421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
Legislative Committee  
Final Summary  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Tuesday, December 12, 2023  
11:30 AM  
Room 3500B  
1.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Meeting was called to order by Chair Dawn DeSart at 11:47 AM.  
2.  
ROLL CALL  
Additional Board Members present: Member Yoo, Member Evans, and Member Deacon Garcia.  
Staff Present: Sheryl Markay (Chief Policy & Program Officer), Jason Blumenthal (Policy &  
Program Manager), Nick Kottmeyer (Chief Administrative Officer), Evan Shields (Public  
Information Officer), Conor McCarthy (State's Attorney's Office), Chris Snyder (Director of  
Transportation), William Eidson (Incoming Director of Transportation), Mary Keating (Director  
of Community Services).  
Guest: Greg Bedalov  
Guest via Zoom: Lobbyist Marc Poulos  
Chaplin, Childress, DeSart, Eckhoff, Galassi, and Zay  
PRESENT  
3.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
3.A.  
24-0091  
Legislative Minutes - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, September 26, 2023  
APPROVED  
Dawn DeSart  
Liz Chaplin  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
4.  
5.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No Public Comment received.  
CHAIR'S REMARKS - CHAIR DESART  
Chair DeSart thanked Sheryl Markay for the fantastic work she does for the Legislative  
Committee, commenting she couldn't do it without Ms. Markay. Chair DeSart also thanked  
Conor McCarthy and the Board Members on the team for being on the Legislative Committee.  
6.  
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS  
Amendment to the 2024 State Legislative Program to include language regarding mental health  
root causes, food insecurity solutions, and Karina's bill.  
APPROVED  
Dawn DeSart  
Liz Chaplin  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
6.A.  
LEG-R-0001-24  
Resolution to Adopt the County's 2024 State Legislative Program  
Sheryl Markay went over the 2024 State Legislative Program explaining the topics  
included in the program. Ms. Markay advised that she will be reviewing and monitoring  
the bills that are brought forth in the next session that align with the priorities outlined in  
the 2024 State Legislative Program and will task our lobbyists with supporting those bills  
in Springfield.  
Marc Poulos gave further explanation of legislation on the public transit system and  
placed importance around the governance structure. There was discussion regarding EV  
vehicles and recooping fees collected by the state. Mr. Poulos informed the committee of  
options that can be used to replace the motor fuel tax that would otherwise be collected  
from electric vehicle users. Mr. Poulos stated he has been appointed, by Governor  
Pritzker, to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation lnfrastructure Funding and  
Policy. The commission aims to seek out alternative funding mechanisms for projects and  
operations. The commission is also tasked with researching current and future workforce  
needs, safety improvements, racial equity, and how to expand multi-modal transportation  
networks.  
Member Yeena Yoo proposed an amendment to the 2024 State Legislative Program to  
include specific wording within the topic of "Keeping our Communities Safe" to state  
“Earlier this summer, Karina Gonzalez and her 15 year old daughter Daniela, were shot to  
death by Gonzalez’s husband Jose Alvarez, 12 days after she submitted an order of  
protection.  
Karina’s Bill would clarify the Domestic Violence Act to provide law enforcement clear  
directives on removing firearms from a home when an individual is granted an order of  
protection. This legislation is critically important as domestic violence is on the rise both  
in Chicago and across our state. Last year, there were 56 domestic violence homicides  
across Illinois, up from 40 in 2021 and 37 in 2020. Added to the rise in domestic violence  
is the proliferation of firearms across our state. In the US, intimate partner homicide  
represents 40-50% of the murders of all women.  
Right now, the order of protection process is failing too many domestic violence  
survivors, especially when firearms are involved. DuPage County supports passage of  
this legislation to protect victims of domestic violence.”  
Member Liz Chaplin asked for food insecurity to be added to the 2024 State Legislative  
Program.  
Member Grant Eckhoff would like to insert wording into the "Develop a Statewide  
Mental Health System" portion of the 2024 State Legislative Program that supports  
examining the root causes of mental illness.  
APPROVED AS AMENDED  
Dawn DeSart  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Michael Childress  
SECONDER:  
7.  
8.  
9.  
OLD BUSINESS  
Sheryl Markay announced that a Legislative Breakfast is being planned for late January. Ms.  
Markay also announced that ISAco is hosting a drive down to Springfield on April 10, 2024.  
NEW BUSINESS  
No new business was discussed.  
ADJOURNMENT  
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.