Election Day Is Nearly Two Weeks Away

With Election Day now just over two weeks away, I want to remind Illinois voters that there is still plenty of time to make their voices heard in the November 3 General Election.

Voting is one of the most important ways we can participate in our representative government. The decisions made by elected officials have a direct impact on our communities and everyday lives, which is why I encourage every eligible voter to take part in this year’s election.

Early voting is already underway across Illinois, giving voters the flexibility to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. Whether you prefer to vote early or head to the polls on November 3, I encourage you to make a plan and ensure your voice is heard.

Early voting locations and hours vary by county, so I recommend checking with your local election authority before heading to the polls. Voters who have requested vote-by-mail ballots should also make sure they understand the deadlines for returning them.

With November 3 quickly approaching, I hope everyone will take the opportunity to participate in this important process and have a say in the future of our state.

For early voting locations and additional election information, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

New Loan Program Aims to Help Illinois Farmers Expand Grain Storage

With Illinois farmers facing rising operating costs and uncertain market conditions, a new loan program could provide some much-needed financial flexibility.

The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) has announced a pilot program offering loans at an expected 2% interest rate to help farmers build or expand on-site grain storage facilities.

Additional storage capacity can help farmers reduce transportation and storage expenses while giving them greater control over when they sell their grain. Rather than selling immediately after harvest, when prices may be lower, farmers can hold onto their crops and potentially take advantage of better market conditions.

Agriculture is a vital part of our local economy, and I believe giving farmers more opportunities to strengthen their operations and remain competitive is important.

The program will utilize privately financed loans, with additional eligibility and application details expected to be announced.

Farmers interested in learning more can contact Francisco Galliano at fgalliano@il-fa.com.

Free Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Available for Illinois Deer Hunters

With deer hunting season underway, I want to remind Illinois hunters about a free resource available to help protect our state’s deer population.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is offering free, voluntary testing kits to help monitor Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and other members of the deer family.

Hunters can use these mail-in kits to collect and submit lymph node samples from harvested deer. Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and include instructions for collecting and submitting samples.

For years, I fought against IDNR’s controversial deer sharpshooting program, which disregarded the concerns of hunters and landowners. I welcomed the department’s decision earlier this year to end that program and move toward a more cooperative approach to managing CWD.

I believe hunters should be partners in protecting our deer population, and I encourage them to take advantage of this voluntary testing opportunity.

Request a free testing kit online.

Deadline Extended to November 6 for My America 250 Art Contest

Good news for young artists across the 45th Senate District! I’ve extended the deadline for my America 250 Art Contest to November 6, giving students another week to submit their artwork.

As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, I’m inviting students in 1st through 8th grade to get creative and show what America means to them.

Whether it’s our nation’s freedoms, historic landmarks, local communities or American traditions, I encourage students to use their imagination and celebrate what makes our country special.

Artwork may be up to 8 by 10 inches and created using markers, colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels or mixed media. Each submission must include the student’s name, school and art teacher’s name.

Winning artwork will be displayed in my district office and at the Illinois State Capitol during Veto Session, November 17-20. Every participant will receive a certificate.

Entries can be emailed to Lori at LYates@sgop.ilga.gov or delivered to my district office. If dropping off at the office, please email Lori in advance to coordinate a drop-off time.

To register and participate or if you have any questions, please email Lori at LYates@sgop.ilga.gov or call 217-782-2181.

For additional details, read more here.

The post Senator Chesney’s Week in Review appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Voting is one of the most important ways we can participate in our representative government. The decisions made by elected officials have a direct impact on our communities and everyday lives, which is why I encourage every eligible voter to take part in this year’s election.

Early voting is already underway across Illinois, giving voters the flexibility to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. Whether you prefer to vote early or head to the polls on November 3, I encourage you to make a plan and ensure your voice is heard.

Early voting locations and hours vary by county, so I recommend checking with your local election authority before heading to the polls. Voters who have requested vote-by-mail ballots should also make sure they understand the deadlines for returning them.

With November 3 quickly approaching, I hope everyone will take the opportunity to participate in this important process and have a say in the future of our state.

For early voting locations and additional election information, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

The post Election Day Is Nearly Two Weeks Away appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) has announced a pilot program offering loans at an expected 2% interest rate to help farmers build or expand on-site grain storage facilities.

Additional storage capacity can help farmers reduce transportation and storage expenses while giving them greater control over when they sell their grain. Rather than selling immediately after harvest, when prices may be lower, farmers can hold onto their crops and potentially take advantage of better market conditions.

Agriculture is a vital part of our local economy, and I believe giving farmers more opportunities to strengthen their operations and remain competitive is important.

The program will utilize privately financed loans, with additional eligibility and application details expected to be announced.

Farmers interested in learning more can contact Francisco Galliano at fgalliano@il-fa.com.

