The legislative agenda is set for the six-day fall Veto Session that begins Nov. 13, there’s important news for Illinois businesses, and residents can help give Illinois service men and women a touch of home with the Holiday Hero Drive.

Lawmakers are set to return to the State Capitol Nov. 13 to begin fall “veto session,” which is currently scheduled for November 13-15 and November 27-29.

Nominees are being sought for Illinois’ newly-created Route 66 Centennial Commission, and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is seeking input on a public campaign urging safety on state roadways.

As the November 6 general election approaches, state and local officials this week outlined policies and procedures designed to protect against cyber threats.

State Sen. Jim Oberweis is encouraging constituents to submit a tribute and photo of their loved ones who served our country to be displayed on the Veterans Day “Wall of Honor” in the Illinois Capitol Nov. 5-16.

State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) was appointed to the Senate Republican Leadership team Oct. 1. Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) appointed Oberweis to serve as the Senate Republican Whip.

In just three years, the number of kindergarten through 12th grade school districts in Illinois able to access the internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student has improved by 25 percent—going from 71 percent to 96 percent. The report, done by EducationSuperHighway, tracks progress toward K-12 connectivity across the United States.

In preparation of the fiscal year 2020 budget, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has scheduled three statewide budget hearings in an effort to hear funding recommendations for public education. Educators, advocates, and community members are encouraged to communicate their funding requests in person at one of the upcoming hearings.

Legislation was filed this week to keep people who have been convicted of tax fraud out of public office.

If you are planning on hunting or trapping this year, make sure you know all the hunting periods, limits, application periods, and lottery dates before you go.

Illinois has been ranked as the fourth best state in the nation for teachers by personal finance website WalletHub, the Illinois Department of Public Health is recommending that residents get the flu shot as soon as it is available in their communities, and the Governor has proclaimed October as College Changes Everything® Month.

A recent list from WalletHub ranks the best cities in Illinois – many of them local – for their labor-market health.

To help speed the movement of crops to market and keep Illinois farmers and crop haulers competitive with agriculture operations in neighboring states, Governor Bruce Rauner recently declared a harvest emergency.

August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual global event that aims to raise awareness about substance abuse and overdose deaths. On August 28, Governor Bruce Rauner signed a new law to curb opioid addiction in Illinois.

Several measures were signed into law during the week, including legislation focused on keeping students in-state, addressing the growing opioid crisis and mental health issues in Illinois, and a proposal to give motorists the option for a two-year vehicle registration.

More than 100 new laws were signed during the week, targeting the state’s teacher shortage, streamlining services for veterans, and supporting Illinois’ number one industry: agriculture.

Senator Jim Oberweis says redistricting reform is the answer to extreme policy positions.

Mixed news about the economy and jobs, new laws improving Illinois’ business and government climates, and remembering our military heroes are among the action during the week in the Capital City.

The Bradt Family of St. Charles visited the State Capitol Building while they were in Springfield August 7.

Illinois has several new laws that address a backlog of applications for nursing home care, provide more first responders with medicines for allergy-related emergencies, boost protections for DCFS workers, and create a new lottery game to benefit families of fallen police officers.

Illinois has several new laws on the books that allow affected counties to consolidate their election commissions with their county clerk’s offices, that expand and improve the Historic Tax Credit Program, and that recognize the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology as a state agency.

Governor Bruce Rauner signed a number of measures into law during the week, including bills designed to promote gun safety and to authorize a rehabilitation project at the Quincy Veterans’ Home.

A new report from an economic research group highlights the increasingly high tax burden Illinois businesses are facing – a key factor in the continued push by Senate Republicans for pro-jobs and pro-economic reforms at the Statehouse.

Newly-signed laws seek to address the state’s growing teacher shortage, and better prepare Illinois students for the demands of college and the workforce.

The United States Supreme Court issued two landmark First Amendment rulings during the week, and the federal government approved a plan to protect rural hospitals.