Kane County Reporter

Lawmakers Hear Testimony on AWB Rules

Members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) met on December 12 to hear testimony from the Illinois State Police (ISP) on their proposed permanent rules for enforcement of the state’s "assault weapon" ban (AWB). The ISP's temporary emergency rules remain in effect, and the proposed permanent rules will be discussed further at the January meeting of JCAR. The emergency rules include the requirement for owners of banned firearms purchased before January 10, 2023, to file an affidavit with ISP. However, there is still confusion surrounding this law, and several court cases are pending on its constitutionality.

DeWitte is Keynote Speaker at IL Public Employer Labor Relations Association Meeting

Senator Don DeWitte recently spoke at the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association meeting. He discussed the state budget, pensions, and legislative issues with the members. Senator DeWitte appreciated the invitation and enjoyed the conversation.

Illinois Steps Back on Enforcing Crisis Pregnancy Center Fraud Law

Pro-life advocates have reached an agreement with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to halt the enforcement of Senate Bill 1909, a law aimed at rooting out "bad actors" in the crisis pregnancy center industry. Senator DeWitte had previously criticized the bill, stating that the Attorney General already had the power to go after deceptive practices. The agreement comes after a federal judge temporarily blocked the law in August, calling it "both stupid and very likely unconstitutional."

Volunteer Emergency Worker Income Tax Credit

Illinois is providing financial assistance to volunteer firefighters and EMTs to cover the costs of training and equipment. Eligible volunteers may receive a $500 non-refundable income tax credit starting next year. To qualify, individuals must have served as a volunteer emergency worker for at least nine months during the taxable year and have not received compensation for services exceeding $5,000. The application process opens in February, and volunteers must ensure their names are on the list provided by their organization by January 12 to be eligible.

IDNR cleans up several hundred thousand pounds of invasive carp in Illinois River

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and a group of professional fishermen have joined forces to reduce the number of invasive carp in the Illinois River. In a recent effort, over 700,000 pounds of silver carp were caught within 10 days, doubling the amount removed in the previous year. This program aims to control upstream migration and protect the Great Lakes from invasive species.

Illinois Firearm Deer Season Concluded with Over 76,000 Deer Harvested

The primary firearm season for deer hunting in Illinois has concluded with a total harvest of 76,232 deer. Although this is slightly lower than the previous year's harvest, there are still opportunities for late-winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease (CWD) seasons in designated counties. Archery deer season also continues until January 14.

These are the latest updates on legislative news and initiatives from Senator Don DeWitte in Illinois.

To find out more, go to this link: https://senatordewitte.com/2023/12/18/legislative-news-from-senator-don-dewitte-71/