McHenry Times

Senator Craig Wilcox recently concluded his Conversations Untapped Tour with an event in Lake Villa. Over the past several weeks, Wilcox and his staff hosted gatherings in Cary, Antioch, Woodstock, and Lake Villa. The senator said he appreciated the opportunity for informal discussions with constituents as the legislature prepares for the fall veto session in October.

Wilcox announced upcoming outreach events, including two IPASS on Demand sessions in Fox Lake and Lake Villa. These events will help residents transition from plastic IPASS transponders to new sticker technology. Attendees are encouraged to bring their old transponders and have their license plate numbers ready for efficient service.

Other scheduled events include a Constituent Services Event with Cary Mayor Mark Kownick on September 23, a Medicare 101 session on September 30 in Wonder Lake, and a Senior Resource Fair on October 14 in Crystal Lake. Wilcox advised residents to check his website’s Events page regularly for updates.

As students return to school across Illinois, families and educators can access tax credits to offset education costs. Parents may qualify for the K-12 Education Expense Credit, which allows households to claim up to $750 based on eligible expenses such as tuition and book rentals. Home-school families may also be eligible under certain conditions. Last year, nearly 200,000 families used this credit, saving an average of $324.

Educators can benefit from the Instructional Materials and Supplies Credit if they work full-time at least 900 hours during the school year. This credit provides up to $500 per educator or $1,000 for married couples filing jointly who are both educators. In 2024, more than 81,000 Illinois educators claimed this credit, resulting in over $35 million in collective savings.

“These tax credits are a practical way to help ease the financial burden of a new school year and encourages families and teachers to keep their receipts and file for the relief they deserve,” Wilcox stated.

For further details about these programs, residents can visit tax.illinois.gov or review IDOR Publication 112.

Illinois’ elimination of cash bail has drawn national attention following President Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to consider withholding funding from states that have ended cash bail policies. Illinois was the first state to eliminate cash bail under the SAFE-T Act in 2023. Critics argue that this law has made it easier for repeat offenders to avoid detention.

“Illinois families deserve a justice system that prioritizes victims and law enforcement over criminals, not reckless policies that put ideology ahead of safety and reward criminals. To that end, I am calling on Democrat leaders to repeal the SAFE-T Act and restore accountability before communities and law-abiding citizens are harmed,” Wilcox said.

Legislation supported by Wilcox establishing the Care for Retired Police Dogs Grant Program was signed into law this year. House Bill 3140 creates grants of up to $1,500 annually for veterinary expenses incurred by handlers or adoptive families caring for retired police dogs who served at least five years or three years if injured while on duty. Funding comes from sales of Illinois’ new K-9 Memorial License Plate; at least 2,000 plates must be requested by January 2028 before launching the program.

“This new law helps honor the service of police dogs while easing the financial burden on the families who care for them in retirement,” Wilcox stated.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism reported record-breaking tourism numbers in 2024. According to Tourism Economics data, Illinois welcomed 113 million visitors last year—an increase of half a million over the previous year—who spent $48.5 billion statewide (https://www.enjoyillinois.com/). This generated $4.7 billion in state and local tax revenue and supported more than 280,000 jobs within tourism and hospitality sectors.

Wilcox noted that tourism remains important for local economies still recovering from pandemic-related shutdowns ordered by state leadership.

Wilcox is a Republican elected in 2018 representing Illinois’ 32nd Senate District after succeeding Pamela Althoff.