A recent report from the Anderson Economic Group shows Illinois ranks 35th in the country in business tax burden, up from 32nd a year before. The findings, however, were from the latest fiscal year data available, 2016, which came before the corporate and personal income tax rates were increased in 2017.

A researcher from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) says unlike other states, most overdoses and opioid-related deaths in Illinois are caused by heroin use. James Swartz says it is also often in combination of potent synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and carfentanyl.

Corn and soybeans across Illinois are enjoying a strong growing season this year thanks to Mother Nature. According to the latest Crop Progress and Conditions Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 81 percent of corn is considered in good to excellent condition right now. For soybeans, it’s 72 percent.

In response to the state’s ongoing teacher shortage, House Bill 5627 was recently signed into law seeking to help draw educators to Illinois, retain existing teachers and assist former teachers interested in returning to the classroom. Proponents say the new law offers common-sense changes to help ease Illinois’ growing teacher shortage as legislators explore long-term solutions to the growing crisis.

The Secretary of State’s office this week began the “opt-in” voter registration at driver service facilities as part of the state’s new Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) law that was signed in August 2017. The AVR was advanced as a way to both modernize and simplify the state’s voter registration process.

A state pilot program on competency-based graduation requirements was recently expanded under Senate Bill 2941, legislation recently signed into law that will place a greater emphasis on a student’s level and quality of education, as opposed to hours simply spent in a classroom.

On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision about Janus v. AFSCME. The court held that forcing government employees who do not wish to join the union to pay “fair share” union dues violates the First Amendment, and States and public-sector unions may no longer extract fair share fees (agency fees) from non-consenting employees.

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently announced that the federal government has approved the state’s plan to protect safety-net and rural hospitals while ensuring continued federal support for quality healthcare to more than three million Illinoisans.

Illinois’ new adoption credit program will make it easier for families to adopt, connecting children with loving families.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in Illinois for 2018.

A joint Senate and House hearing was held June 20 in Chicago in response to a recently released Chicago Tribune investigation that revealed sexual abuse and assaults had been frequently mishandled over a 10-year period in Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

People in Illinois will no longer have to pay a fee to a credit agency if they request a credit freeze or lift a credit freeze on their account under legislation (HB 4095) co-sponsored by State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner June 8.

Gov. Rauner signed the $38.5 billion spending plan for Fiscal Year 2019 into law on June 4, and while Senate Republican lawmakers said they recognize that the new state budget is not perfect, they emphasized the compromise will ensure vital state services remain funded, including health coverage for children and senior citizens, as well as other priorities that save lives and protect the public.

Sen. Rose’s Office to host traveling office hours for constituents in Piatt, Macon and Champaign Counties

After discussing the importance of MAP grants with Millikin President Dr. Patrick White earlier this month at the Decatur Community Leaders Breakfast, State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) amended House Bill 5020 to ensure non-profit colleges, such as Millikin, would also be included in the new four-year Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle worked incredibly hard to finally get a budget that will be balanced and also includes no new tax increases

After months of deliberate study and conversations around the future of Illinois' higher education system, the Higher Education Working Group of the Illinois General Assembly, of which Sen. Rose is a member, has developed a series of impactful legislation aimed at strengthening Illinois' colleges and universities and making them more attractive and affordable for students across the state for many years to come.

Interstate 74 from mile post 155 to 160 through Farmer City will be known as the "Trooper Ryan Albin Memorial Highway.”

The Office of State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) will host traveling office hours later this month in communities in Macon and Champaign Counties.

Drawing Illinois closer to the enactment of the life-saving Annie LeGere Law, the House of Representatives passed an amendment that would encourage medical professionals’ participation in the initiative to equip police officers with epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) for allergy-related emergencies.

In an initiative to create more profitable opportunities for Illinois farmers, the Senate and House unanimously passed a proposal to legalize the growth, cultivation and processing of industrial hemp.

Irwin Soliday, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and Forsyth resident was a guest of State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) at the Statehouse May 23.

The Office of State Sen. Chapin Rose will host traveling office hours coming up throughout the district. Staff will be available to take citizen’s concerns, answer questions, and provide information on several issues. Appointments are not required.

With about week and a half left in the spring legislative session, Senate Republicans remain hopeful a balanced budget, without a tax increase, will be approved by May 31. Meanwhile, Governor Rauner introduced his public safety initiative and the U.S. Supreme Court announced a major decision on sports gaming.

With the first wave of the 10-year Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards expiring this summer, Illinois State Police (ISP) are anticipating a significant backlog of renewal applications. In response, Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz is urging Illinois firearm owners to file paperwork early to renew their FOID cards.