Current News
Dillard bill targeting ‘flash mobs’ signed into law
posted on Monday, May 20, 2013 12:00 AM
A new law signed on May 18 targets recent incidents of violent “flash mobs” that have occurred in Chicago, which Senate co-sponsor Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) said will allow for increased penalties to be imposed on people who use social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, to coordinate mob action. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: May 13 - 17, 2013
posted on Friday, May 17, 2013 12:00 AM
Though many in the Illinois Statehouse believed the Illinois Senate would consider a highly-anticipated concealed carry measure on May 17, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) said lawmakers adjourned for the week without taking up the Right-to-Carry measure. However, the Senate debated another contentious measure that would legalize the growth, distribution and sale of medical marijuana in Illinois. Read More >
Senate advances Dillard bill to increase transparency of state education funding
posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 12:00 AM
In response to a Senate Republican review of state education funding that revealed Illinois’ system of distributing education dollars has shifted away from the formula intended to equalize funding across the state and now disproportionately benefits Chicago Public Schools (CPS), State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) sponsored House Bill 3133 to shine a light on school funding in Illinois. Read More >
Federal Assistance Granted for Flooding
posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
President Obama approved Illinois' request for Federal Assistance to help individuals in 11 counties, including DuPage and Cook County. Click to find out how to receive assistance. Read More >
Comcast Newsmakers
posted on Monday, May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
Recently Sen. Dillard spoke with Comcast Newsmaker's Ellee Pai Hong about his legislation to make Illinois a more business-friendly state. Watch the video where Sen. Dillard explains his proposal to create a "Board of Legislative Repealers" charged with weeding out duplicative, unnecessary, outdated laws to reduce the burdensome red tape that makes doing business in Illinois unnecessarily difficult... Read More >
Pension Reform – Senate Bill 2404
posted on Friday, May 10, 2013 12:00 AM
In what appears to be a situation of dueling pension reform measures, this week the Senate bypassed consideration of a pension measure being pushed by the House Speaker to debate the merits of a pension proposal backed by the Senate President. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: April 30-May 3
posted on Friday, May 03, 2013 12:00 AM
Gambling expansion in the Senate and pension reform in the House were the headliners as the final month of the 2013 regular legislative session got underway during the first week of May. But, while those were the major issues undertaken, Senators also began the process of conducting committee reviews of measures sent to them from the House. And, a handful of bills were sent from the Senate to the House for consideration in that chamber. Read More >
Dillard Welcomes Page for a Day Michelle Forzley
posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:00 AM
State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) welcomed Page for a Day Michelle Forzley of Westmont on Tuesday, April 30. Michelle was a guest of the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR). SEASPAR provides dynamic recreation programs and quality services for area residents with disabilities in the suburbs of Chicago. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: April 22 – 26, 2013
posted on Friday, April 26, 2013 12:00 AM
The Illinois Senate approved more than 120 bills this week in anticipation of the April 25th deadline to move Senate bills to the Illinois House for review by lawmakers in that chamber.
These measures include several sponsored by Senator Dillard, including legislation passed April 24 by the Illinois Senate would create a board to weed out and eliminate redundant and outdated laws and regulations, a bill responding to increasing reports of aggressive “flash mobs,” and legislation that would ban Illinois minors from indoor tanning facilities.
