Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence
In response to the dramatic rise in domestic violence-related deaths, I am championing a legislative package to help protect victims by strengthening enforcement of protective orders and providing more options for detainment to allow victims to get the help and services they need.
The proposal comes after the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported 137 domestic violence–related deaths in 2024, a 14 percent increase from the prior year and a 140 percent increase since 2022. The package offers solutions through the following bills:
Senate Bill 3139: Helps establish a cooling-off period in serious domestic violence cases by requiring suspects to prove they do not pose a real and present danger before being released pretrial. The bill applies to violations of orders of protection, civil no contact orders, stalking no contact orders, and cases involving domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery.
Senate Bill 3140: Increases penalties for abusers who violate orders of protection. Under the legislation, violating an order of protection would no longer be a misdemeanor, but would be a felony. Repeated violations would become a higher-class felony.
Senate Bill 3141: Imposes minimum holding times for repeat violations of protective, no contact, and stalking orders.
Senate Bill 3142: Enhances penalties for repeat offenders by requiring courts to consider prior convictions across different types of protective orders.
This collection of bills will protect victims, hold abusers accountable, and provide law enforcement and the courts with the tools needed to intervene before a tragedy or fatality. I am proud to serve as a co-sponsor of each one of them.
Prioritizing Accessible Parks for All Illinois Families
I’m proud to announce that I have introduced legislation to ensure Illinois park funding serves the greatest number of children and families, especially those with disabilities, without costing taxpayers a single additional dollar.
Senate Bill 3016 updates the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program to prioritize grant applications for park projects that go above and beyond federal accessibility standards. The goal is simple: when demand for OSLAD funding exceeds available dollars, projects that are designed for broader use should rise to the top.
This is about being smarter with the resources we already have. Parks that incorporate meaningful accessibility features allow more kids and families to enjoy them, and that should matter when grants are awarded.
My proposal builds on legislation originally sponsored by State Representative Nicole La Ha last year, which would have advanced the same accessibility-first concept. Unfortunately, her bill was never called in the Senate before the end of the session. I refiled the measure this spring to keep the focus on inclusive park design.
Since its creation in 1986, the OSLAD program has distributed approximately $640 million for park acquisition and development across Illinois. It is important to note that SB3016 does not change the size of the funding pool. It simply directs the Department of Natural Resources to prioritize projects that expand access for children of all abilities when reviewing applications
Every project still has to stand on its own, but when we have more applications than funding, it makes sense to give priority to parks that serve the broadest range of Illinois residents.
The legislation reinforces my commitment to fiscal responsibility, inclusion, and making sure public investments deliver the greatest possible benefit to Illinois families.
DeWitte Events Calendar Offers Something for Everyone
While legislators will be spending much of the next four months in Springfield, my staff and I have been working hard to put together a comprehensive list of outreach events across the 33rd District. The list below includes events that are already on the books, but additional events will be added and will be shared in future newsletters. Please mark your calendar now for the following outreach events:
- April 25: Prescription Drug Drop-Off Event in Elburn
- May 12: Mobile DMV Event in St. Charles
- June 2: Property Tax Appeals Seminar in St. Charles
- June 17: ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event in Carpentersville
- July 13: IPASS Sticker Event in South Elgin
- August 4: ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event in South Elgin
- August 19: Senior Fair in Carpentersville
- October 14: Senior Fair in Crystal Lake
Detailed information for each event will be available as the dates approach, and additional events will be added as they are scheduled. Please check the Events page of my website regularly to learn about events taking place near you.
New Grants Available to Preserve Illinois Historical Records
Illinois organizations that maintain historical records can now apply for funding through the 2026 Historical Records Grant Program. The Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board is offering grants of up to $5,000 to support projects that improve preservation and public access to historical materials.
Funded through a partnership with the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the program supports efforts to digitize physical records and create searchable inventories, so collections are more accessible to the public.
Preserving historical records helps protect Illinois’ heritage and ensures future generations have access to reliable information, and targeted grants can help local archives and museums modernize operations without placing additional strain on taxpayers.
Grant awards range from $500 to $5,000 and require a one-to-one cash or in-kind match from recipients, encouraging local investment and accountability.
The application period runs from January 19 through March 13, 2026, with approved projects beginning July 1 and lasting one year. Eligible applicants include archives, libraries, museums, and universities across Illinois. Guidelines and application materials are available through the Illinois State Archives’ website.
$3.6 Million in Grants Available to Strengthen Local Food Infrastructure
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced $3.6 million in grant funding to support local food processing, aggregation, and distribution projects across the state. The funding is intended to help strengthen the infrastructure needed to get Illinois-grown food from farms to consumers.
Grant awards will be available for collaborative projects ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 and for individual projects ranging from $1,000 to $75,000. Eligible uses include purchasing or installing equipment and facilities related to processing, storage, aggregation, or distribution of value-added agricultural products.
Eligible applicants include small Illinois farms, cooperatives, food businesses, food hubs, processing facilities, nonprofit organizations, and units of local government with fewer than 50 employees. Slaughter and processing facilities must be properly licensed or qualify as custom-exempt facilities.
Applications for funding will open on February 18, 2026, on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website. Interested applicants are encouraged to prepare by registering with SAM.gov and the GATA Grantee Portal. Additional program details and guidance are available through the Department of Agriculture’s website.