Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, Sept. 25th, 2024 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Coffee and Conversation with Senator Bennett
At the Coffee Steamer
101 West Krack St, Forest, IL 61741
New Information about ADM and CCS
ADM detected CO2 fluid just above the permitted confining zone in one of their deep monitoring wells and reported it to the US EPA. They are working closely together in agreed next steps. The U.S. EPA has said there is no threat to drinking water supplies and that includes the Mahomet Aquifer. Carbon sequestration is an important topic nationally. The federal government is working with a number of states including Illinois. Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed the SAFE CCS ACT that focused on the future of carbon sequestration, safety to the environment, and brought industry, environmentalists and others together to the table to work out a number of concerns. There is more to be discussed but this ACT sets the framework moving forward. More to come.
Cyberattacks Against Governmental Entities on the Rise
Government agencies across the country, including in Illinois, are facing the difficult challenge of dealing with an alarming rise in cyberattacks. Recent data from the Center for Internet Security reveals a drastic increase in malware and ransomware attacks, with a 148 percent surge in malware incidents and a 51 percent rise in ransomware attacks during the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Several government offices in Illinois have been targeted by these cyber threats. Earlier this year, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office experienced a data security breach, and both Henry and Tazewell counties dealt with ransomware attacks that disrupted their daily operations. The growing trend of cyberattacks against governmental entities is of great concern for state and local governments as they strive to protect sensitive information and maintain critical services.
To that end, government agencies throughout the state and nation are strengthening their defenses by upgrading equipment, enhancing security awareness training, and collaborating at both state and federal levels to block known cyber threats.
While these efforts are crucial, cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They target not only data systems but also technologies like drones used by law enforcement. State Senator Bennett says all government entities must take the threat of cyberattacks seriously and continue implementing proactive measures to prevent future incidents as protecting digital infrastructures from bad actors must remain a top priority.
Bright Start Program Changes Coming Soon
Families enrolled in the Bright Start College Savings Program (Bright Start 529) will see several changes starting September 30, as TIAA, a major provider of 529 college savings plans, takes over as the program manager.
Bright Start is a 529 college savings plan typically sponsored by a state and can be used to save for higher education. Illinois’ Bright Start Program is already recognized as one of the lowest-cost 529 savings plans in the U.S. With the upcoming changes, families will see total average weighted fees reduced by another 13 percent.
Additionally, a new Bright Start 529 mobile app will be introduced. The app will allow account owners to manage their accounts, check balances, and open new accounts for beneficiaries via their smartphones. It will also streamline processes such as sending funds directly to colleges.
Illinois parents or legal guardians can also claim the Illinois First Steps $50 seed deposit online when opening a Bright Start 529 account for a child born or adopted on or after January 1, 2023, eliminating the need for paper forms. To accommodate the transition, no withdrawals, contributions, or account changes will be processed between 3 p.m. Wednesday, September 25, and Sunday, September 29. Full account access and transaction capabilities will resume at 7 a.m. on Monday, September 30.
Did You Know?
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced record-breaking attendance figures for the 2024 Illinois State Fair. More than 773,000 people attended the 11-day event, marking the highest attendance on record.
The Illinois State Fair also saw major successes in other areas, including a record-breaking Grandstand performance. Grandstand artists such as the Jonas Brothers, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, and Lil Wayne, who set a new Grandstand attendance record with over 15,000 tickets sold, contributed to the fair’s popularity. This year’s carnival revenue also saw a significant increase over 2023.
The 2024 Fair generated an estimated economic impact of over $86 million and $2.6 million in sales tax revenue. State agencies were also provided an avenue to offer community services, including public access to issuing driver’s licenses, REAL IDs, and permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Planning is now underway for the 2025 Illinois State Fair, which is scheduled to run August 7-17.
How much do we owe?
As of the time of this writing, the State of Illinois owes $1,693,734,948.77 to state vendors, including 13,111 pending vouchers. This figure represents the amount of bills submitted to the office of the Comptroller and still awaiting payment. It does not include debts that can only be estimated, such as our unfunded pension liability which is subject to a wide range of factors and has been estimated to be more than $139 billion. At the same time last year, the state’s accounts payable stood at a little less than $2 billion.
This Week in the 53rd District
Working full-time to represent you!
