Kane County Reporter

State Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) credited a constituent for being the impetus behind a bill he supports to amend the school code's boundary change article.

"This came from a constituent request, not actually in my district but just outside," Welter recently told fellow lawmakers during a House Elementary and Secondary Education: Administration Licensing and Charter School Committee hearing.

The legislation also covers changes to school district boundaries by detachment, annexation, division or dissolution. It further stipulated that the length of time that signatures on the petition remain valid before the filing of the petition shall not exceed one year — rather than shall not exceed six months.

"A neighborhood that was looking to go through the legal means to petition ended up going through and gathering the signatures and going through the entire process, and it took longer than six months, and it ended up being ruled that it couldn't move forward," Welter said. "Looking to give additional time, as it only seems fair as a good government measure. That's my request of the committee."

The bill has now been assigned to the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee for further debate.

He has been serving District 75 since 2016 when he was appointed to replace former Rep. John Anthony. Welter sits on the House's Appropriations-Public Safety, Counties and Townships, State Government Administration, Transportation: Vehicles and Safety, Appropriations-Public Safety, Appropriations-Capital and Energy and Environment committees.

Running unopposed, Welter was elected to his third full-term in November. Before assuming office, he served as chairperson of the Grundy County Board.

His 75th District includes all or parts of Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle and Will counties.