By State Senator Terri Bryant
SPRINGFIELD – Senate Republicans have again urged Governor J.B. Pritzker to veto Senate Bill 328, a controversial proposal that would cement Illinois’ status as a judicial hellhole, increasing the burden on job creators and working families.
Senate Bill 328 would allow out-of-state plaintiffs to sue out-of-state businesses in Illinois courts, even when the cases have no connection to the state, simply because the business is registered in Illinois. This radical shift would flood the courts with out-of-state cases, slow down justice for Illinoisans, and saddle employers with skyrocketing legal costs.
These concerns were only compounded by how the legislation was originally passed. Rather than correcting a technical error in the original bill, Democrat lawmakers used a procedural maneuver known as gut and replace. This tactic allowed them to swap out the contents of an unrelated bill just hours before the end of session, avoiding the Illinois Constitution’s Three Readings Rule and limiting public input.
In response, Republican legislative leaders have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the bill’s passage. That case is currently moving forward in Sangamon County Court, with oral arguments expected in August.
Governor Pritzker has until August 29 to veto Senate Bill 328. If he takes no action, the bill will automatically become law. Senate Republicans are urging the governor to stand for transparency and reject legislation that places special interests above the needs of Illinois families.
Illinois Faces Costly SNAP Penalties, Senate Republicans Call for Transparency
Republican lawmakers are calling for increased transparency after recent reports have emerged showing Illinois could owe the federal government over $700 million annually due to high error rates in its administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to help supplement their grocery budgets. However, Illinois has recently been found to have one of the highest error rates in the country, currently ranking worse than 38 other states in payment accuracy.
Federal law now requires states with error rates above 10 percent to repay 15 percent of total SNAP benefits. Illinois’ rate hit 11.56 percent in fiscal year 2024, one of the highest in the nation, according to USDA data.
State Senator Terri Bryant is calling for increased transparency and urging the Administration to take immediate action to fix the errors and stop the fraud and abuse in the SNAP program.
OSFM Awards $5 Million in Grants for Fire Stations in Illinois
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced that $5 million will be granted across 17 fire departments or fire protection districts in Illinois.
The Fire Station and Rehabilitation Program awards grants of up to $350,000 for the construction or rehabilitation of fire stations. The grantees will use the money to repair, upgrade, or construct a new station. A list of the 2025 grant recipients, their counties, and their award totals can be found here.
The recipients were selected through a competitive process that was opened through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). More information can be found at the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal website.
Stay Cool and Follow the Rules at the Pool this Summer
With the growing popularity of residential pools, experts are warning families to stay alert as drowning risks climb- especially for young children. Public pools remain a summer favorite, but both public and private settings carry hidden dangers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports an average of 379 child deaths from pool or spa drownings annually, with 75 percent involving kids under five. Most of these tragedies happen at home. Nonfatal drowning injuries send about 6,700 children to the ER each year.
As pool use continues to rise, so does the importance of safety measures. Experts urge homeowners to install proper barriers, supervise children closely, and handle pool chemicals responsibly to prevent these tragedies.
Here are some steps CPSC recommends you take in order to keep children safe around a body of water:
Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around all pools and spas.
Check to make sure the gate is locked or closed when leaving the pool or spas.
Keep the pool and deck clear of floats, balls, and toys after leaving the pool.
Always ensure children swim with an adult or buddy.
Designate an adult Water Watcher to supervise children at all times around the water. Stay off your phone, put your book down, and pay attention to whoever is in or around the water!
Never leave a child unattended in or near water.
Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
For more information about pool safety and for additional safety tips, click here: