Welcome to my e-newsletter!
As your State Representative, I want to provide you with updates about what is going on in Springfield and around the 88th.
In this issue, I discuss Illinois taxes, failing agencies and policies, recent library grant awards, and what I have been up to in the district.
ILLINOIS TAXES REMAIN SOME OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY
Illinois property taxes rank highest in U.S.
After years of ranking No. 2 to New Jersey, the latest data shows Illinoisans paid the highest property taxes in the nation during 2023. Worse, Illinoisans also pay steep income and sales taxes.
Illinois homeowners paid an average effective property tax rate of 1.83%, the highest in the nation. On a median-priced home of $250,500, that amounts to $4,584 per year. Neighboring states had significantly lower rates, making the idea of finding a home outside of Illinois appealing.
Read more from the Illinois Policy Institute.
Illinois has the highest telecom tax rate in the nation
For most Americans, smartphones have become a necessity of everyday life, and many states impose taxes on telecommunications. At the start of 2025, Illinois already had the highest cellphone tax rate among the 50 states. Despite Illinois’ high telecom tax, the Democrats’ FY26 revenue/tax bill raised the telecom tax rate yet again. Illinois cellphone users now are required to pay a combined tax rate of nearly 38%.
Continue reading about the telecom tax here.
ILLINOIS AGENCIES CONTINUE TO FAIL
If you’re a government agency, the standard for transparency should be high. If you’re a government agency in charge of protecting children’s safety, the standard for transparency should be the highest. As a member of the Adoption and Child Welfare Committee, I see this firsthand. We need to do everything we can to keep children in our state’s care safe and healthy.
Read more about the recent failure of the Department of Children and Family Services, where the agency is refusing to release details in a recent case from Fairview Heights involving the death of an 18 year old girl here.
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE GRADUATES LARGEST CLASS OF CADETS IN 25 YEARS
The thin blue line between order and chaos has grown larger in Illinois. The Illinois State Police just saw the largest graduating cadet class in 25 years. Congratulations to our newest State Troopers, and thank you for your brave service to our great state!
Read more about the class here.
DEERING SUPPORTS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ACTION ON SCHOOL CHOICE
The State of Illinois had a successful school-scholarship tax incentive program, “Invest in Kids,” until 2022-2023. The “Invest in Kids” program was then allowed to expire, despite House Republicans fighting to keep it alive. In allowing the sunset of the program, Democrats prioritized the wants of the teachers’ unions to guarantee jobs for adults over the educational needs of children. They killed a state program that helped over 15,000 students from low-income families attend the schools that best met their learning needs without taking away any money from their local public school.
Now, we have a chance to bring school choice back to Illinois, but Governor Pritzker or someone appointed by him must choose to opt in first. This is thanks to changes to federal law contained within the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Let’s give Illinois students the best opportunities to succeed and opt into the new federal tax-credit scholarship program.
Learn more about this program here.
ICYMI: DEERING ANNOUNCES BUSINESS TOUR: THE REGAN ROUTE- “TO A BETTER FUTURE”
State Representative Regan Deering is announcing her business tour, “The Regan Route.” The tour will focus on learning about different industries, working to help solve persistent issues that affect the workforce, and ensuring developments continue to be made in Illinois and specifically the central region.
“Illinois has so much potential, but bad policy coming out of Springfield is making it harder for businesses and families to thrive,” began Rep. Deering. “I am launching this tour so I can highlight business owners and workers across the district to share the issues that are important to them.”
Read more here.
AREA LIBRARIES RECEIPENTS OF GRANTS
PER CAPITA GRANTS
The Secretary of State’s office issued grants to 14 area libraries in the 88th District for the Per Capita Library Grant. The grants may be used to assist libraries in providing services that meet, or show progress toward meeting, Illinois library standards. Those libraries awarded in the district include:
- Atwood-Hammond Public Library District: $3,669.80
- Bement Public Library District: $2,886.58
- Hope Welty Public Library District: $4,358.63
- Willow Branch Township Library: $1,424.85
- Martin Township Public Library: $1,778.85
- Goose Creek District Library: $1,162.30
- Farmer City Public Library: $2,696.30
- Forsyth Public Library: $5,507.65
- Heyworth Public Library District: $8,069.73
- Blue Ridge Township Public Library: $2,038.45
- Allerton Public Library District: $9,046.18
- Argenta-Oreana Public Library District: $5,694.98
- Cheney’s Grove Township Library: $1,359.95
- Weldon Public Library District: $1,017.75
TECH GRANTS
Another grant issued by the Secretary of State’s office to benefit public libraries is the Library Tech Grant. The grants can be used to help purchase hardware, update existing software, expand internet resources, purchase additional devices, increase Wi-Fi capacity and internet accessibility, buy adaptive technologies that accommodate those with disabilities, and may be used for other tech-related updates or purchases.
