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 80% of chamber peers
With party
97%
of cast votes
Lower than 80% of chamber peers
Bipartisan score
2%
crosses aisle rarely
Higher than 80% 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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Primary SJR 12
Passed · Illinois Senate · Lead sponsor
IL ROUTE 66 100 YEARS

Declares 2026 as the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Year in the State of Illinois. Encourages communities, historical societies, and state agencies to organize commemorative events and educational initiatives to honor this historic occasion.

Passed May 27, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SJR 37
Passed · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
EMMETT TILL DAY

Maddy summarySJR 37 is a commemorative resolution that designates July 25, 2025, as Emmett Till Day.

Passed May 27, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 1352
Passed · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
MULTI-COUNTY VET ASSISTANCE

Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the Act to allow for the formation of multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions. Provides that veteran service organizations located in 2 or more adjacent counties having a population of 60,000 or less may enter into an agreement to come together and jointly form a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to serve the adjacent counties in accordance with the Act. Provides that a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission may also be formed under an agreement between an existing county Veterans Assistance Commission and a veteran service organization located in an adjacent county that is without a veterans assistance commission and has a population of 60,000 or less. Requires an agreement to form and maintain a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to set forth: (i) the distribution of funding with respect to each member county; (ii) the location of the Commission's office; (iii) the type of services provided; (iv) the superintendent selection or appointment process; (v) Commission rules and policies; and (vi) the composition of delegates and alternates on the Commission. Provides that multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions shall have the same powers and duties under the Act as Veterans Assistance Commissions that serve one county. Makes corresponding changes in the Counties Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Effective immediately.

Passed May 22, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SR 258
Passed · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Maddy summarySR 258 declares May 2025 as Jewish American Heritage Month for the State of Illinois. This resolution formally recognizes the contributions of Jewish Americans within the state.

Passed May 21, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2625
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
$AG-CROP INS REB INIT

Appropriates $6,100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for costs associated with the Crop Insurance Rebate Initiative to provide incentives for at least 1,000,000 acres of eligible land. Effective July 1, 2025.

In committee May 21, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1599
Passed · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
ELECTRONIC FILING-CHARITIES

Amends the Solicitation of Charity Act and the Charitable Trust Act. Requires the Attorney General to accept reports that are required under these Acts electronically. Effective immediately.

Passed May 21, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2311
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
FLOOD CONTROL-FLOOD PLAN

Amends the Flood Control Act of 1945. Requires, not later than July 1, 2026 and before the end of each successive 5-year period after that date, the Department of Natural Resources to prepare and adopt a comprehensive State flood. Provides that the State flood plan must: (1) provide for orderly preparation for and response to flood conditions to protect against the loss of life and property; (2) be a guide to State and local flood control policy; and (3) contribute to water development where possible. Provides that the Department shall adopt guidance principles for the State flood plan that reflect the public interest of the entire State. Requires the Department to: (1) designate flood planning regions corresponding to each river basin; (2) provide technical and financial assistance to the flood planning groups; and (3) adopt guidance principles for the regional flood plans, including procedures for amending adopted plans. Requires the Department to prepare and adopt a plan describing the repair and maintenance needs of flood control dams and prepare and adopt a new plan before the end of the 10th year following the adoption of a plan. Creates the State Flood Plan Implementation Advisory Committee to review the overall operation, function, and structure of the State flood plan and rules adopted by the Department to implement the State flood plan.

In committee May 21, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 134
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
ESTATE TAX-SPOUSAL EXCLUSION

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2026, if a valid election has been made under the Internal Revenue Code allowing a person to take into account a federal deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for the purposes of calculating the person's federal estate tax, then the person's Illinois exclusion amount shall include the Illinois deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for the deceased spouse with respect to whom the federal election was made. Effective immediately.

In committee May 21, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1219
In committee · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
FOID-REVOCATION-SUSPENSION

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Act to the contrary, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois State Police may not revoke a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a Firearm Owner's Identification Card may only be revoked after a Firearm Owner's Identification Card hearing has been held in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that if the State's Attorney of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked has probable cause to believe that the person who has been issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card is no longer eligible for the Card under the Act, the State's Attorney shall file a petition in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that at the hearing, the person may present evidence in his or her favor seeking retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the Illinois State Police and State's Attorney may present evidence for revocation. Provides that the hearing shall be a civil proceeding and subject to due process, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Illinois Rules of Evidence as adopted by the Supreme Court. Provides that the hearing shall be held within 45 days after the filing of the petition. Provides that if the circuit court determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person is ineligible for retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card under the Act, the court shall order the Illinois State Police to immediately revoke the Card and the circuit clerk shall seize the Card and transmit the Card to the Illinois State Police. Establishes procedures for the Illinois State Police to suspend a Firearm Owner's Identification Card Act.

In committee May 16, 2025 1 co-sponsor
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