Working for Illinois Caucus

84th District State Representative Stephanie Kifowit says she has remained busy during the break between the end of the lame duck session and the start of the spring session, mostly working on re-filing legislation that didn’t pass in the last General Assembly. Legislators had until Friday to submit re-filed legislation for review.

Kifowit spoke about some of the bills she is re-filing, including a bill that would assist reservists and National Guard members serving in elected positions in participating in meetings remotely when they are called into service.

"This could cause them to miss a meeting or a board meeting, whatever position that they are in. So I filed it last year, didn’t get called in the house, filing it again this year. It would amend the Open Meetings Act to allow reservists and National Guardmen to be able to participate remotely and vote remotely if they are serving their country on duty. So I think that’s the right thing to do. It allows the folks that elected them to be properly represented, and it allows that individual to do their job as an elected official."

Kifowit will serve on several committees for the 104th General Assembly, including leadership roles as the vice chairwoman of the Veterans’ Affairs committee and chairwoman of the Appropriations-Pensions and Personnel committee. She is also on the Personnel and Pensions and Appropriations-General Services committees.

The spring session for the 104th General Assembly is set to begin on Tuesday.