Legislative Preview, Summer Internships, Coffee & Conversation, Shred Day
- Janet
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
In This Issue:
Legislative Preview
Summer Internships
Coffee & Conversation This Saturday
Save The Date: Shred Day
Dear Friends,
I hope this message finds you settling comfortably into the new year and the winter months.
Last week marked the first week back to Springfield for my colleagues and me in the Illinois House. We spent much of the time planning for what will be a busy next few months, as we negotiate a budget and work to pass legislation. In this month’s newsletter, I’ve included a preview of key bills and priorities I’ll be working on.
If you are or know a student who may be interested in helping to directly shape these legislative efforts, consider my office’s summer internship opportunities. This program is a fantastic way for young people to gain hands-on experience and get involved in public service. I’ve included more information on the application process, below.
You can also learn more and provide input directly at my monthly Coffee & Conversation get-togethers. The next one takes place tomorrow, January 31, and we’ll have the chance to discuss your questions and concerns in a relaxed, informal setting.
As always, thank you for being an active and engaged part of our district. I look forward to seeing you soon and continuing our work together.
Warmly,
Janet
Legislative Preview
My office and I have worked over these last few months, talking with constituents and stakeholders to finalize our district’s legislative priorities that will guide the coming months in Springfield. We continue to introduce new bills and amendments each day, which you can follow on my ilga.gov member page. Much of the work roughly falls within the following buckets:
Cost of Living: In big ways and small, residents in our district have felt the sting of higher prices. Some of the ways my colleagues and I are working to alleviate these burdens include introducing legislation to protect consumers using grocery store digital coupons, increase transparency in hospital billing, and eliminate hidden tax e-filing fees that other states have already prohibited.
Education: Our community stands out for its excellent educational opportunities, so it’s key to continue supporting our students, teachers, and schools. From my work with these groups, some of the legislation I’ll be introducing include addressing the gender education gap and supporting school staff mental health.
Health & Safety: We’ve made much progress in fighting back the opioid epidemic, and we’ll continue doing so with new legislation that aims to make fentanyl test strips readily available on college campuses and puts stronger safeguards in place for opioid prescribers.
Environment & Sustainability: On a lighter note--but also what marks an effort that has been driven by local students practicing civic engagement and educating others about pollinators--I’ve introduced a bill to designate a state bee. I’ve also introduced legislation to strengthen bike/walk education in Illinois, which touches on education, safety, and our continued efforts to encourage all forms of sustainable transportation options.
That’s just a taste of the coming months in Springfield. I expect there will also be many hard conversations and negotiations on the budget, as the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget has already projected shortfalls for this fiscal year that have prompted cuts of $500 million in current year spending. Your responses to our district’s 2026 legislative survey will help in representing our community in those negotiations. It’s not too late to respond to the survey, if you haven’t already.
Summer Internships
Each summer, my office hosts paid part-time summer internships for high school and college students. We’re currently accepting applications for the 2026 summer class. Interns gain deep experience working in teams to research constituent and legislative issues, plan events, and engage with the community.
Our goal is to provide interns with a safe and supportive environment that allows them to apply their initiative, creative and critical thinking, and communication skills, all while serving their community and learning if a job related to government and policy is right for them. If you or someone you know is interested, send a note to request an application to: info@repyangrohr.com
Deadline for applications is February 28, 2026.
Below, members of the summer 2025 intern class at our state’s capitol.
Coffee & Conversation: This Saturday
Join us tomorrow for our monthly Coffee & Conversation! We usually talk about legislation flowing through Springfield, work being done in our district office, and anything else on people’s minds.
Please always feel free to drop by and chat or even just listen. This event is always one of my favorite meetings because of the diversity of views represented and the opportunity for all to learn from new perspectives.
What: January Coffee & Conversation
Where: 41st District Office, 475 River Bend Rd., Suite 500, Naperville
When: Saturday, January 31, 10:00-11:00 AM
Save The Date: Shred Day
It’s never too early to start thinking about document security. Save the date for our next Shred Event on Saturday, April 18, 2026, hosted with Senator Laura Ellman. We’ve scheduled this date to occur directly after tax filing season as a great opportunity to destroy documents with personal or sensitive information.
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