Regan Deering

The widow of an Illinois State University administrator struck and killed by an e-bike praised the legislation, which passed with mostly bipartisan support in the final hours of the spring legislative session.

A bill introduced in the Illinois legislature would allow teachers to challenge notices of remedy, actions that go against school policy but can be fixed. Opponents have raised concern that this could erase documentation of patterns of abuse by teachers.

Illinois House Republican lawmakers introduced a bill for a 6-month gas sales tax pause. This is to give relief to Illinois drivers as the price of gas rises over $4 a gallon because of the war in Iran.

The state has announced a $5 million grant for the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District [BNWRD] that is intended to stimulate business development on the west side of the Twin Cities.

Illinois farmers feel the impacts of tariffs, inflation and more competition. The federal government introduced bridge payments, but these payments are not enough to offset the cost of farming.

A food safety bill that requires all food handlers to receive training on Celiac disease and safe handling of gluten-free foods has been signed into law. It was sponsored by two lawmakers who represent McLean County.

During her first term in the state legislature, state Rep. Regan Deering proposed 11 bills and one passed. Within days of taking office, Deering proposed a ban on transgender girls participating in girls sports. Lawmakers never took up the idea.

Many new lawmakers come to government with big dreams but often find they have little power. This is how several first-time Central Illinois lawmakers learned how to enact change in their own ways.

Illinois GOP lawmakers from Central Illinois held a townhall meeting this week following the end of the Spring session. The town hall took place online on Sen. Sally Turner’s Facebook page. Turner was accompanied by Rep. Bill Hauter and Rep. Regan Deering, who both represent parts of McLean County.

Republican state lawmakers have signaled they want to ban transgender girls from competing on girls school sports teams in Illinois.