Dear Friends,

I am glad to be back talking to you about what's going on in Springfield. After a long summer and a long election season, the Illinois House got back to governing for what is known as the Veto Session. Veto Session this year spanned Tuesday November 6th through Thursday November 8th and Tuesday November 27th through Thursday November 29th.

The Veto Session is supposed to be the time that legislators consider the Governor's vetoes of bills from the previous January - May session. This year, the Governor issued either total, or partial vetoes on a wide variety of topics.

One example is legislation that was vetoed by the Governor would have raised the age to legally use tobacco products to 21 actually failed to overcome the Governor's veto. Supporters of the legislation argue that raising the smoking age to 21 would reduce public health concerns and lead to fewer lifelong smokers. Opponents, including myself, argued that people would simply travel to neighboring states to purchase tobacco products.

I am interested to know your opinion on this legislation, as the sponsor has indicated that she will likely try to pass the bill once again in January, when the 101st General Assembly begins its work for the spring legislative session.

WJPF Radio Interview

On Friday morning, I joined Tom Miller on the WJPF Morning Newswatch for a wide ranging interview. To catch up on the latest news and more please click the link below and have a listen!

Friday November 30 Interview with Tom Miller on WJPF

Hardin County Work Camp Bill

Although the Hardin County work camp is not in the 115th district, the facility is in Southern Illinois, and it is sitting empty, just rotting away when it doesn’t have to be. This legislation allows Hardin County to buy the facility for $1 from the State of Illinois. With the Governor’s signature, the property can then be used for public purposes, including the creation of a detention center. The local law enforcement officials have done a great job bringing this to legislators’ attention and worked very hard to get this measure moved during the Veto Session.

This is only a first step toward utilizing the property to its full potential.

Earlier this year, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department announced their intentions to reopen the Work Camp. Plans include opening a detention facility with the potential to house upwards of 100 inmates and create dozens of new good-paying jobs.

House Bill 3274 previously passed the Senate and House unanimously during the November 2018 Veto Session.

DuQuoin Celebrates Lighting Ceremony for Downtown Nativity

Stay Connected!

My office in Mt. Vernon is open Tuesday through Friday and my office in Murphysboro is open Monday through Wednesday and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. You can also contact me directly through the Contact Form on my website at www.repbryant.com or at [email protected]

Your opinions on important topics facing the State of Illinois are invaluable to me. Keep them coming!

Bryant E News August 19 2018

Dear Friend,

I had a great time and ran into many friends at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield this year. The State Fair in Springfield is always filled with plenty of news making events, and this year didn't disappoint. I am happy to report that two bills that I helped sponsor were signed by the Governor.

You can watch my video talking about Ag Day at the State Fair by clicking here.

SB 3072: The State Fair Board of Trustees performs a vital service to help guide the Springfield State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair especially. But, like many boards and commissions in the State of Illinois, it is not always easy to fill all the positions on the board that are required by the law. SB 3072 will trim the State Fair Board of Trustees from 20 down to 15. Every little bit of streamlining helps when it comes to the State of Illinois. Thank you to Governor Rauner for signing this legislation. I enjoyed Ag Day alongside State Rep. Dave Severin, Grant Hammer of the IL dept of Ag, and Congressman Mike Bost.

Governor Signs BLAZE PINK Hunting Bill

A big thank you again to Governor Rauner for signing legislation this week to legalize "blaze pink" in addition to blaze orange for hunting attire in Illinois. House Bill 4231 permits hunters to wear blaze pink clothing in addition to blaze orange. Both colors of clothing are equally visible to the human eye, however, deer are believed to be color blind to red and can see very little orange or pink.

The following information comes directly from the Governor's press release following the signing of HB 4231.

“We want to make sure that Illinoisans are able to hunt and enjoy the outdoors safely,” Rauner said. “The new legislation provides more variety in hunting gear while preventing tragic hunting accidents in Illinois.”

Blaze orange clothing has been credited for a reduction in hunting-related injuries and deaths. Wisconsin, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York and Virginia have also authorized fluorescent pink as an alternative color to orange.

"Blaze pink laws have already passed in several other states, so this change in the law sends the message that our hunting laws put safety first,” said Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, lead House sponsor of the bill. "This action gives the consumer a choice, and though I'm no fashion expert, I believe blaze pink will look good on sportsmen and women in Southern Illinois."

