“Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the strength and love of moms, but it’s also a reminder that many families are quietly struggling to afford everyday essentials,” said Senator Harriss. “This drive is about neighbors helping neighbors and making sure parents have what they need to care for their children.”

Community members are encouraged to donate essential baby and toddler care items, which will be distributed to Safe Families for Children Metro East Chapter in time for Mother’s Day.

Most-Needed Items Include:

• Diapers (sizes 4, 5, and 6)
• Pull-ups (2T–5T, boys and girls)
• Baby wipes
• Sippy cups of all types
• Toddler socks and underwear
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste (toddler)
• Hair care products, including items for curly hair
• Aquaphor healing ointment
• Spill-proof snack containers
• Bottle brushes

Residents can also support the drive by purchasing items through the event’s Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/T48FX8X9S4PK?ref_=wl_share

Donations can be dropped off or mailed to: State Senator Erica Harriss’ District Office,120 N. Main Street, Suite 1B, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

For more information, please contact Senator Harriss’ office at 618-307-5789 or visit https://senatorericaharriss.com/event/diaperdrive2026/.

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“Foster families open their homes and their hearts to children who need stability and support,” said Senator Harriss. “This is a simple but practical way we can better support families and recognize the important role they play.”

The proposal would create an income tax credit of up to $1,000 per foster child for qualified expenses incurred by foster parents caring for children placed through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

According to DCFS data, approximately 5,800 children are currently in foster care in Illinois. Advocates report that 50 percent of foster families leave within the first year, and 36 percent of children experience two or more placements, underscoring the need for stronger support systems.

“This credit could make the difference in whether a child can participate in extracurricular activities, like sports or dance, or simply have access to essentials, like clothing and nutritious meals,” said Senator Harriss.

Under SB 2097, families would qualify for the full credit after six months of care, with prorated benefits for shorter placements, and unused credits could be carried forward for up to five years.

Senate Bill 2097 was heard in the Seante Revenue Committee on Thursday.

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The event will provide secure, on-site document shredding to help residents safely dispose of sensitive documents while also encouraging responsible recycling and community cleanup during Earth Month. Shredding services will be limited to three boxes per resident, and electronics will not be accepted.

“Earth Month is a great time for communities to come together to protect our environment and support one another,” said Senator Harriss. “This event allows residents to safely dispose of documents while also giving back to organizations that are making a difference in our region.”

In addition to document shredding, the event will also serve as a community clean up drive benefiting several local organizations throughout the Metro East. Residents are encouraged to bring donations to support these groups and the important services they provide.

“Our previous shred events have been incredibly successful, with hundreds of residents participating and thousands of pounds of documents safely destroyed and recycled,” said Representative Elik. “We’re excited to host another great event and to expand it by supporting several local organizations through donations while recognizing Earth Month.”

Donations being accepted include:

• Glen-Ed Pantry: Nonperishable food items, toys (including outdoor toys), jewelry/accessories, household items, and small appliances (clean and gently used).
• I Support the Girls: New, unopened menstrual hygiene products and underwear (new with tags or packaged), and gently used bras of all sizes.
• Lions Club: Gently used eyeglasses and new or gently worn shoes.
• Metro East Humane Society: Paper towels, pet treats, cleaning supplies (bleach and liquid laundry detergent), office supplies, 30- and 55-gallon trash bags, mop heads, newspapers, pet toys, fleece blankets, collars, and more (new or gently used items as specified).
• Mighty River Recycling: Steel or aluminum siding, Christmas lights, aluminum cans, and other various metals.
• Wood River Parks & Recreation: Gently used sports equipment.
• Wood River Police Department: Unused prescription medications.

For more information on the 2026 Free Community Shred Event and Clean Up Day, click here. (https://senatorericaharriss.com/event/shredevent2026/)

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When people think about tax relief, they usually think about something they can see: a check, a refund, or a lower bill.

But not all tax relief shows up as a check in your mailbox or a deposit in your bank account.

Families across Illinois are feeling the strain of rising costs, and they deserve relief, even if it does not always come as money directly into their pockets. Some of the most important bills I file are aimed at reducing costs and preventing waste, saving taxpayer dollars over time. Still, it is up to state leaders, including the governor and the majority party, to ensure those savings are returned to the hardworking people of Illinois, not lost to inefficiency or special interests.

Some of the most important work we do in state government is making sure your tax dollars are spent responsibly in the first place, because every dollar wasted is a dollar that could have stayed in your wallet.

