McLean County Times

Tax issues and legislative matters have been at the forefront in Illinois. Recently, a WalletHub report highlighted that Illinois ranks seventh in the nation for state and local tax burden, with residents paying an average of 10.2 percent of their income in taxes. "Tax Day has passed, and it left many Illinoisians with a bad taste in their mouth," acknowledged Senator Balkema. He emphasized his priority is to "drive solutions that will lower taxes for residents so that they can stay in their homes and thrive in our local economy instead of having to leave the state."

In other legislative developments, Senate Democrats have pushed forward Senate Bill 42, a contentious cannabis-related bill. The proposed legislation would remove the requirement for cannabis to be stored in odor-proof containers and limits law enforcement's ability to stop vehicles based solely on the smell of cannabis. Concerns have been raised by Senate Republicans, who argue the bill could compromise public safety and make it difficult for law enforcement to identify impaired drivers. The bill, which was opposed by Senator Balkema, now moves to the Illinois House.

The Illinois Senate has also unanimously passed Senate Bill 1288, a measure aimed at improving food safety for individuals with celiac disease. This legislation mandates training for all food handlers in the state on celiac disease and gluten-free food safety practices. "Senate Bill 1288 now heads to the Illinois House for further consideration," noted Senator Balkema.