State releases $14.7 million owed to Rockford airport

Money was delayed for years during Rauner administration

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced last week the release of  $14.7 million that has been held up for years for improvements at the Rockford airport.Making good on the state's funding commitment had long been a priority for Stadelman, who worked to include the $14.7 in this year's budget. 

“Our airport is major driver of economic development in the region," Stadelman said. "It is important the state honor its commitment, as the airport continues to expand operations and grow in prominence."

The funding had been promised for the airport's Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility, but never materialized after Bruce Rauner became governor and Illinois endured a paralyzing two-year budget impasse. The airport took out commercial loans to finish construction of the MRO at a cost of up to $100,000 in monthly interest payments.

Stadelman commends Gov. JB Pritzker for helping resolve the issue and Comptroller Susana Mendoza for releasing the funds.

Sexual harassment reforms, minimum teacher salary signed into law 
Stadelman co-sponsored workplace protections
Private-sector workers who experience sexual harassment and discrimination will have greater protections under the law thanks to a major piece of legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman that recently was signed into law.

Stadelman called the legislation a "just and proactive" response to the many victims, advocates and members of the business community who offered testimony during the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention’s hearings last year.

Among the reforms: 

• Limiting the use of contract provisions intended to prevent an employee from reporting sexual harassment, such as non-disclosure agreements, arbitration clauses and non-disparagement clauses for cases involving harassment, discrimination and retaliation
• Clarifying that it is illegal to discriminate against an employee who is perceived to be part of a protected class (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity), even if they are not
• Allowing victims of gender-related violence to take unpaid leave from work to seek medical help, legal assistance, counseling, safety planning and other assistance
• Requiring hotels and casinos to provide employees who work in isolated spaces with panic buttons for use if they are sexually harassed or assaulted

Minimum salary increase first for teachers since 1980

Teachers will see an increase to their minimum salary under a new law supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman and signed last week by Gov. JB Pritzker, the first time Illinois has addressed base wages for educators since 1980. Stadelman said House Bill 2078 is one way to confront a serious statewide teacher shortage.

House Bill 2078 will raise the minimum salary for teachers to $40,000 over a four-year period from the current $10,000 for entry-level educators with bachelor's degrees. Wage increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index and subject to annual review by the General Assembly review, beginning in 2020. Projected base salaries under the new law are: 

• $32,076 for the 2020-2021 school year;
• $34,576 for the 2021-2022 school year;
• $37,076 for the 2022-2023 school year; and
• $40,000 for the 2023-2024 school year.

Stadelman gets A+ on environment

Last call for basketball!

Legislation allowing Rockford to raise license fees for video gaming machines signed into law

Bill will help Rockford balance budget, hold line on property taxes 

The City of Rockford can raise license fees on video gaming machines thanks to legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman that has been signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Rockford should be allowed to raise a small fee to a modest one,” Stadelman said. “The extra revenue will help the city balance its budget and hold the line on property taxes.”

Senate Bill 1558 was brought to Senator Stadelman by Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara due to Rockford’s status as a non-home rule municipality, meaning the city needs state approval to raise the fees, unlike similar-sized cities like Peoria, Aurora or Springfield. Currently, non-home rule cities cannot charge more than $25 annually for a video gaming machine license. SB 1558 would raise that limit to $250 in Rockford only. 

"I'm pleased the governor has signed this bill of Senator Stadelman's, making this a reality," Mayor McNamara said. "This brings our fees in line with other municipalities and will provide the city with much needed revenue."

The legislation took effect immediately.

Stadelman bill to stop motorists from watching videos while driving signed by governor

Illinois motorists cannot watch videos while driving as a result of a road safety measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman and recently signed into law. Senate Bill 86, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2020, clarifies the state's existing hands-free law, which is often looked upon mostly as a ban on cell phones.

Stadelman's legislation emphasizes that drivers are prohibited from using any electronic device -- including laptops, tablets, video games and pagers -- while behind the wheel and that streaming video is expressly forbidden.

"As smart phones get smarter and streaming speeds get faster, more people watch video programming 'on the go' rather than in their living rooms," Stadelman said. "That's fine if you're waiting for a bus or standing in a grocery checkout, but not if you're operating a vehichle. A person driving 70 miles per hour who looks down at their phone for 5 seconds has traveled over 150 yards. The amount of damage you can cause in that distance is far too great for us to not do anything.”

Nine people are killed every day in the United States from distracted driving, according to the Center for Disease Control. Almost 40 percent of unsafe driving behavior monitored by the EverQuote’s EverDrive app was caused by phone use.  

HoopStars returns for 7^th 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 seventh time Sept. 2. Online registration is open now through game day at www.senatorstadelman.com, Stadelman announced today. 

The event has drawn as many as 400 players in 3^rd through 8^th grades. Since 2017, games have taken place on 16 courts at the UW Sports Factory in downtown Rockford.

“As summer ends and the school year begins, our tournament provides a positive, no-cost activity for young athletes,” Stadelman said. “We’ve become a Labor Day tradition for some families, thanks to the continued support of the Rockford Park District and faithful financial contributors like ComEd and Comcast.”  

