Stadelman and other state officials visit scene of deadly roof collapse in Belvidere

• Rockford
• Belvidere
• Apollo Theatre
• disaster proclamation

 Senator Steve Stadelman was joined by Governor Pritzker and Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau on Sunday to survey damage at and around the Apollo Theatre in downtown Belvidere, where one concertgoer died and five others were critically injured when a tornado caused the roof to collapse.

“Our thoughts are with the dozens of people injured in this tragedy,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). "We're here to let residents know the state will assist in any way it can to help the community recover"

The governor announced a disaster proclamation has been issued for Boone County that unlocks immediate state financial assistance and possible federal aid. 

260 concertgoers were inside the Apollo Theatre when the tornado struck Friday night.

 "I want to thank the heroic efforts of first responders and the concertgoers who helped pull people out of the ruble, said Stadelman. "Their actions saved lives."

The historic Theater is undergoing a structural integrity analysis to determine its future. As efforts to assess total damage continue, Stadelman will be working with Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris and others to try and save and restore the historic 102-year-old building. 

Extended coverage of the news conference is available here.

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Stadelman introduces legislation to give communities tax credits to renovate historic and commercial spaces

• Historic Preservation Fund
• Tax Credits
• Revitalizing Downtowns Tax Credit

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Steve Stadelman has introduced legislation that will provide an economic boost to Illinois communities and downtown areas.

The Senate Revenue Committee heard testimony this week on the new Revitalizing Downtowns Tax Credit Act and an expansion of the Historic Preservation Tax Credit for communities looking to renovate historic or commercial properties.

Under the Downtown Tax Credit bill, developers could receive a state income tax credit equal to 25% of expenditures incurred to convert an office building to residential, retail or commercial use.

“Downtowns are the economic engines of our cities and right now many are struggling. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have moved to remote work and this has led to many office spaces going unused,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This incentivizes renovation of these properties to help bring more life to downtown areas and help other business still there.”

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Stadelman bill expands rent protections for tenants of smaller properties

• Tenants
• Renter Protections
• SB 1741
• Renting

To help tenants who rent small properties like houses and duplex homes, State Senator Steve Stadelman passed legislation on Thursday to provide greater transparency for renters.

“Currently, there are no security deposit protections for renters of small properties with five or fewer units,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation would expand the current ways renters are protected to include those renting smaller properties with five or fewer units.”

Under the current law, landlords can withhold security deposits for tenants in buildings with five units or more as long as they provide an itemized statement of damages within 30 days after a tenant moves out. For those living in a building with five or fewer units, a withheld security deposit does not require a statement explaining why and listing the damages incurred.

Senate Bill 1741 would remove this limitation and require all landlords to provide an itemized statement of damages before withholding a security deposit from any tenant, regardless of the number of units in the property.

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Stadelman task force to preserve local journalism convenes for first time Monday

• Local Journalism
• Local Journalism Task Force
• News

ROCKFORD -- A task force appointed to study the decline of local journalism in Illinois and recommend ways to revive the industry meets for the first time Monday, March 27.

The task force is being led by State Senator Steve Stadelman, who passed legislation to establish the panel of frontline journalists and academics and who worked 25 years as an award-winning television reporter and news anchor before his election to the Illinois General Assembly in 2012.

"Newsrooms across the nation are shrinking, especially in smaller and more rural areas, and an alarming number have closed in the last decade," Stadelman said. "When people don't know what's happening on their town councils and school boards, they can't make educated decisions or hold public officials accountable."

Stadelman's legislation charges the 23-member task force with studying Illinois communities underserved by the news media, proposing public policy to strengthen local journalism and recommending ways to support private-sector or non-profit operating models. Members of the task force represent higher education including the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, news media including the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council and Illinois Press Association and government including the Illinois Municipal League.

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