{"id":679,"date":"2023-04-05T07:54:56","date_gmt":"2023-04-05T12:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/repbradstephens.com\/?p=679"},"modified":"2023-04-06T07:55:44","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T12:55:44","slug":"rep-stephens-april-2023-legislative-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/repbradstephens.com\/rep-stephens-april-2023-legislative-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Rep. Stephens April 2023 Legislative Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are on spring break in the General Assembly and won\u2019t be meeting again until\u00a0Tuesday, April 18th<\/sup>.\u00a0<\/strong>From there, we have five weeks of session leading up to our May 19th<\/sup>\u00a0adjournment. Be sure to reach out to my office with your views and thoughts on legislation by calling\u00a0(773) 444-0611\u00a0<\/strong>or emailing\u00a0stephens@ilhousegop.org<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many significant observances coming up in the coming weeks. For all who celebrate Easter and Orthodox Easter, I wish you peaceful Holy Weeks and joyful Easter celebrations! I also wish all recognizing Passover this week a contemplative and blessed holiday, chag Pesach Sameach. For all recognizing the end of Ramadan, I also wish you great Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Eid Mubarak!<\/p>\n

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Secretary of State Super Senior Seminar<\/strong><\/h6>\n

This month, I\u2019m hosting a\u00a0Secretary of State Super Senior Seminar!\u00a0<\/strong>Join us on\u00a0Friday, April 14th<\/sup>\u00a0<\/strong>from\u00a010 a.m. \u2013 2 p.m.\u00a0<\/strong>at the\u00a0Salvation Army Norridge Citadel Community Center (8354 W. Foster)\u00a0<\/strong>in\u00a0Norridge.\u00a0<\/strong>Find more information online\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0RSVP IS REQUIRED.\u00a0<\/strong>You can RSVP at\u00a0(773) 444-0611.\u00a0<\/strong>I look forward to seeing you there!<\/p>\n

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Photo from Officer Down Memorial Page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Illinois House Pays Tribute to Fallen Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Slain in the line of duty, Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso was a five-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Responding to a report that a woman was being chased down the street by a man with a gun on Chicago\u2019s southwest side, Officer Vasquez-Lasso exchanged fire with the suspect at close range. Officer Vasquez-Lasso was shot multiple times and later died at Mt. Sinai Hospital.<\/p>\n

On March 2nd<\/sup>, the Illinois House of Representatives heard tributes to the fallen officer and paused for a moment of silence to pay tribute to Vasquez-Lasso. In these tributes, House members honored his service and by his fellow police officers throughout Illinois. His name will be memorialized as part of the Illinois Police Memorial, which stands on the grounds of the Illinois State Capitol.<\/p>\n

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April 1, 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Thank You, State Troopers!<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Thank you to the Illinois State Police for 101 years of \u201cIntegrity, Service, Pride\u201d recognized on April 1st. We are proud to honor our Illinois State Troopers every day for the work they do protecting our home.<\/p>\n

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House Republicans Call for Business Reforms to Attract Manufacturing & Keep Jobs in Illinois<\/strong><\/h6>\n

House Republican members held a Capitol news conference in March calling for reforms to Illinois\u2019 business climate following the shuttering of the Stellantis Jeep Assembly Plant in Belvidere and Stellantis\u2019 previously announced $150 million investment in Indiana. My colleagues called for reforms to Illinois\u2019 tax code and business regulatory environment while pointing out that major manufacturers are passing over Illinois to invest in states with friendlier business environments.<\/p>\n

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Illinois Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Cash Bail<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Although cash bail has been, and continues to be, a significant part of Illinois\u2019 criminal procedure, a major component of the Democrats\u2019 so-called \u201cSAFE-T Act\u201d would eliminate cash bail as of this year. Law enforcement officials, including the overwhelming majority of Illinois state\u2019s attorneys, filed suit to block the implementation of \u201cno cash bail.\u201d Oral arguments on the case of\u00a0Rowe and Downey v. Kwame Raoul et al.<\/a><\/em>\u00a0were heard by the Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 14th.<\/p>\n

State\u2019s Attorney James E. Rowe and Sheriff Michael Downey, the lead plaintiffs, represented a bipartisan group of elected law enforcement officers from across Illinois. These public officials within law enforcement are fighting to retain cash bail as a tool of criminal procedure by the Illinois courts. The state high court\u2019s decision will shape the future of pretrial detention in Illinois.<\/p>\n

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Leader McCombie Files Public Safety Package<\/strong><\/h6>\n

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has filed several bills in a robust legislative package aimed at improving public safety and reducing crime throughout Illinois. McCombie\u2019s initiative will address public safety by focusing on the rising fentanyl epidemic, gun violence, and the systemic issues of the SAFE-T Act. The five bills include the following:<\/p>\n