AROUND THE DISTRICT
Thank you to the Illinois Credit Union League for the invitation to its Bloomington Chapter of the Illinois Credit Union League Legislative Breakfast. Credit Unions in House District 105 are vital partners to our economic success! We appreciate all you do to support our families, communities and charity organizations.
RIP ISP TROOPER
My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and fellow Troopers of Illinois State Police Trooper Corey Thompsen.
Illinois State Police trooper killed in crash with truck driver
POPULATION DECLINE
The most recent state-to-state migration flow data for the most recent year shows another 93,000 fewer people in Illinois. We must change course and promote policies that reduce burdensome taxes and regulations that are driving so many families and businesses out of Illinois.
AGRICULTURE
A new economic study paints a troubling picture of the potential results a renewed U.S.-China trade war could have on hundreds of thousands of farmers and rural communities, showing American-imposed tariffs would come at a steep cost to U.S. producers while benefiting Brazil and Argentina.
Analysis Shows Tariff-Induced Trade War Would Hurt U.S. Farmers – American Soybean Association
Illinois farmers are making quick progress on corn and soybean harvests. Wishing all a safe and successful end to the season!
Illinois is Racing Through Harvest Season
ILLINOIS FEE BAN
The federal government has stepped into the legal fight over a new Illinois law that could change how banks and credit unions handle transaction fees. The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit aimed at blocking the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act.
Passed earlier this year, the law would be the first in the country to ban banks from charging interchange fees on taxes and tips – a move critics say goes too far and could create headaches for retailers and consumers alike. Opponents argue it would force consumers to swipe their credit cards twice – once for purchases and again for sales tax. Federal officials claim the law interferes with their authority and threatens “safe and sound banking” by undermining fees that cover transaction costs and protect against fraud.
Supporters of the law, however, say banks are exaggerating, claiming they can easily separate taxes and tips from the fees without breaking the system. The case is set to be argued in court on October 30th.
OCC seeks to halt Illinois card interchange fee law | Payments Dive
FUNDING CUTS
Soil and Water Conservation Districts represent a critical investment in conservation and good stewardship of the land which feeds our families.
FREE MEDICARE HELP
The Illinois Department on Aging is encouraging everyone with Medicare to check if their plan still meets their needs and budget during this year’s Open Enrollment Period.
You can get free help comparing health and drug plan options by contacting the state’s Senior Health Insurance Program.
Illinois Department of Aging offers free Medicare help | WGN-TV
FOOD DESERTS
Round 2 of the Illinois Grocery Initiative’s “New Stores in Food Deserts” program is now open. This program offers critical grans to improve access to fresh, nutritious food in underserved communities. With $11 million in funding available, the program is designed to combat food insecurity by supporting the development of grocery stores in areas where fresh food options are scarce.
Qualifying grocery stores must meet the following criteria:
- Be best classified as a supermarket or other grocery retailer in the 2022 North American Industry Classification System under code 445110, a meat retailer under code 44524, a fruit and vegetable retailer under code 44523, or a fish and seafood retailer under 44525.
- Be located in a food desert census tract (as defined in the NOFO).
- Earn less than 30 percent of revenue from alcohol and tobacco sales.
- Accept SNAP and WIC.
- Contribute to the diversity of fresh foods available in the community.
Awards will range from $150,000 to $2.4 million, with applicants required to meet a 1:3 match in funding. Eligible applicants include local governments and independent grocers or cooperatives with fewer than 500 employees and no more than four store locations.
The deadline to apply for the grant is December 2, 2024. For more information and to view the full Notice of Funding Opportunity, visit the website below.
Illinois Grocery Initiative – New Stores in Food Deserts (Notice of Funding Opportunity 3295-2911)
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging nearly 140,000 residents to cash the unclaimed property checks that are arriving in the mail.
The checks went out as part of the latest round of the Enhanced Money Match program, which allows the Treasurer’s Office to automatically return missing money to people without the need to file a claim. The office leverages data the state already collects and crossmatches it with the State Treasurer’s unclaimed property database. In recent weeks, the Treasurer’s Office sent letters to unclaimed property owners that described the amount and source of the money that’s on the way.
Since 2018, the Illinois Treasurer’s Office has returned more than $102 million to nearly 422,000 people through the Enhanced Money Match program. The nearly 140,000 letters sent in this round makes it the largest Money Match ever performed in the nation.
Enhanced Money Match focuses on simple claims: Cash owed to a single person. Not included is cash owned by multiple parties, including a joint holding of a parent and minor child, as well as shares of stocks and bonds, escrow accounts, and the contents of bank safe deposit boxes.
Enhanced Money Match is part of the office’s Unclaimed Property program, also known as I-CASH. It is one of the state’s oldest consumer protection initiatives. In Illinois, the state treasurer is tasked with safeguarding unclaimed property, such as the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards.
Illinois holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property. More than $2 billion has been returned since Frerichs took office, the most in state history. The state treasurer is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owners or heirs, no matter how long it takes.
To see if you have unclaimed property, check the online database.
Illinois Unclaimed Property – Official State Site
HALLOWEEN
Let’s make sure everyone has a safe and fun Halloween this year! Brush up on these spook-tacular safety tips before heading out to trick-or-treat next week.
The Caucus Blog of the Illinois House Republicans: Staying Safe for Halloween
LINEMEN HONORED
Congratulations to the Illinois linemen who were recently named the best in the world at this year’s International Lineman’s Rodeo!