NO FEES are charged to play in the single-elimination, two-game minimum competition. All players receive free commemorative event T-shirts, and winning teams take home medals. Doors open at 11 a.m. for teams registering late or wanting to warm up before the 1 p.m. start. Parking is free, and refreshments are available for purchase.

Stadelman launched the tournament in 2013, his first year in elected office. The inaugural games took place at Patriots Gateway before moving outdoors to Davis Park.   

Measure limiting tinted headlights signed into law

Legislation that State Senator Steve Stadelman partnered with the Illinois State Police to pass to limit the use of tinted headlights on cars was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. Senate Bill 87, which passed both chambers of the General Assembly on bipartisan votes, prohibits smoked or tinted headlights and taillights from being installed on a car. 

“Being able to see other vehicles when driving at night or during bad weather can be a matter of life for death,” Stadelman said. “I’m glad to have worked with the State Police to get this done.”

lliinois law requires headlights to emit a white light at a distance of 1000 feet. Taillights are required to produce a red light visible for at least 500 feet.

Governor visits Rockford to signs bills to strenghten Scott's Law

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of bills in Rockford that increases penalties for motorists who fail to slow down or move over for parked emergency vehicles along Illinois roads.

One of the bills increases fines and adds possible jail time for violators of "Scott's Law," enacted in 2012 after an intoxicated driver struck and killed Chicago Fire Lt. Scott Gillen while he was assisting at a crash scene. Two other bills raise fines for traffic violations in construction zones and establish a 20-member "Move Over Task Force" to study the causes of "Scott's Law" violations. 

The legislation comes after the separate roadside deaths of three Illinois State Police officers earlier this year including trooper Brooke Jones-Story, who was killed in March after being struck by a tractor-trailer during a traffic stop in Freeport.

• WREX-13 report

Stadelman legislation fighting illegal logging on conservation land signed into law
Individuals who own an interest in conservation or preservation land will be able to recover costs associated with damage done when someone illegally cuts down trees on the owner’s property thanks to legislation signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. State Senator Steve Stadelman was the legislation’s sponsor.

“Preserving our state’s natural beauty for future generations is more important than some people think,” Stadelman said. “I’m glad I was able to partner with the Illinois Environmental Council to pass this legislation, which strengthens existing protections.”

The legislation passed both chambers unanimously and takes effect immediately. 

In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Steve Stadelman is with Maurice A. West II.

July 23 at 2:00 PM · 

Thanks to Bourn & Koch Inc. for giving Rep. West and myself a tour of its plant on Kishwaukee Street. The company is taking advantage of state grant money to train employees.

71Gwen Kahl Lashock, Bill Rose and 69 others

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Steve Stadelman

July 30 at 9:05 AM · 

Last night's softball showdown at Busch Stadium between Missouri and Illinois lawmakers had to be canceled in the 1st inning because of rain. ☹️ We tried to convince them to cancel tonight's Cardinals-Cubs game so we could get our game in. It didn't work. ?

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Stadelman roots for women's baseball museum
State Senator Steve Stadelman joined the team working to build the International Women's Baseball Center across from the historic Beyer Stadium where the Rockford Peaches once played by reserving $25,000 in state capital development funds for the project. He announced the financial contribution during a news conference led by Rockford attorney Jim Keeling and other organizers of the campaign to establish the museum.

Stadelman praised the effort as a way to encourage economic growth in a low-income neighborhood and pay tribute to women in sports.

Keeling discussed plans for a Penny Marshall celebration in September and the first phase of an outdoor exhibit dedicated to the late director of "A League of Their Own," the enormously popular film bout the legendary Peaches. Estimated to cost $1 million, the outdoor phase involves installing nine educational pylons honoring the achievements of women in baseball. 

Park District recognizes Stadelman for playground funding

Steve Stadelman and Dave Syverson were presented with awards from the Rockford Park District for their efforts in the Illinois Senate to secure a $170,000 state grant to rebuild aging playgrounds at Lewis Lemon and Haskell elementary schools and the sites of the recently demolished Walker and White Swan elementary schools. The two lawmakers received the honor during a recent Board of Commissioners meeting. A community survey in 2018 determined playground upgrades as the top priority.

In case you missed me on Facebook ... 

Steve Stadelman is with Laurie Bragg Sievert and Beverly Baker Peterson.

July 16 at 8:02 PM · 

Congratulations to Northern Illinois Hospice on the opening of its new facility on Harrison Avenue!

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Kristin Hamblock Thank you for attending the event!

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Lisa Novak Wonderful seeing you, Sen Stadelman! We enjoyed celebrating with you!

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Steve Stadelman

July 15 at 4:56 PM · 

Congratulations to Carm Herman on her retirement after 24 years at the Barbara Olson Center of Hope, 22 of them as executive director of the nonprofit that serves adults with developmental disabilities. It was my pleasure to present her with a Certificate of Recognition from the Illinois Senate for her exceptional leadership and dedication.

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