to control the rising costs of the taxpayer-funded program, it remains to be seen how much will actually be saved.Senator Don DeWitte expressed his concerns about the program, stating that Illinois taxpayers should not be burdened with...
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Senator DeWitte to Host Unclaimed Property Event
State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is teaming up with the Illinois Treasurer's Office to help residents of Kane, McHenry, and DuPage Counties discover and claim their unclaimed property and cash. The event, called Senator DeWitte's Unclaimed Property Day, will take place on Friday, February 9, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Dundee Township Park District's Rakow Center in Carpentersville.According to Senator DeWitte, many people are unaware that they may be entitled to unclaimed property or money. He stated, "On average, one in four people who search the...
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Senate Republicans Convince Gov. Pritzker to Pause Budget Cuts for Developmentally Disabled
Senate Republicans have successfully persuaded the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to halt proposed budget cuts for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled (IDD) community. The proposed cuts would have resulted in a reduction of 2.5 million hours of care provided by Direct Support Professionals (DSP) in group homes where approximately 10,000 adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities reside. This would have affected 90% of all group home residents and totaled nearly $90 million in cuts.The strong bipartisan pushback from lawmakers, including...
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Legislative News from Senator Don DeWitte
The Illinois General Assembly has commenced its regular session, with lawmakers already diving into important issues such as the immigration crisis and the state's assault weapons ban. Governor JB Pritzker's approach to the immigration crisis, which bypasses the legislature, has raised concerns about transparency and the allocation of taxpayer funds. The session will resume on February 6 at the Capitol.One significant topic that lawmakers have addressed is the state's assault weapons ban. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), which includes Senator Don...
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DeWitte Joins Senate Republicans in Demanding that Pritzker Rescind Proposed Cuts to Service Hours for Vulnerable Illinoisans
State Senator Don DeWitte has joined his Senate Republican colleagues in calling on Governor Pritzker to reverse proposed cuts to service hours for Illinois adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) living in group homes. The Department of Human Services, under the administration of Governor Pritzker, has suggested reducing service hours by 2.5 million in the next fiscal year's budget.Senator DeWitte expressed his concerns about the impact of these cuts on vulnerable citizens, stating, "These alarming cuts would affect about 10,000 of our most vulnerable...
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Illinois Launches New Intake Center and Shelter Site for Migrants Arriving in Chicago
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced the launch of a new intake center and shelter site in Chicago to support the influx of migrants arriving in the city. The decision comes as Chicago has received nearly 30,000 individuals and families seeking asylum since August 2022. The funds allocated by the Governor will be used to provide supplies, hotel rooms, and eventually establish a shelter at a former CVS in Little Village.However, the Governor's decision has faced criticism. Senator Don DeWitte argues that Governor Pritzker should not be surprised by the number of...
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Senator Don DeWitte Launches 4th Annual “Valentines for Seniors” Card Drive
State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is once again spearheading the "Valentines for Seniors" card drive in Illinois. The initiative aims to bring joy and show appreciation to seniors in assisted living centers, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities across the 33rd Senate District during the week of Valentine's Day.Senator DeWitte is calling on students from public and private schools, church groups, scouting organizations, and other groups to create homemade cards and drawings for the seniors. He believes that this small gesture can have a significant impact...
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Senator DeWitte Hosts “Valentines for Seniors” Card Drive
Senator Don DeWitte is hosting a “Valentines for Seniors” card drive in an effort to bring joy to elderly individuals in nursing homes and assisted living centers. The program invites students, church groups, and other organizations to create homemade cards, notes, and drawings that will be distributed to seniors on Valentine's Day.DeWitte emphasized the importance of this program, stating, "Loneliness can be a real issue for the elderly, so it’s nice to bring them some joy so they know we’re thinking of them."The cards and other items can be dropped off or mailed to...
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New Year, New Laws, Part II
As we approach the new year, several new laws are set to take effect in Illinois on January 1, 2024. These laws cover a range of topics, including education, elections, healthcare, special needs children, sportsmen, transportation, and support for veterans and military families.One notable change is the expiration of the Invest in Kids program. Since its inception in 2017, this program has provided more than 40,000 scholarships to low-income K-12 students, allowing them to attend a school of their choice. Unfortunately, due to the lack of action from legislative Democrats...
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New Year, New Laws, Part 1: Illinois Set to Implement Over 300 New Laws in 2024
As we approach the end of 2023, Illinois is preparing to enact more than 300 new laws that will take effect on January 1, 2024. These laws cover a wide range of topics, from crime and gun control to human trafficking and first responder support. Let's take a closer look at some of the notable laws that will come into effect in the new year.One of the controversial issues that made headlines during the fall veto session was the expiration of bipartisan legislation that established higher minimum prison terms for individuals convicted of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon....