Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - August 3, 2018

Stadelman named Legislator of the Year
State Senator Steve Stadelman has been named Legislator of the Year by a preservation group for his work to expand the River Edge tax credit for redevelopment of historic property. Stadelman passed legislation to continue the tax credit for four years and expand the program statewide.

Originally, the economic incentive only was available in Rockford and four other communities. Projects like the $12 million Prairie Street Brewhouse in downtown Rockford have been made possible because of the  tax credit, equal to 25 percent of rehabilitation costs.

Landmarks Illinois is presenting Legislator of the Year along with its President's Award jointly to Stadelman, State Senator Pamela Althoff of McHenry and State Representatives Steven Andersson of Geneva and Jehan Gordon-Booth of Peoria during an awards ceremony in Chicago in September.

"All four of these lawmakers have been champions of historic preservation and instrumental in helping to enact preservation legislation in the State of Illinois," the nonprofit group stated this week in a news release that referred to the River Edge expansion as "a major accomplishment for the state and preservation community."

HoopStars returns for 6th year
Sports Factory again hosts free Labor Day youth tourney
 
Hundreds of boys and girls can spend Labor Day on the basketball court at Senator Stadelman’s HoopStars, a free 3-on-3 tournament taking place for the sixth time Sept. 3.
 
Online registration is open now through game day at www.senatorstadelman.com, Stadelman announced this week.  There are no fees to enter.

The popular event, which has drawn as many as 400 players in 3rd through 8th grades, returns to UW Health Sports Factory for a second year after three years on outdoor courts at Davis Park.
Air-conditioning and ample parking are among the amenities that proved popular with parents and players in 2017. The increase in available game surface allowed for warm-up courts and reduced wait times between rounds in the single-elimination, two-game minimum competition.
 “Our venue has changed, but the primary goal remains the same – to provide a positive, no-cost activity for boys and girls as summer ends and the school year begins,” Stadelman said. “We’ve become a Labor Day tradition for some families, and that wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of the Rockford Park District and faithful financial contributors like ComEd and Comcast.”
 
All players receive free commemorative event T-shirts, and winning teams take home medals. Event sponsors operate interactive courtside information booths with giveaways, and refreshments are available for purchase.
 
Stadelman launched the tournament in 2013, his first year in elected office. The inaugural games were at Patriots Gateway.

 Flood heroes receive Senate honors
 

State Senator Stadelman presented Certificates of Recognition from the Illinois Senate to the three men and two students whose heroic efforts saved a 70-year-old mortician from drowning in a flash flood in June and received international attention.

Ryan Craig (far left) and Mark Pickett (3rd from right) pulled Bruce Salley (next to Senator Stadelman) from his car, which became pinned against a guardrail along Keith Creek and engulfed by rushing water. Manuel Meza, Markinez Gray and Demari Hart (2nd, 3rd and 4th from left) assisted in the rescue in the parking lot of Rockford Plaza at Charles and 20th streets. Gray and Hart are East High School students and swim instructors at Alpine Pool.

"The photos from that day are so compelling, and I have so much respect for what all of you did," Stadelman said. "Not everyone would have shown the same bravery and rapid response."

It was the first time Salley and his five rescuers had been together since the storm. Video of their efforts went viral on the internet, and their story was reported in the Chicago Tribune and on "Good Morning America" on ABC.

Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - July 27, 2018

Stadelman expansion of River Edge Tax Credit signed into law

Legislation expanding an economic development tool known as the River Edge Tax Credit was signed into law by the governor today. The proposal, Senate Bill 3527, was passed through the General Assembly by State Senator Steve Stadelman earlier this spring. While the tax credit was previously available in downtown Rockford, Aurora, Peoria, Elgin and East St. Louis, the new law expands it across the entire state.

“This tax credit has been a vital tool to spur the economic growth of downtown Rockford,” Stadelman said. “I’m excited about the possibilities that await our state by expanding this credit statewide.”
The credit is equal to 25 percent of the rehabilitation costs for a business in a historic building, with a limit of $15 million total per year that will be administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on a first-come first-serve basis. The program will expire at the end of 2023.  
In Rockford, it has been used to incentivize projects like the $12 million renovation at the Prairie Street Brewhouse. Now that it has been signed, Senate Bill 3527 is effective immediately.

