SPRINGFIELD – Legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that would allow school districts to conduct district wide e-learning days when schools are used as polling places passed the Senate Monday.

“This legislation empowers both our schools and our democracy,” Koehler said. “Students will not have to sacrifice education when school buildings must be closed for use as polling places, and our polling places will, in turn be more accessible.”

The legislation allows for school districts to conduct district wide e-learning days when schools are used as polling places. If a school district elects to use e-learning days, all contractors who provide education support services to the district would receive regular rate of pay or billings.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) co-sponsored legislation lowering trailer registration fees from $118 to $36 that passed out of the Senate on Monday.

“People in my district and all across the state have struggled under disproportionately high trailer registration fees,” Koehler said. “I receive many calls from constituents on this particular issue, and I’m proud to be able to bring their concerns to the table in Springfield.”

The legislation designated all trailers that weigh 3,000 pounds or less “utility trailers” and sets the registration fee for said utility trailers at $36. This applies only to trailers primarily for personal use. If signed into law, the bill would also repeal the $10,000 cap on the trade-in vehicle sales tax credit and increase the private vehicle tax by $75 for each model year where the purchase price is less than $15,000 and $100 if the purchase price is above $15,000.

SPRINGFIELD – All across this state, law-abiding gun owners have fallen victim to a bureaucratic backlog to renew their FOID cards—an issue that State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) aims to fix with FOID modernization legislation that he passed out of the Senate on Monday.

“One of the biggest obstacles we face with the FOID system is the enormous backlog of applications,” Koehler said. “There has to be a compromise between having a safe and effective system without making the process unnecessarily difficult for gun owners who have proven themselves to be safe and responsible. I think that this legislation accommodates both of those objectives.”

The bill seeks to protect communities by enhancing existing background checks as a means to more effectively ensure that firearms are kept out of the wrong hands. For gun owners who have proven themselves to not be dangerous, the legislation would offer the option to apply for an automatically-renewing FOID card with the voluntary submission of fingerprints. FOID cards and concealed carry licenses would also be condensed into one document and electronic copies would be made available, making it easier for gun owners to keep their license with them at any given time.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that protects the rights of those who choose to grow their own food passed out of the Senate Thursday.

“Many people across the state are trying to be more self-sufficient, a decision that shouldn’t be held back by red tape,” Koehler said. “Especially in light of hardships people are facing due to the pandemic, the option for residents to grow their own food to feed themselves and their families should be protected.”

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that would ensure that special education students in Illinois are able to complete their schooling passed out of the Senate on Wednesday.

“Students all across Illinois have faced significant challenges over the last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Koehler said. “It is no different for special education students, except that an interrupted school year may mean that they are unable to finish their education under current regulations.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) pledged to continue work on his initiative to demand that excessive profits received by Managed Care Organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic be returned to the state.

“As we begin to move into a post-COVID-19 world, we’re seeing that managed care organizations brought in record-breaking profits while many communities across the state struggled to receive basic care and necessary resources during the pandemic,” Koehler said. “If we are able to reallocate excess profits from these companies, we can help hospitals stay open and keep providing lifesaving care in our low-income and rural communities.”

The legislation was filed in response to decreased health care service use during the period where elective surgeries and procedures were postponed. Decreased use resulted in MCOs paying fewer claims and therefore retaining unprecedented amounts of enrollment-based profit, the scope of which was revealed via a Better Government Association investigation. Those wishing to read more about the results of the investigation can visit the BGA’s website.

PEORIA – Central Illinois communities will see nearly $40 million in funding for road and bridge projects in 2022 as part of the latest Multi-Year Plan under the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Rebuild Illinois initiative, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced Friday.

“Our communities stand to benefit greatly from investment of this scale,” Koehler said. “Not only will these projects invigorate our economy and create good-paying jobs, but they will ensure safer commutes for our residents and generally benefit everyone who drives on our roads, crosses our bridges, or walks on our sidewalks.”

The funding comes as an installment of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan which aims to promote economic growth and reliable infrastructure throughout the state. This Multi-Year Plan will invest $20.7 billion in over 2,700 miles of roads and nearly 8 million square feet of bridges across Illinois over the span of the next six years.

The roughly $40 million being dedicated to the 46^th District will fund 19 projects slated to begin next year. The list of projects includes a great deal of work in regards to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities act, the repair or reconstruction of several bridges, additional lanes, new sidewalks, and improved intersections throughout the district. Most notably, long awaited repairs will begin on Route 24 and Galena Road.

Significant repairs that will begin in 2022 include:

• $1 million worth of repairs to Route 24
• 14 miles of repairs to I-474 worth $24 million
• Upgrades to the US 150 bridge over the Illinois River worth more than $3 million
• Upgrades worth $2 million on the IL 8 / IL 116 bridge in East Peoria

Those interested can find a comprehensive list of projects slated for the 46^th District on IDOT’s website.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced Monday that local governments in Peoria County will be receiving over $2.5 million in the newest round of Rebuild Illinois infrastructure grants.

“This funding will allow Illinois to stay at the forefront of infrastructure investment and improvement in the Midwest,” Koehler said. “When we take the time to improve our infrastructure, we improve our future.”

The funding gives local governments resources to repair and maintain infrastructure, create jobs and boost the economy on a local level. Municipalities may choose to use the grant for road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacements and other long-term maintenance needs, with financial oversight from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

“Rebuild Illinois has already repaired and revitalized thousands of miles of roads, some of which run right through the hearts of communities here in Central Illinois,” Koehler said. “This funding will bring good-paying jobs into our community and will help ensure that cities and towns both here and across the state can grow and thrive for years into the future.”

This funding comes as the fourth of six rounds of $1.5 billion in grants through the Rebuild Illinois program. Those interested can find a complete list of awards here.