The post New Loan Program Aims to Help Illinois Farmers Expand Grain Storage appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is offering free, voluntary testing kits to help monitor Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and other members of the deer family.

Hunters can use these mail-in kits to collect and submit lymph node samples from harvested deer. Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and include instructions for collecting and submitting samples.

For years, I fought against IDNR’s controversial deer sharpshooting program, which disregarded the concerns of hunters and landowners. I welcomed the department’s decision earlier this year to end that program and move toward a more cooperative approach to managing CWD.

I believe hunters should be partners in protecting our deer population, and I encourage them to take advantage of this voluntary testing opportunity.

Request a free testing kit online.

The post Free Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Available for Illinois Deer Hunters appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, I’m inviting students in 1st through 8th grade to get creative and show what America means to them.

Whether it’s our nation’s freedoms, historic landmarks, local communities or American traditions, I encourage students to use their imagination and celebrate what makes our country special.

Artwork may be up to 8 by 10 inches and created using markers, colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels or mixed media. Each submission must include the student’s name, school and art teacher’s name.

Winning artwork will be displayed in my district office and at the Illinois State Capitol during Veto Session, November 17-20. Every participant will receive a certificate.

Entries can be emailed to Lori at LYates@sgop.ilga.gov or delivered to my district office. If dropping off at the office, please email Lori in advance to coordinate a drop-off time.

To register and participate or if you have any questions, please email Lori at LYates@sgop.ilga.gov or call 217-782-2181.

For additional details, read more here.

The post Deadline Extended to November 6 for My America 250 Art Contest appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Yes, I want the Bears in Illinois.

No, I do not want taxpayers buying them a stadium to convince them to stay.

Governor Pritzker and other Democratic leaders sat down with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Bears minority owner Pat Ryan. Pritzker called it a “helpful meeting” with “all the right players at the table.” More to the point, he expects legislation after the election, most likely in the fall veto session.

That means taxpayers should start paying very close attention.

I am highly skeptical of that legislation. Not that it won’t come, because it will. We will have a bill. I do not believe it will be written for you, the taxpayer. You will be an afterthought, the way you usually are under Governor Pritzker and the Democratic supermajority.

Look at who was in the room. A billionaire governor, an NFL commissioner, a billionaire businessman, and a few chosen lawmakers. This closed meeting was a dinner party, and the feast was your tax dollars, passed around by people who do not have to pay the check. I guess your invitation got lost in the mail.

Pritzker tries to talk tough for the taxpayers. Actions still speak louder than words. His record in this state says this will be a bad deal for you and me.

I don’t have to remind you. We now have the largest budget in state history, nearly $56 billion. Spending is up 40 percent since Governor Pritzker took office. That’s seven years of watching you and your family tighten your belts, cut expenses, delay purchases and make hard financial decisions, while Springfield did the opposite.

Pritzker has spent billions on illegal immigrants. Not on you. Not on the people who pay taxes and keep this state running.

This year alone, about $150 million has gone to programs for people who are not supposed to be here.

Then there are the tax and fee hikes to pay for it. Pritzker has hiked state taxes and fees 57 times. Motor fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, parking garage taxes, online sales taxes. He has found a way to take more from you.

He has taxed so much that some of the new ones may not even be legal. They are being challenged in court. Both the digital asset tax and the targeted advertising tax may violate federal law and constitutional protections. That is how far this has gone in a state that already has some of the worst property taxes, cellphone taxes, gas taxes and overall tax burdens in the country.

None of that gives me confidence. If Governor Pritzker has proved anything, it is that your family’s budget is not what guides his. He will keep taking more.

The frustrating part is that some people in the legislature know how to balance a budget, find tax relief, cut spending, and, in this case, write a Bears bill that keeps the team here without sticking you with the tab.

Unfortunately, Pritzker and the Democrats who spend every dollar they can get their hands on have shut Republicans out of the stadium talks.

Maybe our invitation got lost with yours.

Fixing the state’s tax problem would take time and answers the governor and his supermajority have not offered, and do not seem interested in offering.

So, when the legislature returns for veto session, watch closely.

I hope the Governor proves my skepticism wrong. I hope the final proposal protects taxpayers, keeps the Bears in Illinois and does not create another expensive Springfield commitment that families are expected to finance for decades.

But hope is not a fiscal policy.

Before I vote for any Bears stadium legislation, I want to know who benefits, who assumes the risk and, most importantly, who pays the bill.

If the answer to that last question is Illinois taxpayers, they should not expect my vote.

The post Senator Chesney’s Column: Bear Down, but not on the taxpayers appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Help Me Honor Our Veterans

As Veterans Day approaches, I invite you to recognize a veteran in your family or community through the annual Veterans Day Wall of Honor at the Illinois State Capitol.

We all know someone whose service deserves recognition, whether it is a family member, friend or neighbor. I would be honored to include them in this year’s display.