Roll-out of automatic voter signup under way

State officials continue to fine tune the roll-out of automatic voter registratio n in Illinois, an initiative advanced by Senate Democrats with bipartisan support. Under the newest phase of the law’s implementation, which began July 1, those who contact a state driver services facility will be notified of their current voter registration status and asked whether they would like to update their information. Illinois must implement standards laid out by the federal Real ID law before AVR can be finalized, a process Secretary of State Jesse White has said will be complete in October.

Learn more about automatic voter registration.

In case you missed me on Facebook ...

 
Steve Stadelman
July 17 at 11:25 AM ·
Honored to present an Illinois Senate Recognition to the Rockford and Vicinity Baptist District Association! It's 40th Annual Session is taking place this week. Congratulations!

Stadelman expansion of River Edge Tax Credit signed into law

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation expanding an economic development tool known as the River Edge Tax Credit was signed into law by the governor today. The proposal, Senate Bill 3527, was passed through the General Assembly by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) earlier this spring.

While the tax credit was previously available in downtown Rockford, Aurora, Peoria, Elgin and East St. Louis, the new law will expand it across the entire state.

“This tax credit has been a vital tool to spur the economic growth of downtown Rockford,” Stadelman said. “I’m excited about the possibilities that await our state by expanding this credit statewide.”

The credit is equal to 25 percent of the rehabilitation costs for a business in a historic building, with a limit of $15 million total per year that will be administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on a first-come first-serve basis. The program will expire at the end of 2023.
 
In Rockford, it has been used to incentivize projects like the $12 million renovation at the Prairie Street Brewhouse.

Now that it has been signed, Senate Bill 3527 will be effective immediately.

Funding for Rock Valley College renovation released

Funding for Rock Valley College renovation released

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced the release this month of $9.2 million for the construction of Classroom Building 1 at Rock Valley College. The release of funds by the Illinois Comptroller's Office reimburses RVC for the state's contribution toward remodeling of the classrooms, which began in 2015 but was stopped due to the budget stalemate. In 2016, the college restarted construction using its own finances.

“The two-year budget impasse negatively impacted every community in our state by delaying payments for vital services and halting money for important capital projects, like this one at Rock Valley College,” Stadelman said. “I’m pleased the state is finally keeping its commitment to Rock Valley College as it continues to improve the learning environment for students and staff in the Rockford community.”

Renovation of the 61,000-square-foot structure included upgrading plumbing, lighting and electrical work and building a two-story, 21,000-square-foot addition.

New fiscal year brings new state laws

July brings the beginning of a new fiscal year for the state, and several measures passed by the legislature and signed into law take effect on July 1. The most notably of the new laws, which was supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman, addresses Illinois' teacher shortage.
Rural and downstate school districts will have more tools to help overcome the challenges of a statewide teacher shortage under the that is based on input from Illinois educators. Among other things, the measure slashes red tape to encourage educators outside of Illinois to apply for hard-to-fill jobs here, creates a short-term substitute teaching license and allows downstate retired teachers to substitute in classrooms without jeopardizing their retirement benefits.

Other laws effective July 1 - click on each bill number to read more:

SB 312 Requires any entity selling "catfish" products to disclose on the packaging, menu or wherever applicable the fish's country of origin. The concern is food establishments offering swai fish (Pangasiidae family) as catfish (Ictaluridae family) without informing customers.
SB 1223 Requires school districts to have an accelerated placement policy that allows students to be referred and evaluated for possible early entrance to kindergarten or 1st grade, acceleration in a single subject, compacted curriculum, grade acceleration, grade telescoping or early high school graduation.
HB 303 Reforms the civil asset forfeiture process; places the burden of proof in forfeiture cases on the prosecution, instead of the property owner.
HB 2453 Requires the Department of Revenue to transfer funds directly from sales taxes into the Downstate Public Transportation Fund instead of first being deposited by the Comptroller into the General Revenue Fund.  
HB 2963 Creates the Entity Omnibus Act, which takes the conversion and domestication processes out of various acts affecting business entities.