Joyce applauds $850,000 in funding for local emergency vehicles

KANKAKEE – With support from State Senator Patrick Joyce, three communities in the 40^th District will receive funding for new emergency vehicles through the Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program.

“First responders are the backbone of our communities, and providing them with necessary resources is crucial for ensuring public safety,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This funding is significant for our emergency first responders so they can carry out their duties effectively and respond promptly to all situations.”

The Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program are designed to assist departments or cities in purchasing emergency vehicles that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

Under the FTRL program, fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments may apply for up to $350,000 in low-interest or no-interest loans for purchase of a fire truck or brush trucks. Under the ARLP program, units of local government and not-for-profit ambulance service providers can apply for no-interest or low-interest loans of up to $200,000. The communities in Joyce’s district receiving loans include:

• City of Kankakee: $350,000 (FTRL)
• Village of Crete: $350,000 (FTRL)
• Manteno Community Fire Protection District: $200,000 (ARLP)

“Without programs such as our Fire Truck and Ambulance Revolving Loan, many departments would have to continue to repair vehicles that are not reliable anymore and never be able to afford a new fire truck or ambulance,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “The OSFM thanks Governor Pritzker for his commitment to our first responders and safety of our state’s residents.”

For a full list of recipients, or to learn more about the loan programs, click here.

Joyce-backed law to protect farmers, farm mutual insurance companies

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce supported a new law signed Friday that will strengthen regulations for farm mutual insurance companies.

“Our farm mutual insurance companies need to have access to reinsurance in order to keep them up and running effectively,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This new law takes policyholders into consideration because they could also be at risk if catastrophe strikes.”

Prior to this new law, the Illinois Department of Insurance required unlimited catastrophic aggregate reinsurance coverage. Currently, only one company offers contracts that meet the DOI’s requirements, and as a result, many farm mutual insurance companies struggle to find reinsurance coverage.

Farm mutual insurance companies will now be required to have and maintain adequate catastrophic reinsurance rather than unlimited catastrophic reinsurance. This change ensures farm mutual insurance companies and their policyholders can continue to be protected from financial losses in the event of a natural disaster or other costly incident.

“This legislation strikes the right balance between protecting policyholders and ensuring the financial health of farm mutual companies,” said Joyce.

Senate Bill 765 was signed Friday and takes effect immediately.

Joyce supports ending moratorium on new nuclear facilities

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce supported a measure that will enable the state to explore new clean energy options and create jobs in the energy industry.

“When the moratorium is lifted, the state will be able to explore new nuclear technology, which will create new jobs,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This is another testament to our state’s goal to be a leader in energy production.”

Under current law, there is a nuclear moratorium in place that prohibits construction of a new nuclear plant in Illinois and bars the Illinois Commerce Commission from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a new nuclear facility.

Earlier this year, Joyce supported a nearly identical measure — Senate Bill 76 — which was later vetoed by the governor due to concerns that the bill would open the door to costly large-scale plants that could result in state bailouts to remain in operation. After weeks of negotiations between environmental and labor groups, the new measure, House Bill 2473, would still lift the nuclear moratorium, but it clarifies it will only be for small modular nuclear reactors.

“As legislators, we need to make sure Illinois evolves and is a leader in clean energy,” said Joyce. “If we are going to achieve this goal, it is necessary to modernize our policies.”

House Bill 2473 passed the Senate Wednesday and heads to the House for further consideration.

Joyce extends gun offense penalty

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Patrick Joyce passed the Senate Wednesday that would keep a law on the books to hold repeat gun offenders accountable.

“This is an extension of a law that has been in the books since 2018 to help crack down on gun violence in the state,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “The extension will continue to hold repeat gun offenders accountable for their actions.”

House Bill 1440 would extend sentencing for individuals with prior felony firearm related offenses through 2025.

The original measure – which has been in place since 2017 and was set to end this year – was first passed in an effort to keep communities safe from reoccurring gun violence.

“While we look further into the law, our state’s attorneys and judges should have it at their disposal,” said Joyce “What we should be focusing on is the potential impact this could have on public safety and our justice system. We want to keep our residents and communities safe.”

House Bill 1440 passed the Senate Wednesday afternoon.