McLean County Times

Chris Balkema introduced SB1760 in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 5, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Requires the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop a program for training unpaid volunteers to serve as police chaplains."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends the Illinois Police Training Act by mandating the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to establish a training program specifically for unpaid volunteers who wish to serve as police chaplains. This initiative aims to formalize the preparation and skills of volunteer chaplains, ensuring they are properly trained to provide support to law enforcement personnel and the community. The implementation of this program could enhance the support network available within police departments and contribute to the well-being and morale of officers by having adequately trained chaplains available to assist in various capacities.

Chris Balkema has proposed another seven bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Balkema graduated from Taylor University in 1993 with a BS.

Chris Balkema is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 53rd Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Thomas M. Bennett in 2025.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB1760	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Requires the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop a program for training unpaid volunteers to serve as police chaplains.
SB1759	02/05/2025	Appropriates $50,000,000 to the Department of Transportation for the expansion of Route 6 from Brisbin Road to Ridge Road. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1761	02/05/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish a program to award grants to units of local government for the purposes of demolishing or repairing commercial buildings that are detrimental to public health or safety as a result of dilapidation, obsolescence, deterioration, or the failure of the building to meet minimum code standards.
SB1762	02/05/2025	Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the purpose of awarding grants to units of local government for the demolition or repair of commercial buildings that are detrimental to public health or safety as a result of one or more of the following: dilapidation; obsolescence; deterioration; or the failure of the building to meet minimum building code standards. Effective immediately.
SB1763	02/05/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Provides that any recorder may publish property assessment rolls in a paper of general circulation in the county or on the county's public-facing website.
SB1517	02/04/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
SB1276	01/28/2025	Amends the Counties Code. In provisions about commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.
SB1347	01/28/2025	Creates the Citizens Empowerment Act. Provides that electors may petition for a referendum at the next general election to dissolve a unit of local government. Sets forth the requirements for the petition, together with the form and requirements for the ballot referendum. Provides for the transfer of all real and personal property and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving unit of local government to the receiving unit of local government. Amends the Election Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.