Legislation Proposed to Boost Illinois Engineering Talent Pipeline
I have signed on as the Chief Co-Sponsor of legislation aimed at supporting Illinois engineering students and helping connect them to in-demand careers in the state’s workforce after graduation.
Senate Bill 3855 would create the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act to provide scholarships for engineering students attending an Illinois public university. In return, participating students would agree to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation for at least three years after graduation.
The proposal is designed to address a growing shortage in the engineering profession and help ensure Illinois has the skilled workforce needed to deliver critical infrastructure projects. The engineering industry contributes $20.7 billion annually to Illinois’ gross domestic product and supports more than 182,000 jobs statewide.
Illinois, like much of the nation, is feeling the effects of an engineering workforce gap as experienced engineers retire and fewer graduates enter the profession to replace them. Recent national data shows that about 184,000 engineers retired or left the profession in recent years, while only 166,000 new graduates entered the workforce, resulting in an annual shortfall of roughly 18,000 engineers.
The bill has been introduced in the Illinois Senate and is currently awaiting committee assignment. If enacted, the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act would be administered through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission from July 1, 2027, through July 1, 2031.
Legislation Introduced for Stronger Protections for Students Following Sexual Assaults in Schools
This year I’m co-sponsoring legislation to strengthen protections for students and ensure tougher consequences for sexual assault in schools.
Senate Bill 2991 would require a student who commits sexual assault or attempted sexual assault to be expelled for at least one year if the incident occurs at school, during a school-sponsored activity or event, or at any activity that has a reasonable relationship to school.
Supporters say the legislation is needed to better protect victims and hold offenders accountable. The proposal follows a troubling case in Illinois in which a young girl was sexually assaulted at school, yet the attacker was neither suspended nor expelled, despite admitting to the offense. According to the victim’s parents, they were forced to repeatedly seek court-issued orders of protection to keep their daughter safe.
The measure would align school responses to sexual assault with existing Illinois laws regarding weapons in schools. Under current statutes, students who bring a deadly weapon to school are subject to a mandatory one-year expulsion.
Senate Bill 2991 has been assigned to the Senate Criminal Law Committee.
Lawmakers Push Bipartisan Energy Choice Package to Protect Reliability and Affordability
A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers gathered at the State Capitol last week to unveil a legislative package aimed at protecting energy affordability and reliability as Illinois moves more toward electrification. I am a co-sponsor of all four bills.
The bipartisan set of lawmakers noted that Illinois is already facing rising energy costs and growing concerns about grid stability. A recent state resource adequacy study warned of tightening capacity margins and potential reliability challenges in the coming years if infrastructure decisions are not carefully managed.
The package is designed to maintain Illinois’ existing energy infrastructure, prevent unnecessary cost burdens on families and small businesses, and protect vulnerable and low-income residents from higher utility bills.
The legislation includes:
- Senate Bill 3970 and Senate Bill 3979, which require thorough studies and reviews of customer bill impacts before large-scale gas transition projects are approved.
- Senate Bill 3929, which extends the closure dates set in CEJA for power plants by 10 additional years.
- Senate Bill 4028, which modernizes outdated interconnection rules that contribute to project delays and inconsistent upgrade costs.
Natural gas continues to play a critical role in Illinois’ energy system by providing reliable, on-demand power that stabilizes the grid during peak demand and extreme weather conditions. This bipartisan package seeks to promote balanced energy policy grounded in affordability, infrastructure readiness, and long-term grid stability.
Pressure Mounts in Springfield as Indiana Courts the Bears
Following Indiana lawmakers’ move to clear the way for a new Bears stadium, the Pritzker Administration is left scrambling to respond as negotiations continue in Springfield.
Due in part to Illinois’ crushing tax burden, the Chicago Bears are considering relocating across state lines. Senate Republicans say the ongoing stadium situation is yet another example of Governor JB Pritzker failing to recognize the damage his policies are doing to the people, employers, and job creators of this state.
For years, under Governor Pritzker’s anti-growth policies, it’s become increasingly difficult for businesses and families to survive in Illinois. Rather than creating a competitive environment that encourages employers to keep their business here, Democrats have continued to make Illinois harder to afford and harder to operate in.
It should come as no surprise that the Bears are now exploring opportunities elsewhere. Despite Illinois’ many advantages, including its workforce, central location, infrastructure, and natural resources, the governor once again finds himself trying to keep a major institution from leaving the state after years of inaction. Republicans say that if this situation had been taken seriously earlier, the Governor wouldn’t have to be scrambling to respond now that Indiana has moved aggressively to make its pitch.
Indiana lawmakers have passed legislation designed to advance a potential stadium project, and their legislation has already been signed by the Indiana Governor. Meanwhile, in Illinois, discussions in Springfield remain ongoing. Illinois lawmakers have begun moving legislation and holding hearings related to keeping the Bears in the state, but the final outcome remains unclear.
If the Bears ultimately leave Illinois for Indiana, Governor Pritzker will face serious questions about why his administration failed to act to stop another major business from leaving.
Nominations Open for 7th Annual Makers Madness Competition
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has launched the 7th annual Makers Madness: The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois competition, a statewide contest highlighting the products manufactured in Illinois and the workers who power the state’s manufacturing sector.
The competition shines a spotlight on the more than 650,000 men and women working in manufacturing across Illinois and recognizes the innovation, craftsmanship, and economic impact of the industry. From advanced machinery to lifesaving technology, manufacturers across the state continue to produce world-class goods that strengthen Illinois’ economy and communities.
Previous winners have included Caterpillar’s 797F Mining Truck, Rivian’s R1T all-electric pickup truck manufactured in Normal, the Rosenberg Space Habitat made by Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford, and Komatsu’s Mining Truck manufactured in Peoria. Last year’s winner was the Aerial Firefighting Helicopter Refill Pump manufactured by MTH Pumps in Plano.
The competition is a great opportunity to recognize the hardworking men and women who keep Illinois manufacturing strong and to showcase the innovation taking place in communities across the state.
Nominations are open February 16 through March 8 at makersmadnessil.com.