Illinois House Floor Debate — March 24, 2026

"Good afternoon. It's an honor to be with all of you today. And… it is Blue Corduroy Day, better known as FFA Day, here in the Capitol. And last week, when I opened in prayer, talked a little bit about praying and asking the Lord for things. And I want to share a verse with you out of Matthew, this is Jesus speaking, Matthew 7:8 It says, 'For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.' Now, you don't get everything you ask for. It's kind of like living at home. But if you don't ask, you don't receive anything. So, I would encourage you today as we… as we pray and… and each day when you have something that's on your mind, on your heart, needs that you might have personally for your family, business, for your state, for your… your constituents I would encourage you to seek the Lord's help. Lord, we thank you for this day. I thank you for each one that's in this Capitol today. I thank you for the… the students that are all over the state that are here today representing the… the largest employer in the state, farming. And I just pray that you would encourage these kids to… to continue to learn about the… what God's given us in this state to take care of those things. And I pray today, as we're on this floor, in the Senate, and in this… in this Capitol, in the committees and all the different things going on, that we would consider your ways, Lord. And I just, again, 10400083.docx 1  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 we thank you that we can call upon you, you hear and answer our prayers, and I thank you for the opportunity to stand before you on behalf of this state to help each other out. In your name. Amen."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Please let the record reflect that Representative Rosenthal is excused for today."

"Good afternoon, everybody. Today I would like to recognize and mourn the death of previous Member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Jack Kubik. HR665, where we were very saddened to hear about this loss. Jack Lawrence Kubik passed away on February 4 of 2026. Born on May 20 of 1995 (sic-1955), Representative Kubik dedicated his life to 10400083.docx 2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 Illinois, its people, and his family. From a family with a longtime identity in West Cook community newspaper publishing, he attended DePaul University, earning a degree in business administration. When his neighbor, then- Representative Judy Baar Topinka, decided to vacate her seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in order to move to the Illinois Senate, young Kubik saw his chance and successfully ran in November of 1984 with the vacancy in their West Cook County district. At the age of 28, Representative Kubik was one of the youngest Members in the Illinois House of Representatives. Representative Kubik also specialized in issues involving property tax relief, judicial reform, and the rights of persons with disabilities. As a keystone measure within his overall fight for property tax relief, Representative Kubik was the lead sponsor of a bill that for the first time created a workable process for Cook County residents to appeal their property tax assessments to the statewide Property Tax Appeal Board, and then to the Cook County Circuit Court, thereby creating a legal process that still endures to this day. Representative Kubik retired in January of 1999 after serving 14 years in the Illinois House of Representatives. He… sorry, Representative Kubik served the Illinois General Assembly during the 94th and the 95th General Assembly as the chief of staff for Representative Tom Cross, the House minority leader. Representative Kubik left behind his beloved children, two sisters, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If I could have a moment of silence as we mourn the passing of former Illinois State Representative Jack Lawrence Kubik and extend our sincere 10400083.docx 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 condolences to his family and friends, those who all knew and loved him."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege, please."

"Not to hog the microphone today, but I'd like to recognize some FFA students that have come from my district. It's always a pleasure to have constituents on the House… in the House. And so, today Sesser-Valier High School, Carmi High School, Edwards County High School, FA… FFA students from them and their leaders are here today in the… in the Capitol. So, we appreciate them being here and welcome them to the Capitol. Thank you very much."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. A point of personal privilege, please."

"Thank you. On this Ag Day, I stand to recognize a young woman who represents the very best of Illinois agriculture and community life. This afternoon I am honored to welcome, from Effingham County in my district, the 2026 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, Krista Phillips. Krista was crowned at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention and now serves as an ambassador for one of our state's most important traditions. Krista is the 21-year-old daughter of Glen and 10400083.docx 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 Jeni Phillips, who are with her here today from Effingham. She is a senior at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, where she is studying business management and marketing. She will graduate in May and plans to return home to Effingham to begin her marketing career with J&J Gaming while continuing to pursue her long-term dream of opening her own small business. In her role as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, Krista will travel across our state as an employee of the Illinois Department of Agriculture promoting the importance of agriculture and our county fairs. She will visit dozen of fairs in our communities, large and small. She will serve as the official hostess of the Illinois State Fair and the Du Quoin State Fair. Madam Speaker, county fairs are more important… are extremely important summer events. They are a living classroom for the next generation. They connect our young people to the land, to livestock, and to the values of hard work, responsibility, and stewardship. They showcase the innovation and productivity of Illinois agriculture while also strengthening local economies and preserving the traditions that define our rural communities. In many towns, the county fair is the one time each year when entire community comes together, neighbors, families, small businesses alike, to celebrate what makes their hometown special. Krista understands that deeply. With strong roots in her hometown, she carries a sincere appreciation for faith, family, and community, and the role agriculture plays in all three. Krista, we thank… Krista, we thank you for your willingness to serve, for representing Illinois agriculture with excellence, and for carrying forward a tradition that 10400083.docx 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 means so much to so many across our state. Please join me again in welcoming the 2026 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, Krista Phillips."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege, please."

