Peoria Standard

Illinois Deputy House Republican Leader Ryan Spain was recently honored with the 2024 Public Service Award by the Chicago and Downstate Illinois Roofing Contractors for his efforts in consumer advocacy. Spain expressed his commitment to ensuring cost-effectiveness in construction and remodeling costs to benefit consumers and small businesses in Illinois. He emphasized the importance of advocating for common-sense policies to improve regulatory processes in the state.

In another legislative update, Spain called for doubling the state's education expense tax credit to alleviate the financial burden on families facing rising education costs. He highlighted the need to support families in providing the best resources for their children's education.

State Representative Nicole La Ha celebrated the passage of House Bill 5467, which removes the statute of limitations for victims of human trafficking who were under 18 at the time of the offense. La Ha emphasized the importance of ensuring that justice is not limited by time and expressed support for survivors of human trafficking seeking justice.

Additionally, legislation introduced by State Representative Jeff Keicher to assist child victims of human trafficking was unanimously approved by the Illinois House of Representatives. Keicher's bill aims to help victims heal and move forward from the trauma they have experienced.

State Representative Amy Elik also saw success as her bill, House Bill 4241, which focuses on protecting student victims from abuse by school employees, passed unanimously in the House. Elik emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of students in educational settings.

Deputy Leader Ryan Spain played a crucial role in questioning and confirming the details of the Healthcare Protection Act during the recent legislative session. Spain ensured that the bill did not include any enhancements for undocumented immigrants and facilitated a bipartisan approach to its negotiation.

In economic news, Illinois maintained an unemployment rate of 4.8% in March, with job growth concentrated in public-sector-related and leisure-oriented services. While the state created approximately 12,700 new jobs in March, it continued to experience higher joblessness compared to the national average.

The legislative updates and economic outlook in Illinois reflect a diverse range of issues being addressed by lawmakers to support constituents and improve the state's regulatory framework and financial well-being.