IPASS on Demand Returns to St. Charles on July 31
I am pleased to report that the IL Tollway has agreed to come back to St. Charles on Wednesday, July 31 for an encore IPASS on Demand event. This new event will take place from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at our shared St. Charles office. ** You will need to know your license plate number since that number is tied to the new sticker, so please jot it down prior to walking in to ensure speedy service.
IPASS on Demand Encore Event
Wednesday, July 31
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
DeWitte-Ugaste Legislative Office
406 Surrey Woods Drive
St. Charles
The Tollway will be sending several additional employees to this second event to make the line moves even faster.
Sticker tags are being adopted by toll agencies across the country. Once registered to your IPASS account, the IPASS sticker tag will be immediately ready to use on the Illinois Tollway and within 24 hours on the Chicago Skyway or other E-Z Pass roadways in other states. There is no charge for IPASS sticker tags, and the $10 transponder deposit will be transferred into current IPASS customers’ prepaid account balance once a new IPASS sticker tag is registered to the account.
Additional Summer Events in 33rd District
Please mark your calendars for these other upcoming events:
- August 1: Traveling Office Hours: Geneva Public Library, 227 S 7th St, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- August 7: Mobile DMV: DeWitte West Dundee Office, 641 S Eighth Street, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- August 19: Traveling Office Hours: Dundee Township Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave, Carpentersville, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- August 24: Prescription Drug Drop-Off: West Dundee Police Department, 555 S 8th St, West Dundee, Time TBA
- September 5: Senior Expo: Dundee Township Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave, Carpentersville, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- September 17: Senior Expo: St. Charles Pottawatomie Park (Community Center), 8 North Avenue, St. Charles, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- September 21: Shred Event: 1865 Andrew Blvd, Pingree Grove, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- September 24: I-CASH Unclaimed Property Day: Algonquin Village Hall, 2200 Harnish Drive, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- October 15: Senior Expo: Crystal Lake Park District Grand Oaks Building, 1401 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Please visit the Events Page on my website to learn more about these and other events.
DeWitte-Supported Legislation that Aids Child Victims of Human Trafficking Signed into Law
Legislation that helps some child victims of human trafficking heal and move on with their lives following their trauma was recently signed into law. I was proud to support this legislation.
House Bill 5465 enhances previous legislation by simplifying the process for child trafficking victims to expunge or seal juvenile records resulting from any compelled criminal actions while under abuse. The bill received unanimous support in both chambers during the spring session.
Senate Republicans are actively promoting awareness about human trafficking and urge anyone with information on potential cases to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 to report suspicious activities in their communities.
Transportation Committee Hearings Aim to Develop Plan to Improve Illinois Transit Systems
Here in the suburbs, public transportation is a vital need for those who commute to and from work or rely on the PACE bus system. In Kane and McHenry Counties, Metra runs commuter rail service along the Union Pacific-West (UP-W) and Union Pacific- Northwest (UP-NW) lines. Tens of thousands of residents of the 33rd District rely on Metra daily.
As you may have heard, the Illinois transit systems are facing a $730 million fiscal cliff in 2026. There is a proposal on the table to consolidate the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and PACE into one entity overseen by one 18-member board. Of primary concern is the very real possibility that suburban riders will be hit with rate increases while also experiencing diluted voting power on a newly configured board.
I am the ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee and have been attending a series of meetings across the transit service area. As we gather input from stakeholders across the region, we committee members who represent the suburbs are doing everything we can to ensure our constituents are protected.
The most recent meeting was held July 24 in south-suburban Palos Heights, and the next meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 9 in a yet-to-be-determined southwest suburban location. These meetings are streamed, so if you are interested in tuning in, let one of us know.
Legislation Empowers Sheriffs in 9-1-1 Emergency Systems
Legislation I supported that enables sheriffs to play a pivotal role in Illinois’ 9-1-1 emergency systems was recently signed into law.
House Bill 5128 amends the Emergency Telephone System Act to explicitly recognize sheriffs as eligible members of local 9-1-1 boards, ensuring their insights and leadership contribute to vital functions.
The legislation was crafted to recognize the expertise and insights of law enforcement officers by integrating them into the decision-making processes. 9-1-1 boards are deeply involved in planning, implementing, and maintaining local 9-1-1 systems. HB 5128 received unanimous support in both chambers earlier this spring and was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker on July 19.
Illinois Receives Nearly Half a Billion Dollars in Federal Pollution Reduction Grant
The State of Illinois was recently awarded more than $430 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for its Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program application. The funding will be utilized for building and industry decarbonization, freight electrification, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy deployment.
According to the state’s grant application, the state will implement projects that include dedicating:
- $115 million for heavy-duty vehicle electrification,
- $172 million to improve access and affordability for clean building technologies, and
- more than $111 to improve access and affordability for clean building technologies.
The U.S. EPA stated that these projects would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 971 million metric tons by 2050, equivalent to the emissions of about five million homes over 25 years. The grant will help support and offset some costs associated with the state’s ongoing goal of reaching 100 percent carbon-free power by 2045.
Nearly 300 applications were submitted nationwide for the project implementation grants, but only 25 grants totaling $4.3 billion were awarded by the U.S. EPA. The State of Illinois received the third-largest grant award.
Illinois DMV Services Disrupted by Global Technology Outage
A global technology outage affected all 138 DMV locations in Illinois recently, disrupting services across the state.
A routine update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike to Microsoft on its Windows devices triggered an enormous national technological outage on July 19. This led to widespread chaos that affected global businesses ranging from airports and banks to retail and law enforcement. This incident highlighted the weaknesses of a computerized world that is critically dependent on a few suppliers such as Microsoft.
Illinois residents are advised to verify the operational status of their desired DMV facility by calling 800-252-8980. Additionally, residents could expedite their services by visiting www.ilsos.gov to complete tasks online.
Illinois Grapples with Surge in Tornado Activity
This year, Illinois has experienced more than 100 tornado incidents, doubling the state’s typical annual average.
The recent outbreak underscores escalating weather volatility in the region. Notably, earlier this month, the National Weather Service in Chicago issued 16 tornado warnings in a single day, the highest number since 2004.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) warns residents that severe weather can occur at any time of the year. They emphasize that preparing for floods, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms before they strike is important for safety.
Senate Republicans are urging Illinois residents to be prepared for severe weather. For more information on how to prepare for all hazards, visit the IEMA website for resources and guidelines.