SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) announced this week he has successfully passed three bills through the Illinois House. The 118th district State Representative says he is happy to have earned the unanimous support of his colleagues on legislation to address multiple issues.
HB 2569 extends the sunset to allow school districts to hire substitute teachers to fill positions of greatest need. Windhorst says some school districts are struggling to find teachers for certain subjects, and his legislation would allow school districts to hire a retired teacher to fill in the gap.
“If a school can’t find a teacher to hire for a certain subject, this bill will allow the district to bring back a retiree after a longer period of time than they are allowed to now if they meet the criteria outlined in HB 2569,” Windhorst said. “This legislation will ultimately save school districts money by allowing vacancies to be posted online.”
HB 3881 will allow for farmers to transport agricultural products on two-lane state highways. Windhorst says the law is needed to remove uncertainty for farmers that transport agricultural products.
“Right now the law is a bit ambiguous, and that has caused some confusion for local police and sheriffs departments as to how to treat certain vehicles on local roads.,” Windhorst said. “The people working to move fertilizer, fuel, other materials necessary for agriculture purposes deserve certainty that they will not be ticketed for moving ag products from farm to farm on Illinois highways.”
If signed, those traveling from one farm property to another using a two-lane state road will no longer be subject to possible ticket and financial penalties. The bill would update the definition of “local roads” to mean state or local highway, except for interstates and state highways of four lanes or greater.
Windhorst also reports the passage of HB 3882, legislation that would expand the definition of ‘police vehicle’ to include airplanes, watercraft, all-terrain vehicles. and utility terrain vehicles (UTV).
“This legislation allows sheriff and police departments to put lights and markings on these types of vehicles to remove any question as to whether the vehicle is a police vehicle,” Windhorst said. “This is another piece of legislation that clears up some ambiguity in the law and assists our law enforcement units that operate these kinds of vehicles while in the line of duty.”
All three pieces of legislation await assignment to a Senate Committee. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn May 31.