As State Representative, I was proud to be the chief co-sponsor of H.B. 1805, which changes the age to be an organ donor from 18 to 16, allowing a 16-year-old to be included in the first-person consent Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. This bill also allows the parent or guardian of the donor to amend or revoke the anatomical gift of the donor’s body. It is estimated that this legislation could add an additional 350,000 people to the Illinois Organ and Tissue Donor Registry and help save countless lives all across Illinois.

The office of the Illinois Secretary of State needs to be brought into the digital era to help reduce wait times for services. As Secretary of State, it will be my goal to start building the foundational technologies our state needs to thrive. I will focus on partnering with the brightest innovators and technology experts this state has to offer. Working with them will allow us to develop and implement new technology and innovative services that streamline processes, reduce wait times, and at the same time, protect your personal data.

By developing more services directed towards older Illinoisans, the Secretary of State’s office will be able to run more efficiently. From express service lanes at S.O.S. facilities, to more mobile services for seniors at senior centers statewide, to exploring a 2- or 4-year renewal process for our seniors, the success of the Secretary of State’s office begins with them.

I am passionate about reducing driving accidents related to distracted driving and developing better methods of teaching our young drivers the necessary precautions needed to be effective and safe behind the wheel. I believe in partnering with behind-the-wheel teaching professionals like “Tire Rack Street Survivor”, a hands-on driving experience in real-world situations. They use the student’s own vehicle to teach them about its handling limits and how to properly control their own, personal vehicle. This will help students better understand their vehicle, and they will also understand why they should always wear their seatbelts and should encourage their passengers to do the same.

As the chief librarian of Illinois, I will continue to work with the many great libraries across the state as they have become an ever-growing extension of our educational services. I will prioritize seeking additional public and private funding to make our libraries more accessible for all across the state.