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With the spring legislative session officially adjourned, it's time to shift our attention back home. Though the debates in the Capitol have quieted for now, our work continues. I will keep you informed about how the finalized budget will affect our community, and I will highlight the many ways you can get involved locally.
As summer kicks off, this issue of our newsletter includes a budget breakdown, a rundown of upcoming events, and a recap of what we've been up to at home.
Thank you for reading, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions for future topics.
If you have questions about any specific topics that weren't covered in this update, please feel free to respond to this email and we will get back to you with a response!
And be sure to scroll to see information about our Senior Town Hall on Monday, June 8th!
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Snapshot of this newsletter:
🏫 Office Events: Senior Town Hall
🏛️ Legislative Updates: Budget Breakdown
🎥 Office Updates
🎓 District Highlights
🤝 Community Events & Activities
💡 Helpful Resources
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Senior Town Hall: Monday, June 8
We’re hosting a Senior Town Hall to share state and district updates, discuss what happened during the spring legislative session, and answer your questions in a welcoming setting. We want to hear your experiences and concerns so that we can better advocate for seniors in Springfield. If you’d like to learn more or RSVP, please contact us at info@repsyed.com or call us at 773-916-6553.
Event details:
Monday, June 8th
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Ela Township Community Center
| | We passed our budget on June 1st, and it was a difficult one. With cuts coming down from Washington, many in our community are going to struggle with access to SNAP and Medicaid. There are new costs to our state that we never expected to have because of changes made by the federal administration. There are also programs we were unable to fund to the level the need demands, such as the Community Care Program. Below, you will find some highlights from the budget: | | |
Fighting hunger and supporting students
Recognizing that more than 100,000 Illinoisans recently lost SNAP benefits, the budget allocates funds to address food insecurity and ensure affordable school lunches. It also invests $300 million more in classroom education, fully funds after‑school programs and restores property‑tax relief grants for schools.
Cutting costs for families
A back‑to‑school sales‑tax holiday will reduce the cost of clothing, supplies and hygiene items, and the state gas tax is frozen to ease the burden of high fuel prices.
Reducing agencies' budgets
This budget pushes state agencies to realize $65 million in government operation, reducing administrative cost so we can fully fund the services so many in our community desperately need.
Enhancing public safety and health care
The budget fully funds homelessness prevention and community‑based violence‑prevention efforts. It also sustains safety‑net hospitals and adds $10 million for federally qualified health centers, ensuring our most vulnerable families receive care.
I’m grateful for everyone who weighed in on these priorities and worked alongside us to shape this budget.
| | Ribbon Cuttings Around the District! | | |
Summer is the season for ribbon cuttings! The past few weeks I have joined various organizations around the district to unveil their new services available to our community.
First, I celebrated the grand opening of Clearbrook’s new Hoffman Estates Community Day Services location. It was wonderful to have joined local leaders, staff, and community members in recognizing this important investment in services and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Congratulations to the entire Clearbrook team on this exciting new chapter, and thank you for the incredible work you do for our community every day.
| | I also attended the ribbon cutting for the Bangs Lake Outfall Improvements Project in Wauconda. I was proud to support funding for this infrastructure project and I was the only legislator present that voted yes to support this funding, which will reduce flooding for local residents and improve drainage throughout the area. Thank you to everyone involved in making this long‑term investment in our community possible. | | Our office had the pleasure of joining the Village of Inverness, Mayor Jack Tatooles, and the Garden Club of Inverness for their 35th annual Arbor Day celebration. We were inspired by nearly 300 student art submissions highlighting how trees clean our air, provide shade, create homes for wildlife and support a healthy environment. It was wonderful to celebrate this long‑standing tradition and be reminded of the value our natural spaces bring to the community. 🌳 | |
Palatine Township
Tax Assessors Presentation
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From celebrating trees to learning about taxes, our team stays active across the district. We also attended an informative presentation by local township tax assessors, where community members learned how property taxes are calculated, how local taxing bodies operate, and what resources are available to homeowners. Conversations like these help residents stay informed and engaged.
Thank you to the Assessors from Palatine, Elk Grove, Wheeling, and Barrington Township for an informative presentation on property taxes and local government!
| | As a reminder every month our office holds office hours at the Palatine and Ela Public Libraries. If you have a question about state services (or just want to stop by and say hello!), join our next office hours on Tuesday, June 23rd! | | Youth Advisory Council and Fellowship | | |
At our most recent Youth Advisory Council meeting, students kicked off our Community Budget Project, a hands‑on opportunity to learn how the state budget process works through research, advocacy and debate.
They spent the evening researching community‑based organizations throughout our district and discussing how public funding decisions impact local services and programs. With the state budget now passed, it was exciting to see our YAC members experience a similar process on a local scale. At our next meeting, they’ll debate funding priorities and work together to finalize their community budget.
Want to have your voice heard? Join us on Monday, June 29th and be part of the conversation!
| | From now until June 30th, please consider donating canned goods, pantry staples and other non-perishable items. Donations can be dropped off at 1252 West Northwest Highway, Palatine IL 60067. Every contribution helps our neighbors in need. | |
Community Events and Resources | | | |
Where do I find Community Events? 🗓️
| | 2026 - 2027 ISBE Student Advisory Council Application | | |
The Illinois State Board of Education is seeking members for its 2026‑27 Student Advisory Council (SAC). This is a chance for high‑school sophomores, juniors and seniors at public or charter schools to build leadership and advocacy skills and lend their voices to education policy. Council members meet with stakeholders, policymakers and community partners each month virtually and in person to study issues and develop recommendations for the Board
Students must submit an application through the Submittable platform by 11:59 PM on Tuesday. June 30, 2026. Finalist will be invited to submit a video interview in late July or early August and those selected will also lead the Student Summit in Spring 2027.
More information can be found here.
| | 2027-2028 Draft Qualified Allocation Plan | | The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is pleased to make available for public comment its 2027-2028 Draft Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). | | The 30-day public comment period takes place from May 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. through June 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. IHDA will accept official public comments to its 2027-2028 Draft Qualified Allocation Plan throughout the public comment period, which must be submitted via email to QAPFeedback@ihda.org. | | Want to stay updated on current grant opportunities? | | Sign up for our listserv to get more information or visit our grants page on our website. | | |
Get in touch with us!
Our district office is located at 1252 W Northwest Highway, across from the Buehler YMCA.
We are available in person Monday - Thursday from 9am - 5pm and on Fridays you can reach us via email and phone.
Phone: 773-916-6553
Email: info@repsyed.com
If you have any inquiries or are facing a challenge with a state-related service, our office may be able to help you! Please complete our constituent services inquiry form.
With gratitude,
Nabeela
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