"Thank you. I rise to join in chorus of welcoming for those visiting the Capitol for National Agriculture Day. Seeing the blue and gold jackets, along with a few green and white sprinkled in the mix, my heart grows with great pride, pride for these young men and women as they passionately advocate for ag issues and pride for the future of agriculture in the state of Illinois. I owe everything I have and everything I have become to FFA and 4-H, where the friendships I have made and the memories I will never forget will live with me forever. These two powerful youth organizations set me in the path of success. Community engagement, leadership 10400083.docx 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 skills, a positive work ethic, and the determination to see projects through are all priorities that we should still in the youth of today, and these are exactly what these programs do. To the members of agriculture, thank you for providing me and my colleagues with the baskets for Illinois products, and, more importantly, thank you for spending time with us discussing ag legislation. From increasing the spend of ag education funding to the need for farm families to have some generational stability in the form of an estate tax reform, we see you, we hear you, and we will always fight for you. You will always be our biggest cheerleaders, and we will always be your strongest advocates. Thank you."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. Point of personal privilege."

"I rise today with a heavy heart and with a firm conviction that we are called to do better. Because in Illinois, once again an innocent life has been taken. And behind that loss is not just a tragedy but failure: failure on policy, failure on priorities, and failure of leadership. Sheridan Gorman was 18 years old. Madam, can we have some… eighteen, a young woman at the beginning of her life's journey, a freshman at Loyola… Loyola University, a daughter, a friend, a student with hopes and dreams beginning to take shape. On the morning of March 19, she was walking with friends less than a mile from campus, a simple moment, an ordinary moment, the kind that every one of us has lived countless times without a second thought. And now, she is gone. Now, we are told that this is just another tragedy, that nothing could have been done, that this is simply just the world that we live in. I reject that. We should reject that because the facts tell a different story. The individual charged in her murder has been taken in custody before by U.S. Border Patrol in May of 2023. He was released and arrested again just two months later and an active warrant followed, and still he remained. He remained here in our state under policies that tied the hands of law enforcement and placed ideology ahead of public safety. Today federal authorities have issued a detainer, and under the laws of this state, it will likely be ignored. This is not compassion. 10400083.docx 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 Compassion does not turn a blind eye, especially to danger. Compassion does not ask for families to bear an unbearable loss in the name of politics. True compassion begins with protecting the innocent. And the first duty of our government, the most basic responsibility we have in this chamber is to keep people safe. Nothing is more fundamental than that. Now, I know there are those that will say it's not about politics, that raising these concerns are somehow divisive, but there is nothing partisan about a grieving family. There is nothing political about an empty seat at the dinner table, and there is nothing acceptable about preventing tragedy. The question before us is simple. Are we willing to look honestly at the consequences of the laws that we have passed? Are we willing to admit something is not working? And, most importantly, are we willing to change course? Because we can. We can restore common sense to our laws. We can ensure that those who pose a threat are not shielded from accountability. We can stand for the law-abiding men and women of this state, the people who ask for nothing more than to live their lives in a safe community. This is not too much to ask, it is not too much to expect, and it's not too much for this body to deliver. To Sheridan Gordon's (sic-Gorman's) family, while words can never fill the void you now carry, please know that your loss is not unseen and it must not be in vain. Let it be the moment that we choose responsibility over rhetoric, action over excuses, and safety over politics. We can do better, and for the sake of every family in Illinois, we must. Thank you."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have the privilege today of welcoming my page for the day, Silas Michels. Silas and I just met today, but I think we're of one mind. Look at this tie and shirt combo. He's an awesome kid, a super bright future. Y'all, he wants to be a lawyer, so maybe get his contact. We might need some advice from him down the road. He's a great tennis player. I just found out he's playing number one in his first tennis meet coming up this Thursday. And this kid is so up to speed on what's going on in his community. He was actually filling me in on some local school board issues that I wasn't even aware of on the walk over here. So, we're so proud of him. We're so excited to have him down here, and he gives us so much hope for our future. Thanks."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"With us today, I have a couple of folks from my district from the FFA. We have Georgetown FFA, and we have Hutsonville FFA. And we… we have some other folks, Dennis Green from Lawrence County and some folks from Effingham County up here for the ag week as well. And I just want to say thank you for lunch. Thank you for everything you do, and welcome to your House." 10400083.docx 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026

