Photo of Chris Balkema
R Illinois Senate · District 53 On the 2026 ballot

Sen. Chris Balkema

Compare
Total votes
1,839
all sessions
Attendance
99%
15 missed
Higher than 78% of chamber peers
With party
97%
of cast votes
Lower than 82% of chamber peers
Bipartisan score
2%
crosses aisle rarely
Higher than 81% of chamber peers
Sponsored
404
bills & resolutions
Higher than 87% of chamber peers
Committees
7
assignments
404 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
404
Primary
74
Co-sponsor
330
This page
404
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Co-sponsor SB 2750
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
PROP TX-POLICE SPOUSE

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by the surviving spouse of a law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty at any time prior to the expiration of the application period in effect for the exemption for the taxable year for which the exemption is sought is exempt. Effective immediately.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2744
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
INC TX-EMPLOYMENT DISABILITIES

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who employs a person with a developmental disability or a severe mental illness, as certified by the Department of Human Services, during the taxable year is entitled to an income tax credit in an amount equal to 25% of the wages paid by the taxpayer to the person with a developmental disability or severe mental illness, but not to exceed $6,000 in wages paid during the taxable year to any single qualified employee. Effective immediately.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2745
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
PROP TX-DISABLED PERSONS

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that an applicant who receives the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities and who submits documentation by the examining provider that the applicant is totally and permanently disabled need not be reexamined to receive the exemption in a subsequent taxable year if (i) the applicant attaches the original documentation of total and permanent disability to his or her application in the subsequent taxable year, (ii) the exemption has not been deemed erroneous since the last application, and (iii) the claimant has not reported the claimant's ineligibility to receive the exemption.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2888
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
PAID LEAVE FOR ALL-STUDENTS

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include: (1) a student enrolled in and regularly attending classes in a college or university, who is employed for less than an average of 30 hours per week by an employer, and who is not a participant in an adult education and literacy program at that college or university; or (2) a student enrolled in and regularly attending high school classes, who is under 18 years of age, and who is employed on a temporary or less than full time basis.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2958
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEMS

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act and the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "agrivoltaic system" means a ground-mounted photovoltaic solar energy system that meets the following criteria: (1) the applicable farm plan and the system have been intentionally designed with agricultural producers, agrivoltaics experts, or both agricultural producers and agrivoltaics experts; (2) the system is constructed, installed, and operated to achieve an integrated and simultaneous production of both solar energy and current or future marketable agricultural products, including all products and activities described in the definition of "production agriculture" in the Use Tax Act and apiaries if the apiary is paired with another qualifying marketable agricultural product, by an agricultural producer; (3) the agricultural production of the system occur on land beneath or between rows of solar panels; and (4) the agricultural production of the system begins as soon as agronomically feasible and optimal for the agricultural producer after the commercial operation date of the solar panels and continues until decommissioning. Provides that "agrivoltaic system" does not include a system that has a pollinator habitat as the sole dual use of the system.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 3047
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
PUB AID-VA BENEFITS EXEMPTION

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, whichever is applicable, shall not consider veterans' disability benefits as countable income when determining an individual's eligibility for medical assistance, child care assistance, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Requires the Departments to apply for any federal waivers or approvals necessary to implement this income exemption.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 3017
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
DRAINAGE CD-ELECT COMMISSIONER

Amends the Illinois Drainage Code. In provisions concerning the election of commissioners in drainage districts organized under the Farm Drainage Act and certain other districts, provides that an adult owner of property in a drainage district is entitled to one vote per acre or part of an acre within each parcel of land owned by the owner and located in the district. Provides that, if a parcel of land is owned by more than one adult owner, only one of the owners representing all of the owners may cast a ballot for that parcel. Provides that the votes represented by the ballot shall equal the number of acres or part of an acre shown on the face of the ballot. Provides that, by casting a ballot, the voter certifies that he or she is the owner of the land or, when the land is owned by multiple owners, the voter casting the ballot certifies that a majority of the owners have granted him or her the authority to cast the ballot on behalf of all the owners. Changes the time that the polls may be open. Provides that the commissioners acting as the judges of the election shall not be responsible for determining the ownership of any parcel of land and may rely upon the representations of the person presenting himself or herself as the owner of the parcel or the person authorized by a majority of the other owners of the parcel to cast the ballot on behalf of all the owners. Makes conforming and other changes.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 3067
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
NEW MARKETS-CREDITS

Amends the New Markets Development Program Act. Provides that a credit under the Act may be transferred to an affiliate. Provides that the cap on credits is $37,000,000 for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2029. Makes changes concerning the allocation schedule. Effective immediately.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2382
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
INC TX-DONATIONS OF PROPERTY

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for a taxpayer that makes a qualified donation of real property during the taxable year to an employer that will use the property for the purpose of providing onsite child care to its employees. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to the fair market value of the property, as determined by the Department of Revenue by rule.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 53
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
LOBBYIST-OFFERS/PROMISES

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that a lobbyist or lobbying entity may not promise anything of value to an official, State employee, or a candidate for a State executive or State legislative office for the person's support, action, or inaction for a specific legislative action or executive action, including, but not limited to, campaign contributions, endorsement of candidacy, or any in-kind contributions supporting an official, State employee, or candidate for a State executive or State legislative office. Prohibits a lobbyist or lobbying entity from soliciting an official or State employee to violate similar provisions of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents the making or accepting of voluntary contributions otherwise in accordance with law.

In committee May 22, 2026 1 co-sponsor
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