STATE REPRESENTATIVE · DISTRICT 79
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January 2026: Hear from Haas
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Hello everyone! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Looking back at 2025, I am proud of the hard work we've done both in Springfield and at home. I've worked alongside constituents, issue experts, and stakeholders to pass 4 bills and 3 resolutions through the Illinois House of Representatives. My office has also been active in our community by both attending and hosting events.
Looking forward, I will continue fighting for our community in Springfield. I have been hard at work with my team crafting good legislation for the people of Illinois. I've also been working alongside my district staff to plan another robust outreach schedule filled with events to serve the constituents of the 79th District.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if there is anything we can do to serve you!
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On January 20th, the Illinois House of Representatives convenes for our first day of the 2026 legislative session.
While it is still very early in the legislative process, we expect to see legislation in the following areas:
- Potential tax increases, such as the previously-proposed service tax.
- Energy-related policy to address anticipated shortages and strengthen our grid.
- Megasite project bills that aim to incentivize major sports teams to stay in Illinois.
- Immigration-related bills, specifically in response to federal immigration enforcement.
We are also hopeful to see movement on good legislation in the following areas:
- Property tax relief
- Public safety reform
- Ethics reform
As we continue our spring legislative session, I will be sure to update constituents about important bills and updates via this e-newsletter and my social media.
Want to get involved in the legislative process?
Visit ILGA.gov to read legislation, check a bill's status, view upcoming scheduled session days, and listen or watch session live.
To learn more about filing a witness slip, please click here.
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Help us share the love with local veterans this Valentine’s Day! Make a Valentine for a local veteran and participate in my office’s sixth annual Valentine’s for Veterans Drive by dropping off completed cards to my district office in Kankakee before February 12th. This is always a great opportunity for our community to come together and support those who served our nation!
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The Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds program administered by DCEO is being expanded to communities across Illinois. This program empowers municipalities and counties to finance major tourism, entertainment, and retail projects by pledging a portion of future anticipated increases to state and local sales tax those projects will bring. DCEO has scheduled a Technical Assistance Webinar on Wednesday, January 28 at 1:00 PM.
Register for the webinar here.
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The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is accepting applications for the 2026 DCFS Scholarship Program open to current and former youth in care. Applications are due by March 31.
Apply online here.
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Township Officials of Illinois Scholarship
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The Township Officials of Illinois Scholarship Application is now open! Illinois high school seniors who are attending an Illinois College or University are encouraged to apply by March 2, 2026. Please email my office at [email protected] or click the link here for a copy of the application!
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December Local Business Spotlight: Chicago Dough
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For my December Local Business Spotlight, I'm honored to feature Chicago Dough Company in Bourbonnais. Chicago Dough has been a staple in our community since they opened their doors in 1977. They work hard to support our community, provide delicious food, and ensure excellent service.
Chicago Dough Company first opened on September 15th, 1977. Current owners Tim and Emma Gordon purchased part of Chicago Dough in January of 2018, but have since invested into more “slices” of the business. They have over 40 employees and pride themselves on their low staff turnover rate.
One of the main reasons Chicago Dough stood out for this month’s highlight is because of their dedication to their employees. One of their employees has been working at Chicago Dough for over 27 years. That speaks volumes about the relationship they have with their staff, which should absolutely be celebrated!
Chicago Dough is located at 545 S. Main Street in Bourbonnais
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January Local Business Spotlight: Essential Smoothies
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For my January Local Business Spotlight, I am honored to recognize Essential Smoothies for their mission to make wellness more accessible in downtown Kankakee. Essential Smoothies Café is a great local spot that promotes wellness and health in our area. They serve vegan food, boba tea, wellness shots, and more.
Owner Denise Smith opened Essential Smoothies Café in July 2021. Her vision was to create a space for local residents that is healthy, welcoming, and fun. She also prioritizes offering a health-focused space in Kankakee that remains accessible to the community. Essential Smoothies Café is notably the only whole-fruit vegan cafe in Kankakee County, and they make most items in-house.
I also want to highlight Essential Smoothies Café’s efforts to go above and beyond for customers. When a healthy alternative isn’t available, the staff at Essential Smoothies will work hard to get it for their customers. They are also great about food sensitivities and allergies, with 99% of their food being gluten-free. Denise has made it her mission to meet her customers’ needs, and that absolutely deserves to be celebrated!
Essential Smoothies Café is located at 150 N. Schuyler Avenue in Kankakee. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM and on Sundays from 12 PM to 6 PM.
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Around the District & Under the Dome
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Steelfab welcomed my office for a tour of their facility. They showed us their operations and we discussed their concerns facing small businesses.
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Georgie's Closet Open House
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Georgie’s Closet hosted an Open House event at their facility. Georgie’s Closet offers necessities to children in foster care, such as clothing, shoes, diapers, and more. Thank you to the dedicated team at Georgie’s for your continued advocacy for children in foster care!
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Kankakee Valley Park District Tree Lighting
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The annual Kankakee Valley Park District Christmas tree lighting was a blast! This is such a fun, family-friendly way to kick off the holiday season!
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Crete-Monee High School NJROTC Area Managers Inspection and Ceremony
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I had the pleasure of attending the Crete-Monee High School NJROTC Area Managers Inspection and Ceremony. We are always proud to support our local NJROTC students as they continue their education! Keep up the great work!
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I attended the Annual Gallery of Trees event at the Kankakee County Museum. This event is always a great opportunity to see various groups, businesses, and leaders in the area come together in celebration of our community and the holiday season!
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Thank you to our generous community for showing up for this year’s Fill the Bus Drive toy drive! We were thrilled with the turnout, which will provide magic for local children through Toys for Tots this holiday season!
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Prairie State Policy Champion
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I was incredibly honored to be named as a Prairie State Policy Champion by Americans for Prosperity! I will continue fighting for fiscal responsibility and economic opportunity here in Illinois!
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Community Behavioral Healthcare Association's Annual Winter Conference
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I spoke at the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association's Annual Winter Conference. I was joined by my fellow legislators on a panel as we discussed access to mental and behavioral healthcare in Illinois, and the steps we are taking in the General Assembly to address this issue. Thank you to CBHA for welcoming me!
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City of Kankakee Tree Lighting
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The City of Kankakee’s annual tree lighting was a great event this year! We had so much fun attending and enjoyed bringing in the holiday season with neighbors and friends!
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Kankakee Chamber YPN Trivia Night
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My office attended the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce’s YPN Trivia Night. I am proud to say my staff helped secure a first place win!
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Burgers and Beer Ribbon Cutting
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Congratulations to Burgers and Beer on your official ribbon cutting in Bradley! We are all thrilled to welcome you to your new location !
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Looking to visit one of Chicago’s world-class museums for free? Utilize my office’s Museum Resource Card Request Form to request your card for up to four (4) people.
Submissions must be completed at least three days in advance of the date being requested. Click here to access the form.
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📌 January 21 – Monee Office Hours
Monee Village Hall | 5130 W. Court Street | 9 AM – 12 PM
📌 January 29 – Park Forest Office Hours
Park Forest Public Library | 400 Lakewood Blvd. | 10 AM – 1 PM
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Talk to you soon,
State Representative Jackie Haas
District 79
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