We should save taxpayer dollars where we can and return them where it matters. That is not a contradiction. That is accountability.

That is why I have introduced a series of measures focused on a simple principle: If government is going to ask taxpayers to contribute, it has a responsibility to protect and manage that money wisely.

Last year, I passed legislation strengthening financial assurance requirements for oil and gas operators to ensure taxpayers are not left paying for abandoned wells. This year, I am building on that effort with Senate Bill 3953, which would require solar companies to secure a surety bond upfront to cover cleanup and restoration costs.

That means taxpayers would not be left paying the bill years down the road when solar fields are damaged or decommissioned. It is a simple idea. If you make a mess, you clean it up.

The same principle applies to Senate Bill 3958, which restores the state’s ability to recover incarceration costs on a case-by-case basis when individuals have the financial means to contribute. Taxpayers should not automatically bear the full cost when resources are available elsewhere.

In one recent case, taxpayers could spend more than $1 million incarcerating an individual who has access to significant financial resources. That individual had previously received a multimillion-dollar legal settlement, yet under current law, taxpayers remain responsible for the full cost of incarceration.

Transparency is another essential part of serving taxpayers. With Senate Bill 2094, I am working to ensure lawmakers have access to fiscal impact information before voting on legislation. Too often, decisions are made without a clear understanding of the cost. Taxpayers deserve better. They deserve a government that knows the price tag before signing the bill.

But responsible government is not just about preventing waste. It is also about delivering relief. That is why I introduced Senate Bill 3781, which would make the Illinois Property Tax Credit refundable. Right now, if that credit is larger than what you owe, the state keeps the difference. This bill would ensure that if you are owed that money, you receive it, turning a paper credit into real relief for families.

I have also introduced Senate Bill 3959, the Welcome Home Illinois Tax Credit, which would provide a $500 credit for first-time homebuyers. It is not a cure all, but it is a meaningful step to help young families put down roots in Illinois.

I have also filed legislation to address a serious issue in property tax foreclosures. Today, families can lose not only their homes but also the equity they spent years building, even after their debts are paid. The United States Supreme Court has made clear that this is wrong, and Illinois must act. My bill, Senate Bill 3782, would bring our state into compliance while allowing homeowners to keep the equity they have worked so long to build.

I have also worked to expand property tax relief for seniors. As a result of conversations with constituents, I helped pass legislation raising the income limits for the Senior Freeze Homestead Exemption, allowing more seniors on fixed incomes to qualify and stay in their homes.

All of these efforts come back to the same idea: taxpayers deserve a government that treats their money with respect.

That means preventing waste, demanding accountability, and ensuring that when savings are achieved, they benefit the people who paid in, not special interests or bloated spending.

Not every good policy comes with an immediate check.

But every good policy should recognize where that money came from, and who it belongs to.

That is the standard we should be working toward in the legislature.

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Senate Bill 3953 would require companies seeking to construct commercial solar facilities to secure a surety bond before receiving county approval. The bond must be sufficient to cover the full cost of decommissioning the facility and address any environmental damage caused during construction or operation.

“Taxpayers should not be forced to clean up after private energy companies,” said Senator Harriss. “This legislation ensures that those who profit from these developments are also responsible for properly maintaining and ultimately removing them.”

The proposal builds on legislation Senator Harriss passed last year, signed into law as Public Act 104-0150, which strengthened financial assurance requirements for oil and gas operators in Illinois. That law requires operators to secure surety bonds to cover the costs of plugging wells and restoring sites, helping prevent abandoned wells from becoming a financial burden on taxpayers.

“Whether it’s oil wells or solar fields, the principle is the same – if you build it, you clean it up,” said Senator Harriss. “We’ve already taken action to protect taxpayers from the costs of abandoned oil wells, and now we’re applying that same standard to large-scale solar developments.”

As utility-scale solar projects expand across Illinois, concerns have grown about long-term maintenance and cleanup. Recent severe weather events have left some solar farms damaged, raising questions about responsibility and response if projects are not properly maintained or are abandoned.

SB3953 would ensure financial safeguards are in place before construction begins, reducing the risk that counties or taxpayers will be left managing damaged or defunct facilities and helping ensure land can be restored for future use.

“Local communities deserve certainty that these projects won’t become long-term liabilities,” said Senator Harriss. “This is a commonsense step to protect farmland, the environment, and taxpayers.”