To qualify, libraries must have a low tax base in relation to the population of their service area and were encouraged to consider the technological needs of constituents. In the 88th District, the Goose Creek District Library in DeLand was awarded $12,500.
“Congratulations to the Goose Creek District Library on their library tech grant award from the Illinois Secretary of State,” said Rep. Deering. “This grant is such a great opportunity for small communities like DeLand that need additional help to best serve their area. With this grant award, some technology barriers can be torn down, and the library can better serve the entire community – whether it be students, seniors, or anyone in between. Our libraries are important to communities, and grants like this help to keep the doors open and the services modern to keep up with the ever-changing digital world.”
SAFE-T ACT FAILS SURBURBAN FAMILY, AMONG OTHERS
In mid-July, ICE agents with the Department of Homeland Security detained 52-year-old Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez. Mendoza-Gonzalez is accused of concealing the death of Megan Bos for nearly two months. Bos was reported missing on March 9, and her remains were discovered on April 10 inside a storage container in Waukegan at Mendoza-Gonzalez’s residence. Despite these disturbing facts, he was released pending trial under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act. This outcome has devastated her loved ones and ignited renewed scrutiny of Illinois’ criminal justice reforms.
Political choices have real world consequences. Sanctuary states and cities are destinations for criminals because they won’t be prosecuted. For months now, Megan Bos’ family has had to live with the pain of knowing the man who concealed her death and hid her body was able to walk free because of the SAFE-T Act. Two weekends ago, ICE detained the man, and he remains in custody.
We shouldn’t have to rely on the federal government to get justice for victims in Illinois. We need to repeal the misguided SAFE-T Act to protect our communities.
Click here to continue reading.
LEGISLATION TO REPEAL THE CLIMATE EQUITABLE JOBS ACT (CEJA) FILED
My colleagues from southern Illinois have introduced legislation to improve electricity affordability and reliability. HB 4088 is a measure that will fully repeal the Climate Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and its 2045 deadline for ending the use of carbon-emitting fossil fuels. HB 4087 would create a new Power Grid Task Force to study the effect of state laws, including CEJA, on energy prices as well as grid reliability. The bill will consider the present and future needs of Illinois consumers while simultaneously addressing any issues related to the performance and reliability of power generation in Illinois.
I am supportive of this legislation. As a member of the Energy & Environment Committee, I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous the policies of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and its goals have harmed residents.
Read more about the legislation here.
ILLINOIS RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTS BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL BUSINESS FOR “WE ARE RETAIL PROJECT”
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association’s “We Are Retail Project” works to highlight the different businesses that make up Illinois’ diverse retail community.
A recent highlight was for Shooting Star Florist, a floral shop right here in the 88th District. With a combined 65 years of experience, the shop specializes in arrangements for weddings, funerals, baby showers, anniversaries and so much more, serving Bloomington-Normal and surrounding areas.
Congratulations to Shooting Star Florist for their nomination! See the spectacular work they do below.
SNAPSHOTS
TEAM DEERING ATTENDS BELLFLOWER FIRETRUCK DEDICATION CEREMONY
On the 4th of July, the Bellflower Fire Department dedicated their new truck to Andrew Ellis. Andrew loved his family, his town, and being a firefighter. He was instrumental in helping Bellflower get the truck that is dedicated to him, the first new truck for Bellflower firefighters in over 50 years. Andrew was the epitome of a selfless first responder, and I am so glad his memory continues on.
SAYBROOK BICENTENNIAL PARADE
Despite the heat, the crowd turned out for the Saybrook Bicentennial Parade. Popsicles helped cool us all off.
BELLFLOWER LEMONADE STAND
Have you heard the news? The best lemonade is in Bellflower! These young women entrepreneurs’ lemonade hit the spot after walking in the parade.
DEERING ATTENDS 2025 EMMETT SEFTON MEMORIAL DRIVE
I attended the 2025 Emmett Sefton Memorial Drive hosted by Macon County Farm Bureau and had the chance to connect with constituents while I was there.
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