"As a lifelong hunter and supporter of the Second Amendment, I was proud to help sponsor this important safety measure," said Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, House co-sponsor of the bill. "Though I am quite partial to the color pink, the scientific research I have seen shows that people see the color pink better than the color orange. I am grateful that the governor recognizes the importance of hunting safety and that hunting is an important part of the culture and a tourism driver for Southern Illinois."

The initiative is supported by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2019.

Committee Hearings and Task Force Meetings - From Chicago to Springfield
In addition to my time at the State Fair for bill signings, I also traveled between the district, Springfield, and Chicago to attend Committee and task force meetings.

First up was a quick trip to downtown Chicago on Wednesday for a hearing on SB563. This bill deals with those who make false bomb or shooting threats. It has a component that would permit law enforcement to seek a mental health evaluation prior to releasing the adult or juvenile that makes the threat. This was a subject matter hearing only, so no vote taken on this bill.

At Risk Women's Task Force

It is my honor and privilege to serve as the Chairwoman of the House At Risk Women’s Task Force. On Thursday, we toured Lincoln Correctional Center to see first hand the special programming being conducted at Lincoln CC. Programs designed to reduce recidivism of incarcerated women. Big thanks to Warden Glen Austin and his staff for an excellent tour. Pictured here with members of the task force.

Stay Connected!

My office in Mt. Vernon is open Tuesday through Friday and my office in Murphysboro is open Monday through Wednesday and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. You can also contact me directly through the Contact Form on my website at www.repbryant.com or at [email protected]

Your opinions on important topics facing the State of Illinois are invaluable to me. Keep them coming!

Dear Friend,

This week there was exciting news on the campaign front. I have already launched my re-election campaign and just this week we secured two campaign offices, one in Mt. Vernon and the other in Carbondale. My campaign supporters will be going door to door to spread my message of traditional family values, fiscal responsibility, and standing up for your Constitutional rights. I am so humbled by the support that you have shown my campaigns in the past few years and I look forward to seeing you in your town very soon.

I take every campaign seriously, and I pledge to you that I will work hard to earn your vote once again in the upcoming November General Election!

TAKE THE PLEDGE - The Peoples' Pledge!
As you may know, I am strongly in favor of term limits, and I have fought against Mike Madigan and the Chicago-led progressive liberal agenda in Springfield. I have supported multiple pieces of legislation since taking office that would establish term limits for all legislators and constitutionally officers in the State of Illinois.

Yesterday I joined Governor Rauner and Representative Dave Severin, and two Republican candidates for the Illinois House in signing a pledge to the people of the State of Illinois. Here's my promise to you: 1. I have never, and will never vote for Mike Madigan for Speaker of the House. 2. I support Term Limits to stop career politicians and I will vote to put term limits on the ball for the people to decide.

Bryant Victorious in Race for 115^th District State Rep.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2018
Contact: State Rep. Terri Bryant - [email protected]

Murphysboro, IL – State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has declared victory in the race for 115th district State Representative. Bryant defeated her opponent Paul Jacobs in the Primary Election, and now moves on to the General Election contest.

First, I want to thank my husband Rick, and my entire family for staying right by my side during this tough and spirited campaign,” Bryant said. “I couldn’t do this without them. I also could not do this without the help and support of so many volunteers and supporters. I am honored to have earned the trust and the votes of the people of the 115th district.”

Bryant was targeted during the Primary Election campaign by a Chicago Super PAC, an independent expenditure group that poured hundreds of thousands of dollars of negative advertising in to the campaign both opposing Bryant and supporting Paul Jacobs. Bryant says she believes she was able to withstand yet another high-dollar, Chicago-funded negative campaign because the voters of the 115th district understand that she works hard to put the interests of Southern Illinois first.

“I’m proud to be from this area and I’m proud to represent the needs of the people of my district in Springfield. Despite the big dollars from Chicago that were spent to tell people otherwise, I actually do my very best to vote my district,” Bryant said. “In a Springfield that is sharply divided sometimes, I think the best thing you can do is remember who sent you to Springfield and why. I’m there to stick up for SIU, I’m there to stand up for our health care providers, our hardworking men and women that build our roads, work in our prisons, teach in our schools, and care for the most vulnerable. I believe the voters of my district appreciate that I’m always open and available to meet and discuss issues, and I try to put a premium on providing top notch constituent service.”

Bryant will now shift her focus to the General Election in November, where she will face Democrat Marsha Griffin of Jonesboro. Bryant handily defeated Griffin in 2016, by a margin of over 10%, despite the fact that longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan’s political organizations spent nearly $1 million funding negative advertising and paying for staff from Springfield in support of Griffin’s candidacy.

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