Thank you for reading “Friess Frame.” It’s hard to believe we’re in the final weeks of summer! But as we prepare ourselves for fall, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share with you the latest happenings in our District and across the state.
I’m honored to serve as your State Representative. Thank you for making our communities what they are.
Du Quoin State Fair
I had a great time at the Du Quoin State Fair this past weekend! It’s always a highlight of the year.
The fair has always been a great way for families to come together, enjoy some fun, and celebrate the end of summer. From the rides and games to the amazing food and live entertainment, it offers something for everyone.
But beyond the fun, the fair is also a big win for our local economy. It brings people from all over to southern Illinois, helping our small businesses and showcasing what makes this region special. I’m proud to support an event that not only brings joy to so many families but also boosts our community.
Exciting Developments in Red Bud
Red Bud is buzzing with activity! Several exciting projects are coming to life, showcasing the creativity, dedication, and community spirit that make our town truly special.
Local artist Kenzie Wolk, of Kenzie Wolk Art, has been commissioned to create a mural on the Moekoff Building, right in the heart of downtown. Thanks to the Red Bud Community Foundation, her artwork will soon be ready for all to enjoy. Kenzie’s talent and vision are amazing and we’re grateful for her work.
Just a short walk away, the City of Red Bud is putting the finishing touches on the highly anticipated Ratz Park Splash Pad. This new addition to the park is set to provide endless fun for families and children. Scheduled for completion in late September, the Splash Pad will be a fantastic spot for the community to gather, play, and cool off.
Over at the Community Garden, there are 52 raised garden beds. These beds have become an important part of our community, offering a space for families to grow their own produce or share the bounty with neighbors.
These projects are just a few examples of how Red Bud continues to grow and flourish, thanks to the efforts of our passionate residents!
Rep. Friess Appointed to Task Force to Review Eligibility to Hold Public Office
I was recently appointed to the Task Force to Review Eligibility to Hold Public Office. Read the full press release below!
Red Bud, IL…House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has officially appointed State Representative David Friess to serve on the Task Force to Review Eligibility to Hold Public Office, a group that reviews criteria that dictate eligibility to hold public office in the state of Illinois. The Task Force will specifically focus on examining the conduct that currently disqualifies individuals from seeking or holding public office, as well as the policy rationale behind such restrictions based on criminal behavior.
“I am honored to be appointed to this Task Force,” Rep. Friess said. “I am committed to working diligently to ensure that the criteria for holding public office in Illinois reflect our collective values of integrity and honesty.”
Rep. Friess, a dedicated public servant known for his commitment to transparency and accountability in government, brings a wealth of legislative experience and a strong understanding of criminal justice issues to this important role. As a member of the Task Force, he will play a key role in evaluating and recommending potential changes to the existing eligibility requirements for holding public office in Illinois.
The Task Force will seek to ensure that the criteria for eligibility to hold public office align with the values of transparency, accountability, and public trust. By closely examining the policy rationale behind disqualifying individuals based on certain criminal conduct, the Task Force strives to promote fairness and equity in the selection of public officials.
General Assembly makes a small, but potentially valuable, change to the job-threatening Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)
The BIPA law, enacted in 2008, purports to protect the privacy of an individual’s biometric information from misuse in Illinois. Biometrics are the biologically unique identifiers that differentiate each individual human being, including eye and fingerprint markings. Illinois Democrats have a long record of alliances with law firms that issue contingent lawsuits for big-money damages. Especially in years that followed 2008, the BIPA law was interpreted by the courts to grant ‘standing’ to file enormous lawsuits against any business firm in Illinois that had collected biometric information about its employees, such as using biometric locks or time clocks.
After some of these lawsuits began to move to trial and massive verdicts, the Illinois business community began to warn the General Assembly that BIPA was becoming a deadly threat to job creation and retention. House Republicans sponsored bills to reduce or eliminate the threats created by BIPA misuse. Many Democrats, faithful to their alliance with the trial bar, did not want to take action. Under pressure, the leadership of the House and Senate Democrats partially gave in. In the 2024 spring session, they allowed a bill to come to the floor of the House and Senate. As passed by both houses, SB 2979 allowed many of the job-threatening features of BIPA to remain untouched: trial lawyers will continue to be able to use BIPA to file big lawsuits. However, SB 2979 also says that if a firm collects biometric information two or more times from one individual without explicit permission – as, for example, if a security camera repeatedly takes a picture of an individual reporting to work, and the same picture is taken every day – then only one act of alleged damage has taken place. No plaintiff or law firm can claim that two or more pictures, or fingerprints, create two or more episodes of damage for which huge sums of money can be awarded.
