SPRINGFIELD – Homeowners and small businesses in suburban Cook County will see decreases in their property tax bills under a new state grant program that seeks to provide relief to school districts in highly taxed areas.

The Property Tax Relief Grant was included in the historic school funding reform law that has already provided millions of dollars in new state funds to school districts that need it the most. In the first year alone, the 39th Senate District received more than $8 million in additional state funding.

“Property taxes place a disproportionate burden on families living in school districts with constrained property wealth,” State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said. “Every child deserves an equal chance at a quality education, and I am glad we are able to offer a break for some of these families.”

Two local school districts will be eligible for the tax relief grant, including:

• Oak Park & River Forest District 200: $3,754,030.60
• Leyden Community High School District 212: $5,053,448.82

In order to receive the state grant, eligible school districts must submit an abatement resolution to their county clerks by March 30. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will then distribute the grants once receiving all abatement certificates.

More information on the Property Tax Relief Grant and a listing of each eligible school district can be found at www.ISBE.net/proptaxrelief.

CHICAGO – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) released the following statement today after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order ensuring that House Bill 40, which protects a woman’s right to choose in Illinois, will be enforced:

“I am thankful that, after years of hard work by advocates on this issue, we passed House Bill 40 and took what should have been an obvious stance: that women are capable of making their own decisions about their reproductive health.

“And today we affirm that those decisions should not be limited by income level or place of employment. With women’s reproductive rights under constant assault at the federal level, I am thankful we have a governor ready to actively defend them in Illinois.”

CHICAGO – Sixteen years after State Senator Don Harmon first introduced similar legislation, Gov. JB Pritzker today signed his measure requiring gun dealers to be certified by the state.

“When I first introduced a version of this bill in 2003, I thought we would be having this celebration a little sooner,” Harmon said. “This bill will help, but there’s more work to be done. I ask all of our dedicated supporters to remain in this fight."

The Combating Illegal Gun Trafficking Act contains provisions to better record and track private gun sales. It treats all firearm licensees the same, regardless of their size. It requires the Illinois State Police, rather than the state agency that regulates professions and occupations, to certify gun dealers.

Additional provisions in the bipartisan proposal include:

• requiring gun dealers to safely store firearms at all times,
• requiring gun dealers to make copies of FOID cards or IDs and attach them to documentation detailing each gun sale,
• requiring employees to undergo annual training about the law and responsible business practices, and
• requiring gun dealers to open their place of business for inspection by state and local police.

Harmon’s district includes portions of the West Side of Chicago, an area that has been plagued with gun violence for years. As of Dec. 23, the Chicago Police Department reported 555 homicides in Chicago in 2018.

“Gun violence is a complex problem, and no one law will solve it,” Harmon said. “But we know that other states that have enacted similar laws to this one have seen a reduction in guns used in crimes. I am grateful to Gov. Pritzker for signing this legislation into law.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) joined his colleagues on Wednesday to begin the 101st General Assembly by being sworn in to his sixth term as state senator for the 39th District.

“A new General Assembly offers us the opportunity to take a fresh approach to some of the most pressing issues facing our state, including gun violence, pension reform, environmental protection and passing a balanced budget,” Harmon said. “I am also proud to be sworn in to a Democratic Caucus that includes a historic number of women, with our caucus now 45 percent female. I hope we continue to stand for progress and equality in the years to come.”

Harmon will assume the title of Assistant Majority Leader and continue serving in President John Cullerton’s leadership team.

Senator Harmon’s website, which includes a link to contact him, is: www.donharmon.org.

Senator Harmon can also be reached at the following office locations:

Springfield Office:
329 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(p) 217-782-8176

Oak Park Office:
6941-B W. North Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302
(p) 708-848-2002

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement after a gunman shot and killed three people at Mercy Hospital in Chicago:

“I offer my sincerest condolences to the families of those killed, even though no amount of sympathy can bring their loved ones back.

“I especially offer my deepest gratitude to Officer Samuel Jimenez and the other Chicago Police Department officers who heroically responded to the scene and undoubtedly saved lives.

“While it is right to offer kind words and prayers following such a tragedy, these words begin to ring hollow when we find ourselves in a position to speak them on an almost daily basis.

“America is the only industrialized country that faces this level of gun violence. A recent report from the New York Times found one factor that sets us apart: the startling number of guns we sell and own.

“There is no easy, one-size-fits-all solution to our unique problem with gun violence. However, many politicians are so indebted to the NRA that they refuse to even start the conversation. In order to begin to stem the tide of the daily violence that plagues so many communities, we must treat gun violence as the public safety epidemic it truly is rather than accepting it as a fact of life in America.”