Welcome to my e-newsletter!
In this issue, I discuss what I have been doing in Springfield and around the district, regarding legislation and events. We have a little over five weeks left until adjournment and a lot of work to do! The Senate Bill third reading deadline is set for May 23rd, meaning all Senate Bills in the House must be voted on by then in order to either head back over to the Senate for concurrence or to the Governor’s desk.
To view the full Session calendar, click here.
OPEN HOUSE
Earlier this month, I welcomed residents of the 88th District to my office for an open house. As a newly elected lawmaker, I want to ensure that my team maintains an active line of communication with residents living in the 88th District. We are here to help navigate state issues, listen to thoughts on current legislation, and schedule appointment requests.
Thank you to everyone who attended!
PROTECTING WOMEN’S SPORTS PRESS CONFERENCE
Last week, alongside my colleague State Representative Tom Weber and sisters Kaitlynn and Abbigail Wheeler, both of whom are Riley Gaines Center Ambassadors, I participated in a press conference to protect women’s sports.
As a mom of two daughters, I believe every girl deserves the opportunity to compete on a level playing field. My husband and I want our daughters, and every young woman, to feel safe, respected, and protected. And I want them to gain the confidence, camaraderie, and strength that so many girls develop through sports.
That is why I introduced HB 1117, a measure that would require school sports teams to be designated as male, female, or co-ed, with students only being able to participate on teams that match their biological sex.
Unfortunately, the Democratic supermajority wouldn’t even allow the bill to be heard in committee, jeopardizing the safety of young women and girls in sports.
Last month, House Republicans sent a letter to the IHSA, asking about their intent to comply with federal policy that clearly prohibits permitting biological men to compete against biological women in sports. The IHSA delayed their response and when they finally returned a letter to our Caucus, chose to deflect instead of providing information for a plan.
The IHSA has refused to provide clarity, but it DOES NOT absolve them of responsibility. By siding with radical gender ideology over the concerns of parents, coaches, and athletes, the IHSA is dismissing the severity of the situation and silencing the voices of girls who have trained their whole lives for a fair shot. ugh sports.
Fairness in girls’ sports is not up for negotiation. Privacy and safety are not political issues. I refuse to stay silent while unelected bureaucrats and politically pressured institutions make decisions that compromise our daughters’ futures.
Watch my full remarks here.
JOBS
Illinois’ unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8% in March, while the revised unemployment rate was 4.8%, unchanged from the preliminary February unemployment rate, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
Illinois’ unemployment rate was 0.6% higher than the national 4.2% unemployment rate for March. As with recent previous months, the March 2025 estimates included substantial year-over-year Illinois job losses in manufacturing (down 5.500 jobs over the 12-month interval) and professional and business services (down 12,900 jobs during the same period). Were it not for the competing sectors of government and health care, Illinois would have lost jobs during the most recent 12-month period.
The number of unemployed workers was 321,500, up +0.1% from the prior month, and down -2.5 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force was down -0.1% over-the-month and up +0.6 percent over-the-year.
INSURANCE
Study finds skyrocketing home insurance premiums in Illinois. The statewide survey showed Illinois home property/casualty insurance rates going up 50% between 2021 and 2024. This three-year trend of 14.5%/year, compounded over three years, led to Illinois posting the second-worst price trend for real property insurance among the 50 states. This consolidated data followed rate hikes posted by large insurance companies such as Allstate.
Increases in property/casualty insurance rates affecting homes and residential real property are especially damaging to the hopes of young families and first-time home buyers, because property/casualty insurance is embedded into each mortgage and no lender will complete a home financing deal unless the house is fully insured up to, and above, the lender’s equity.
AGENCY MISMANGEMENT
House Republicans call Governor to task for agency mismanagement. Outraged at the continuing failures and mismanagement at several Illinois agencies, State Representatives Charlie Meier, Jeff Keicher, Patrick Sheehan, and Brad Fritts called on the Governor to take action to protect the state’s most vulnerable.
Reports of abuse, neglect and improper procedure have spurred an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice that will be conducting an audit of the State-Operated Developmental Centers (SODC), specifically the Choate, Shapiro, and Mabley Centers, for abuse and neglect.
Illinois has a job to do and that is to protect our citizens. Our Governor needs to focus on the agencies he is charged with running instead of working for a higher office. Our most vulnerable Illinoisans need our help now and this isn’t the time to turn our backs on them.
HR 177
In March, I filed HR 177, a resolution that calls on President Trump and the United States Congress to immediately begin the process of relocating the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to central Illinois from Washington, D.C.
Crops don’t grow in a swamp, they grow in the fertile plains of central Illinois. It’s time we put the USDA in a place where people plant crops, not push paper.
My resolution seeks to move the USDA out of Washington D.C. to central Illinois where America’s farmers and ranchers grow the crops, raise the livestock, and power the American economy. Illinois is home to major agricultural research institutions, agribusinesses, key agriculture transportation, food processing companies, and hard-working families.
Relocating the department would create significant economic opportunities for the region, improve coordination with farmers and agribusiness leaders, and provide taxpayers with a more cost-effective and efficient department. Central Illinois is the logical home for the agency tasked with supporting America’s farmers.
The federal government is broke and broken and moving the USDA would save money and improve services. Central Illinois is the heartland of agriculture, with Piatt and Macon counties leading the country in soybean production and McLean and Livingston counties leading in corn production.
The resolution follows the introduction of the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement (SWAMP) Act, a bi-partisan congressional measure that seeks to decentralize federal agencies and place them in regions they serve most, which for the USDA would be an agricultural-heavy state like Illinois in the corn belt, not the beltway.
The USDA’s job is to serve farmers and ensure we continue to be the greatest agriculture-producing country in the world, providing fresh, clean food to hundreds of millions of families. In Illinois, we don’t just talk about agriculture, we live it.
The resolution has not been called and remains in the Rules Committee in the House.
To hear my full remarks click here.
SNAPSHOTS
Throughout the month of April, I have attended many events and met with many residents throughout the state, here are some photos from those events.
——————————————————————————————-
Women to Watch Conference
Last week, I was honored to host guests from the 88th District for our annual Women to Watch Conference in Springfield. Cydney Shofner (left) from Weldon and Kylie Brunner (right) from Decatur were my guests at this year’s conference. Read more about their backgrounds here.
——————————————————————————————-
Richland Community College Surgical Tech Tour and Mock Operation
While in the district, I visited Richland Community College’s Surgical Technology classroom and lab for a tour and a mock operation. It was a great experience to see the students in action.
——————————————————————————————-
Decatur Water Treatment Facility Tour
Earlier this month, I toured the city of Decatur’s water treatment plant. It was a great experience to see and learn more about the water treatment process. Thank you to Robert Weil and team for your important work and for allowing me to tour the facility.
MY LEGISLATION
To keep up with where my legislation is in the General Assembly, click here.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Thank you for reading my e-newsletter! To keep in touch, follow me on Facebook and sign-up for email updates from my website.
It is an honor to serve you. I want to keep an open line of communication, so please do not hesitate to reach out.
Talk to you soon!
Rep. Regan Deering