Senate Bill 3953 is currently awaiting committee assignment.

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Senate Bill 3958 reinstates language previously removed from state law that allowed the Illinois Department of Corrections to pursue reimbursement for incarceration expenses on a case-by-case basis when incarcerated individuals have the ability to contribute.

“This is about fairness and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Harriss. “If someone has the means to help cover the cost of their incarceration, taxpayers should not automatically bear the entire burden.”

In past years, the state recovered funds from inmates who had access to settlements, trust funds, or other assets. In one case, the Department of Corrections recovered nearly $320,000 from a convicted serial child sex offender who disclosed he was the beneficiary of a multimillion-dollar trust fund. In another case, the state pursued reimbursement from an inmate who received a $451,000 jury award while serving a life sentence for the 1993 Brown’s Chicken murders.

The issue has recently drawn attention following the case of Sandra Kolalou, who was convicted of murdering and dismembering her landlord and had previously been awarded a $2.8 million judgment after being struck by a Chicago Transit Authority bus in 2018.

Kolalou has been sentenced to 58 years in prison. With the average annual cost of incarceration in Illinois exceeding $20,000 per inmate, taxpayers could spend at least $1.16 million over the course of her sentence.

“Situations like this highlight why restoring this authority matters,” said Senator Harriss. “This bill simply gives the state the ability to review these cases and pursue reimbursement when it is appropriate.”

SB 3958 would restore the Department of Corrections’ authority to review financial information and work with the Illinois Attorney General to pursue reimbursement when warranted.

The legislation would take effect immediately upon becoming law.

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Senate Bill 2094 amends the Illinois Fiscal Note Act to guarantee that when a member of the General Assembly requests a fiscal note on legislation, the request must be honored and cannot be dismissed by chamber vote.

“Taxpayers deserve to know the financial impact of legislation before it becomes law,” said Senator Harriss. “This bill ensures lawmakers have access to clear financial information so we can make responsible decisions about how taxpayer dollars are spent.”

Fiscal notes are reports that provide estimates of how proposed legislation may affect state revenues or expenditures. The idea is to know how much it will cost the taxpayers if a bill becomes law. Any legislator may request a fiscal note for a bill. However, such requests may be voted down, stopping that information from being made public. SB2094 ensures that fiscal notes are prepared whenever legislators request them.

“By strengthening the Fiscal Note Act, SB2094 promotes greater transparency in the legislative process and ensures that members of the General Assembly can obtain fiscal analysis when considering legislation that may affect the state budget,” concluded Senator Harriss.”

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Senate Bill 3954 would create the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund, a special fund within the State Treasury Department dedicated to supporting research, prevention, and treatment efforts related to pediatric cancer. The fund would provide grants to physicians, hospitals, laboratories, universities, and other eligible organizations conducting research focused on childhood cancers.

“Childhood cancer steals far too much from families, and the truth is we still don’t have the answers our kids deserve,” said Senator Harriss. “No parent should ever hear the words ‘your child has cancer’ and wonder whether enough research is being done to save their life. We owe it to every child fighting this disease to put real resources behind the breakthroughs that can change their future. This fund is about honoring their courage with action, and refusing to accept a world where a child’s life is cut short because we didn’t do enough.”

Under the proposal, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services would administer the fund and oversee a grant program designed to support scientific research and innovation related to pediatric cancer. Funding could come from legislative appropriations as well as private donations and other contributions made to support the cause.

“Pediatric cancer is still one of the leading causes of disease-related death among children in our country,” said Senator Harriss. “By creating a dedicated fund here in Illinois, we can help accelerate research and support the doctors and scientists working every day to find better treatments and cures for our children.”

The legislation also ensures transparency by requiring the department to submit annual reports to the General Assembly detailing how funds are used and the progress of research initiatives.

In addition to supporting research grants, the bill allows a small portion of the fund to be used to promote awareness and encourage donations to further expand research opportunities within the state.

SB3954 is currently assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee.

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Last year, first-time home buyers dropped to a record low of 21 percent of total purchases, while the average age of first-time buyers climbed to an all-time high of 40 years, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

“There’s nothing quite like turning the key to your very first home,” said Senator Harriss. “Families across the Metro East work hard to build their lives here, but Illinois’ sky-high taxes are making everyday life tougher. It’s easy to campaign on affordability and property tax relief, but too often those promises go unfulfilled. Lowering taxes can be done. I have done it before. This legislative package builds on the progress we have already made and continues my commitment to delivering real, tangible relief for Illinois families.”

