As 2025 comes to a close, I want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for trusting me to be your voice in Springfield and for sharing your stories, concerns, and hopes for our community. Serving you has been a great honor, and this past year has reminded me why our work matters so deeply.
I am proud of the progress we’ve made, but I know there is still much work to be done. This year, we stopped harmful legislation that would have made life more expensive for families and small businesses, including a proposed delivery tax, service tax, and digital advertising tax. I also stood up for local communities by opposing efforts to erase long-held school traditions through a school mascot ban, and I voted against a Chicago transportation bailout that would raise taxes and take money away from downstate roads.
I also focused on delivering real tax relief. This year, I filed and supported a bill that raised the income limit for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze to $75,000 and tied it to inflation, helping ensure seniors are not taxed out of the homes they worked a lifetime to afford. I continue to fight to increase the general homestead exemption, make the residential property tax credit refundable, and provide small businesses with up to $1,500 in property tax relief. These are practical steps to help families, seniors, and job creators keep more of what they earn.
Keeping our communities safe remains a top priority. I was proud to file the Adult Content Age Verification Act to protect children online and to advance legislation that ensures K-9 officers receive the care they deserve while strengthening penalties for anyone who harms service animals. Our first responders and law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day, and they deserve our continued support.
Another issue I hear about constantly is child care. Families should never have to choose between working to support their household and finding quality, affordable care for their children. That’s why I introduced legislation to create a new child care tax credit for families and to expand credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees. These solutions help parents stay in the workforce while giving children the care they deserve.
Energy affordability was also front and center this year. I voted against legislation that drives energy costs up, removes consumer protections, and hands sweeping authority to unelected bureaucrats. Instead, I sponsored bills to study energy prices, protect reliable power plants from forced shutdowns, and cut red tape so critical projects can move forward safely and efficiently. Families deserve reliable power they can afford, especially during extreme weather.
Beyond Springfield, my team and I stayed rooted in the community. From Valentine’s cards for seniors and diaper drives for mothers in need to job fairs, town halls, traveling office hours, and events that bring neighbors together, these moments remind me that government works best when it listens and shows up.
While we’ve made important strides, I know there is more work ahead. Families are still feeling the strain, and I will continue fighting every day for lower costs, safer communities, affordable child care, and a government that serves you, not special interests.
It is truly an honor to serve you, and I look forward to continuing this work together in the year ahead.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
