State Representative Jason Bunting (il) | Representative Jason Bunting (R) 106th District
State Representative Jason Bunting (il) | Representative Jason Bunting (R) 106th District
Rep. Bunting’s Springfield news update for July 26
In this issue:
Meeting with education advisory group
2024 Edgar Fellows class
Having a great time at the fair
New high school exams in spring 2025
Meeting with education advisory group
A significant turnout was observed Wednesday morning for the Education Advisory Committee meeting. Discussions covered staffing, testing requirements, legislation, and back-to-school preparations. Appreciation was extended to those who attended both in person and virtually.
2024 Edgar Fellows class
Rep. Bunting expressed honor at being selected for the 2024 class of the Edgar Fellows Program. Forty-one public policy leaders from across Illinois were chosen to participate in this program, which aims to inspire collaboration and address major state challenges.
The Edgar Fellows Program gathers leaders from various backgrounds, including elected officials, non-profit leaders, and business influencers. This year’s class reflects Illinois’ diverse political, racial, ethnic, and geographic makeup and will participate in the Executive Leadership Training Program at the beginning of August.
Congratulations were extended to all selected participants.
Having a great time at the fair
Rep. Bunting reported an enjoyable experience at the Iroquois County 4-H and Agriculture Fair last week. He engaged with constituents throughout the fairgrounds under favorable weather conditions that also benefited both the Iroquois & Livingston County Fairs.
Emphasizing the importance of 4-H in Illinois, Rep. Bunting noted that it reaches across rural, suburban, and urban communities teaching youth valuable lessons through hands-on learning and community service.
Gratitude was expressed towards volunteers who support clubs and fairs annually.
New high school exams in 2025
Illinois high school students will face a different assessment exam next spring as announced by the Illinois State Board of Education. The state will switch to administering the ACT exam instead of the SAT starting next spring. Both tests evaluate student performance in subjects like math and English and are used by some schools for college admissions and scholarship applications.
In Illinois, these tests also measure student progress as required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Test results contribute to the Illinois Report Card evaluating school performance against academic standards.
Summer reading deadline is next Tuesday
Rep. Bunting thanked local students (and their parents) participating in his summer reading program this year. The deadline to submit reading slips is next Tuesday, July 30th. Submissions can be made at district offices in Watseka or Dwight or via email at bunting@ilhousegop.org. Students who read eight books over summer will receive an official House of Representatives certificate of recognition and an invitation to an ice cream party.
Our current bill backlog
Vendors providing goods and services to the state submit bills to the Illinois Comptroller for payment processing when funds are available in the state's checking account. Currently, unpaid bills total $868,373,111—a figure that changes daily—down from $1.2 billion last year at this time. This amount does not include unfunded debts such as pension liabilities exceeding $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
1 from Illinois dies in multi-state Listeria outbreak possibly linked to deli meat: CDC
State’s largest privately-owned water utilities seek rate increase amid lawmaker scrutiny
Are construction zone speed limits enforced in Illinois when workers aren’t there?
Who are Illinois’ highest paid state workers? Here’s the top 10
Illinois studies explore converting wastewater to fertilizer with fungal treatment
U of I Archives detail story of Illini Olympian 100 years after gold medal wins
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