To participate, submit a photo and a brief story of up to 250 words, including the veteran’s name, military branch and conflict or era of service. Military photos are preferred but not required.

Submissions are due November 6 and can be emailed to veteransday@sgop.ilga.gov or mailed to Veterans Day Wall, 309 G Statehouse, Springfield, IL 62706.

The display will be open in the Capitol Rotunda from November 7 through November 19, along with a video tribute featuring veterans’ stories. For questions, call (217) 782-1154.

I hope you will help me honor those who served our country and ensure their contributions are remembered.

Manufacturers Have My Support Year-Round

Illinois should be a place where manufacturers can grow and succeed. Unfortunately, too often Democrats make that harder with additional taxes and regulations expenses that put our businesses at a disadvantage.

Supporting manufacturers and their workers has been a priority of mine since taking office. That commitment earned me 100% ratings from both the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA), the highest ratings in the Illinois Senate. I am proud of those scores because they reflect my record of standing up for Illinois employers and working families.

October is Manufacturing Month, but my support for this industry extends throughout the year. Manufacturing employs more than 660,000 Illinoisans and generates over $580 billion in annual economic impact. These are good-paying jobs that support families and strengthen communities throughout our state.

I will continue fighting for policies that help manufacturers remain competitive and create more opportunities for Illinois workers.

Equipment Grants Available for Local First Responders

Our firefighters and EMS personnel put their lives on the line to protect our communities, and they deserve reliable equipment to do their jobs safely. Unfortunately, replacing that equipment can be a significant expense, especially for smaller departments working with limited budgets.

I encourage local departments to consider applying for the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s FY27 Small Equipment Grant Program, which is now accepting applications.

More than $6 million is available statewide, with grants of up to $50,000 for eligible fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services. Last year, 260 departments and EMS providers received funding through the program.

Applications are due November 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Applicants must complete required registrations through SAM.gov and the state’s GATA portal and submit both required grant applications online.

I hope eligible departments will take advantage of this opportunity to secure the equipment they need to continue serving our communities.

Review eligibility requirements and application instructions here.

Young Artists Invited to Celebrate America’s 250^th

As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, I am inviting students in 1st through 8th grade across the 45th Senate District to participate in my art contest celebrating this historic milestone.

I want to see what America means to our young people. Students can highlight everything from our freedoms and national landmarks to the communities, traditions and values that make our country special.

Artwork may be up to 8 by 10 inches and created using markers, colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels or mixed media. Each submission must include the student’s name, school and art teacher’s name.

Entries are due October 30 and can be emailed to LYates@sgop.ilga.gov or mailed or dropped off at my district office.

Winners will be selected November 2, with winning artwork displayed in my district office and at the Illinois State Capitol during Veto Session, November 17-20. Every participant will receive a certificate.

I encourage parents and teachers to get their students involved. For questions, contact Lori at LYates@sgop.ilga.gov.

The post Senator Chesney’s Week in Review appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

I want to see what America means to our young people. Students can highlight everything from our freedoms and national landmarks to the communities, traditions and values that make our country special.

Artwork may be up to 8 by 10 inches and created using markers, colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels or mixed media. Each submission must include the student’s name, school and art teacher’s name.

Entries are due October 30 and can be emailed to LYates@sgop.ilga.gov or mailed or dropped off at my district office.

Winners will be selected November 2, with winning artwork displayed in my district office and at the Illinois State Capitol during Veto Session, November 17-20. Every participant will receive a certificate.

I encourage parents and teachers to get their students involved. For questions, contact Lori at LYates@sgop.ilga.gov.

The post Young Artists Invited to Celebrate America’s 250th appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

I encourage local departments to consider applying for the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s FY27 Small Equipment Grant Program, which is now accepting applications.

More than $6 million is available statewide, with grants of up to $50,000 for eligible fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services. Last year, 260 departments and EMS providers received funding through the program.

Applications are due November 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Applicants must complete required registrations through SAM.gov and the state’s GATA portal and submit both required grant applications online.

I hope eligible departments will take advantage of this opportunity to secure the equipment they need to continue serving our communities.

Review eligibility requirements and application instructions here.

The post Equipment Grants Available for Local First Responders appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Supporting manufacturers and their workers has been a priority of mine since taking office. That commitment earned me 100% ratings from both the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA), the highest ratings in the Illinois Senate. I am proud of those scores because they reflect my record of standing up for Illinois employers and working families.

October is Manufacturing Month, but my support for this industry extends throughout the year. Manufacturing employs more than 660,000 Illinoisans and generates over $580 billion in annual economic impact. These are good-paying jobs that support families and strengthen communities throughout our state.

I will continue fighting for policies that help manufacturers remain competitive and create more opportunities for Illinois workers.

The post Manufacturers Have My Support Year-Round appeared first on Andrew Chesney.