SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) co-sponsored legislation lowering trailer registration fees from $118 to $36 that passed out of the Senate on Monday.

“People in my district and all across the state have struggled under disproportionately high trailer registration fees,” Koehler said. “I receive many calls from constituents on this particular issue, and I’m proud to be able to bring their concerns to the table in Springfield.”

The legislation designated all trailers that weigh 3,000 pounds or less “utility trailers” and sets the registration fee for said utility trailers at $36. This applies only to trailers primarily for personal use. If signed into law, the bill would also repeal the $10,000 cap on the trade-in vehicle sales tax credit and increase the private vehicle tax by $75 for each model year where the purchase price is less than $15,000 and $100 if the purchase price is above $15,000.

“I’m glad to be able to bring a solution to those who have expressed concern about this issue and I urge Governor Pritzker to sign this legislation into law,” Koehler said.

Senate Bill 58 passed with 58 votes.

SPRINGFIELD – All across this state, law-abiding gun owners have fallen victim to a bureaucratic backlog to renew their FOID cards—an issue that State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) aims to fix with FOID modernization legislation that he passed out of the Senate on Monday.

“One of the biggest obstacles we face with the FOID system is the enormous backlog of applications,” Koehler said. “There has to be a compromise between having a safe and effective system without making the process unnecessarily difficult for gun owners who have proven themselves to be safe and responsible. I think that this legislation accommodates both of those objectives.”

The bill seeks to protect communities by enhancing existing background checks as a means to more effectively ensure that firearms are kept out of the wrong hands. For gun owners who have proven themselves to not be dangerous, the legislation would offer the option to apply for an automatically-renewing FOID card with the voluntary submission of fingerprints. FOID cards and concealed carry licenses would also be condensed into one document and electronic copies would be made available, making it easier for gun owners to keep their license with them at any given time.

“This legislation will allow the Illinois State Police to really focus on keeping our communities safe by ensuring that firearms are kept away from people who are dangerous, both to themselves and others,” Koehler said.

House Bill 562 passed the Senate with 40 votes.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) to expand the venues where home-cooked food operations may sell their products passed the Senate on Sunday.

“Not only will this legislation provide home cooks with the opportunity to earn additional income, but it will help to preserve traditions and small bits of history in our communities through the sharing of recipes and dishes that may have been passed down for generations,” Koehler said.

Cottage food operations are vendors that prepare products in a kitchen in a primary domestic residence. Senate Bill 2007 permits cottage food operations to sell their products at farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals or public events, as well as online. If signed into law, this legislation would require these producers to submit recipes and food safety plans to local public health departments in order to be permitted to sell their products to the public. It also sets a framework for the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide statewide guidance on how to regulate cottage foods to local health departments.

"We should be doing everything we can to help to create more income opportunities for our residents," Koehler said. "This legislation has the potential to benefit many families in my district and around the state, and I'm very pleased to have it pass."

SB 2007 passed the Senate with 59 votes.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that would ensure that special education students in Illinois are able to complete their schooling passed out of the Senate on Wednesday.

“Students all across Illinois have faced significant challenges over the last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Koehler said. “It is no different for special education students, except that an interrupted school year may mean that they are unable to finish their education under current regulations.”

Current legislation states that students with disabilities may attend public school up to the day before their 22^nd birthday. At that point, regardless of when that is in the school year, they are no longer eligible. This legislation would allow students who turned 22 between March 17, 2020 and the end of the 2021-2022 school year who faced 3 or more months of COVID-related interruptions to their education to finish their school year.

“Students of all ages and abilities deserve the same opportunities when it comes to their education,” Koehler said.

House Bill 2748 passed out of the Senate with 56 votes.