Even after passage of SB 2979 and its enactment into law, the Biometric Information Privacy Act continues to be highly hostile to job creation and retention in Illinois. Employers and job creators do not face similar lawsuits in any of the other states that compete with Illinois for jobs. Firms that use facial recognition, fingerprint-scans, or any of the other identification methods pinpointed by BIPA continue to be potentially liable for lawsuits and damages. House Republicans would have preferred a much more equitable biometric privacy law that would have balanced the interests of business and labor. Two House Republican bills, HB 2335 (Keicher) and HB 5635 (Keicher) are good examples of what an equitable BIPA bill looks like. Many House Republicans voted against the 2024 law because it fell far short of true BIPA reform.
However, the 2024 law is better than nothing and marks a rare partial defeat for the trial bar in Illinois. The SB 2979 biometric law modification statute was signed into law in August 2024.
IDFPR Updates
IDFPR is expanding their pilot program so more professionals who submit paper applications can submit their payments online! They’re also introducing this service for certain professionals who need to restore or reinstate their license.
Learn more here: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/epay.html
They’re also launching a new process to enable active-duty service members and their spouses to apply for licensure with reduced requirements. Eligible applicants must have:
· Active duty orders to be stationed in Illinois,
· An active license in their profession from another state, and
· Lawfully worked within the last two years in that profession.
Learn more about this new initiative here: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/mili…/military-portability.html
Ways for Families to Save Money as the School Year Begins
With sky-high inflation still impacting hard-working Illinois families and the new school year set to begin, it’s important to consider ways to save money. Food prices, gasoline costs, interest rates, rent and almost all living expenses continue to rise, and with little end in sight. Saving money in the current economic climate may not be easy, but there are tips and strategies that can be utilized to help families.
Back-to-school spending is expected to reach record highs this year across the country. Back-to-school costs expected to reach new high (chicagotribune.com) And in Chicago, parents spend $886 per child on average, which is 34 percent more than the national average. With inflation and no sales tax holiday in place this year, many families will have difficult choices to make.
For those families that are serious about saving money, the first step would be to build a family budget. Planning out all incoming or outgoing expenses for a period of time (weekly or monthly) can help get the process rolling. Keeping the lines of communication open for all members of the family and being flexible also helps, as does building a baseline of expenses. There are numerous sites that offer tips and strategies to save money, including 6 Ways to Reduce Your Family’s Spending And Save More Money , Six Fun Ways to Save as a Family, 23 Ways To Save Money on Back-to-School Items, 7 ways to save money on family expenses, and 17 Money-Saving Tips for Families on a Budget.
A summary list of methods and ways to save money includes:
• Use what you already have, and only buy what you use.
• Eat as many meals at home as possible; pack a lunch for the kids.
• Stick to firm budgets and plan ahead for special occasions (birthdays, holidays, travel).
• Elect for more at-home family game nights for entertainment.
• Declutter the house and hold a garage sale.
• Bargain shop for those school supplies and do some research ahead of time.
• When possible, buy items in bulk to share costs with neighbors and friends.
• Search for coupons and apps.
• Avoid expensive name brand items when possible.
• Don’t buy what you don’t need yet.
• Follow community sites on social media for deals and discounts.
• Reduce energy usage at home; turn items off that are not being used.
• Check your subscription services and reduce where possible; those fees add up quickly.
• Seek out free or frugal ways of family entertainment (picnics, parks, zoos, museum trips).
• Develop meal plans and specific items to get prior to grocery store trips.
Families in Illinois can still enjoy their everyday lives and live life to the fullest while also finding those key components to saving money. And the new school year serves as an important reminder as parents shop for those necessary school supplies.
Free Shred Event in Sparta
I’m hosting a FREE Shred Event on Saturday, September 21st, from 9:00am to Noon. The event will take place at Sparta City Hall, located at 114 W. Jackson Street in Sparta.
This is a drive-up event for shredding of your confidential documents. Just pull up and drop off your documents for safe and secure shredding. Hope to see you there!
Thank you for reading, and I’ll be back soon with another edition of, “Friess Frame!”