"Point of personal privilege."

"Thank you. I'd like to take a minute to recognize Women's History Month and talk about a woman who is a real trailblazer in a field close to me, accounting. Florence Sivertson was recognized as the earliest female certified public accountant in the state of Illinois at a time when women were rarely welcomed into the financial and professional world. She didn't just earn a title, she built a path that would pave opportunities for generations of women who would follow in her footsteps. Operating her own public accounting practice in Chicago, Florence's skill, determination, and integrity knew no bounds. Her work challenged the status quo, which earned her a lasting legacy. Today, as we honor Women's History Month, I want this chamber to remember each person we talk about this month is noteworthy for making a positive change for changing the trajectory of women. Progress is built on the courage of individuals like Florence. In her honor, I want to leave you with this: Let's continue to redefine limits, let's support the women in our communities, invest in 10400083.docx 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 their futures, and ensure that the doors opened by pioneers like Florence remain open for all. Thank you."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. Point of personal privilege."

"For Women's History Month, I would like to highlight three trailblazing women who made great impacts on the insurance industry as we know it today. One of the communities I represent is the city of Bloomington, which is home to State Farm Insurance. State Farm's success can be directly attributed to the historic leadership of women. The company is known for employing significantly more women than men, with nearly two-thirds of the workforce being made up by women. At State Farm, women also hold nearly half of all managerial positions. The history of women in leadership roles at State Farm dates back over a hundred years ago. In mid-1922, Minnie Jones was appointed to be the office manager and voted in as the first female State Farm executive, serving as treasurer and secretary of the board. Just a year earlier, Minnie met State Farm's founder, G.J. Mecherle, who was in desperate need to buy licenses to start selling insurance, but the banks were hesitant to loan him the money for his outlandish business plan of selling auto insurance to farmers. Minnie, who had a successful background in running insurance companies, thought his idea was great and invested 40% of the needed $25,000 so the company could get its start. After Minnie's appointment, State Farm hired its first female employee in July of 1922. Verna Huffman was a stenographer, 10400083.docx 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day 3/24/2026 secretary, underwriter, and claim handler, earning just $21 for a 60-hour workweek. Her office in the Durley Building on State Farm campus was just 50 square feet, filled with borrowed furniture because the company didn't have their funds to buy their own. Despite her circumstances, she continued to persevere and, just nine short years later, was put in charge of payroll for the company, holding a position within State Farm that no woman had ever held before. The earliest known woman to become an agent for State Farm was Ella Turner, joining State Farm in 1924. She opened her agency with her husband in Rockford, Illinois, and it took… and eventually took over after her husband had passed away. While as an agent, State Farm began to ask for suggestions for a monthly bulletin. Ella submitted the name 'Reflector' and won the contest. The Reflector still runs internally today. Thanks to the work of these amazing women, State Farm has been consistently named top company for executive women for 17 consecutive years, dating back to 2008. Thank you."

"Point of personal privilege."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. There's a man in the chamber right now who's maybe listening to me. His name is Representative Dennis Tipsword. And today Representative Tipsword was honored as the Legislator of Year… of the Year by the Chiefs of Police. And I know I'm embarrassing him and he's a humble guy and everything, but please give him a round of applause. As… as many of you know, this is the final year that Representative Tipsword is going to grace us with his presence. And I know I speak for so many of us when I say it's been such an honor. I'm so proud of you, man. I wish we had longer in this chamber, but I'm grateful for the four years that we have. You've done such a great job representing the good people of the 105th. You've done a great job leveraging your experience in law enforcement to bring some common sense and expertise to this issue. And so, it's such a great award. I'm so proud of you, man. Thanks."