Read More >
Dillard bill targeting ‘flash mobs’ approved by Senate lawmakers
posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:00 AM
In response to incidents of “flash mob” situations where groups of people use social media as a way to organize and commit criminal acts, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) co-sponsored Senate Bill 1005 to allow the courts to increase penalties for those who use electronic communications, including Facebook, Twitter or text messages, to coordinate mob action. Read More >
Dillard bill would eliminate archaic, superfluous state laws
posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:00 AM
Saying excess red tape is hurting Illinois’ employers, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) has once again introduced legislation passed April 24 by the Illinois Senate that would create a “Board of Legislative Repealers,” a non-profit foundation charged with weeding out and eliminating redundant and outdated laws and regulations. Read More >
Dillard: Resolution supports statewide ‘Illinois Reads’ program
posted on Monday, April 15, 2013 12:00 AM
In support of the statewide Illinois Reads initiative to promote literacy and encourage reading, Senate Resolution 135 that State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) co-sponsored with Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) was recently approved by Senate lawmakers. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: April 8 – 12, 2013
posted on Friday, April 12, 2013 12:00 AM
Key reforms taking aim at past abuses of state grant programs continue to move through the Senate said State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), who noted that Senate lawmakers also approved dozens of measures, including economic development incentives, new safeguards to protect the elderly and assistance for returning veterans. And while no action was taken on a gaming expansion measure pending in the Senate, this week a hearing on the measure at times became heated. Read More >
Dillard legislation supports Red Cross
posted on Friday, April 12, 2013 12:00 AM
As an acknowledgment of the valuable community service, disaster relief and health and safety preparedness services provided by the American/Illinois Red Cross, this week the Illinois Senate advanced Senate Bill 1439 sponsored by State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) creating a specialty Red Cross license plate. Dillard said the license plate provides a way for the public to show support for the Red Cross, while also generating modest revenues for the organization’s life saving work. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: April 1 - 5, 2013
posted on Friday, April 05, 2013 12:00 AM
Illinois benefited this week from improved market conditions that allowed the state to secure interest rates on construction bonds that State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) said neared national historic lows. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: March 25 - 29, 2013
posted on Thursday, March 28, 2013 12:00 AM
Lawmakers returned to their districts this week, beginning a two week spring hiatus from the Statehouse that State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) said is used by many legislators to respond to community concerns, continue negotiating legislation, and to reach out to locals regarding both local and state issues. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: March 18 - 22, 2013
posted on Friday, March 22, 2013 12:00 AM
Both the Illinois Senate and House took up legislation to reform the state’s public employee retirement systems during the week ending March 22. Read More >
Chicago sweeping suburban schools’ dollars
posted on Thursday, March 14, 2013 12:00 AM
State Sen. Kirk Dillard said the Senate Republican Caucus’ in-depth examination of the state’s system of school funding shows significant disparity between the state resources being directed to Chicago and those allocated to suburban and downstate schools. Read More >
Examining school funding in Illinois
posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 12:00 AM
Illinois Senate Republicans recently acknowledged there is a “free lunch” in education funding – but Senator Dillard said the Caucus’ in depth examination of the state’s system of school funding shows it’s Chicago that is receiving it. Read More >
Governor outlines Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposal
posted on Friday, March 08, 2013 12:00 AM
In his annual budget message delivered March 6, Gov. Pat Quinn laid out a $35.6 billion General Funds spending proposal for the coming year. "Read more" to watch Sen. Dillard's immediate reaction following the Governor's 5th budget address. Read More >
Dillard sponsors bill to maintain funding for state’s only remaining poison center
posted on Tuesday, March 05, 2013 12:00 AM
Emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the state’s the last remaining poison control, information and treatment center, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) has sponsored Senate Bill 1440 to appropriate full funding for the Illinois Poison Center (IPC). Read More >
Senate Week in Review: February 25 – March 1, 2013
posted on Friday, March 01, 2013 12:00 AM
Despite budget warnings released earlier this week by the Chicago-based Civic Federation, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) said on Feb. 28 a massive expansion of the state’s Medicaid program was pushed through the Illinois Senate over Republican objections. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: February 18-22, 2013
posted on Friday, February 22, 2013 12:00 AM
In direct contrast to a recent poll recently released by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute that revealed the vast majority of Illinois voters oppose a permanent increase in the income tax, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) said a House lawmaker proposed a pension reform plan that would rely on the indefinite extension of the Democrats’ 2011 income tax hike. Read More >
Senate Week in Review: February 11 – 15, 2013
posted on Friday, February 15, 2013 12:00 AM
Budget outlooks from the Governor's Office and the Legislature's own bipartisan financial forecasting agency were on the agenda Friday, Feb. 15, when members of the Illinois Senate's two budget writing committees held a joint hearing in Chicago, according to State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale). Read More >
Funding finances streetscape beautification projects in Oak Brook and Glen Ellyn
posted on Monday, February 11, 2013 12:00 AM
It was recently announced $923,240 in federal funding through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) will be directed to finance projects in the 24th Senate District, including $849,800 in Oak Brook and $73,440 in Glen Ellyn that State Sen. Kirk Dillard says will fund streetscape beautification projects. Read More >