To help encourage potential first-time homebuyers to take the next step, Senator Harriss introduced the Welcome Home Illinois Tax Credit, Senate Bill 3959, which provides a $500 non-refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers, carried forward for up to five years.

Senator Harriss noted that according to recent Census Bureau migration estimates, nearly 7,500 Illinoisans moved from Illinois to Missouri, where the average property tax bill is less than half of the average bill in Illinois.

To help reduce this difference, Senator Harriss introduced Senate Bill 3781 to make the Illinois Property Tax Credit refundable when you file your Illinois income taxes.

“If your credit exceeds what you owe, you receive a check for the difference,” said Senator Harriss. “That turns a paper credit into real relief — dollars that can help cover groceries, utilities, or prescription costs.”

Senator Harriss also introduced Senate Bill 3782, the Fairness in Property Tax Foreclosure Task Force, to work for solutions to ending Illinois’ antiquated property tax foreclosure system that the United States Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional.

Under current law, delinquent property taxes are sold to investors, and families can lose not only their home — but the equity they spent years building.

Senator Harriss said the task force will ensure we reform the system responsibly and protect homeowners from losing the wealth they worked a lifetime to build.

Home prices in Illinois have increased by 37 percent over the last five years, according to a study by the University of Illinois, but that increase is not reflected in the state’s General Homestead Exemption.

Senate Bill 3849, filed by Leader Curran, will add annual Consumer Price Index cost increases to Illinois’ General Homestead Exemption. By tying the exemption to inflation, homeowners could see immediate relief that better reflects the increased costs they are paying.

Leader Curran also addressed another added cost crushing Illinois residents – rising costs of homeowners insurance that have increased by more than 25 percent for many Illinoisans over the last year.

In response, Leader Curran introduced Senate Bill 3848, which creates an income tax deduction on the year-over-year increase in a taxpayer’s home insurance.

“We need a holistic approach that includes real, long-term property tax reform if we want to make purchasing and owning a home more affordable in Illinois,” said Leader Curran. “However, these solutions would help bring costs down right away to support families while we work for greater change.”

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The theme of the speech was affordability. On that point, we agree: affordability must be front and center.

But affordability is not a slogan. It is the reality families and those on fixed incomes confront every single day.

Since Governor Pritzker took office, state spending has increased by roughly 40 percent. Most households in our district have not seen their incomes grow anywhere near that pace. When government grows faster than family budgets, the pressure shows up in higher taxes, rising fees, and increasing everyday costs.

As a mom in a family of five, I see it firsthand. Groceries cost more. Utility bills have climbed. Property taxes remain among the highest in the nation. For seniors and residents living on fixed incomes, those pressures can determine whether they are able to remain in their homes.

That is why I supported strengthening the Senior Property Tax Freeze to help protect retirees from being taxed out of their homes. It was an important step forward, but we cannot stop there.

Illinois homeowners deserve continued relief. Expanding the state’s property tax credit would allow residents to keep more of what they earn. Increasing transparency before property tax increases are approved would give taxpayers a clearer understanding of how their money is spent. And responsible state budgeting can help prevent cost shifts that eventually land on local property tax bills.

A balanced budget requires more than optimistic projections. It requires discipline and honest math. This year’s proposal relies heavily on revenue ideas that have not yet been approved, creating uncertainty for taxpayers and local communities alike.

Affordability also depends on reliable and responsible energy policy. Utility costs are a major expense for households across our district. We must encourage innovation while ensuring accountability.

I passed legislation strengthening financial assurance requirements for oil and gas operators to ensure companies, not taxpayers, are responsible for cleanup and remediation. I have also filed legislation requiring surety bonds for large scale solar developments to protect farmland and guarantee proper decommissioning at the end of a project’s life. In addition, I have supported advancing waste-to-energy technology to create opportunities for innovation while reducing landfill use.

These policies are not about partisanship. They are about protecting taxpayers and promoting long-term stability.

Illinois continues to trail many neighboring states in economic growth and competitiveness. We can’t spend our way to prosperity. Real growth and true affordability come from steady leadership, predictable taxes, responsible spending, smart energy development, and a state government that lives within its means and is open with the people it serves.

When I came to Springfield, I committed to putting taxpayers first. That commitment has not changed. I will continue advocating for practical policies that make Illinois a place where families can afford to stay, businesses can grow, and seniors can retire with security.

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