Hello everyone!
Welcome to my June 2026 Hear from Haas E-Newsletter.
My team and I have been working both in Springfield and at home to serve you.
In Springfield, we ended our 2026 Spring Legislative Session early in the morning on June 1st. As per usual, bills were held until the very last minute, leading to us voting on legislation until 4:30 AM. This is a continuous theme in Springfield, but it’s not the right way to do business. We should be given plenty of time to review bills and should never be passing legislation under the cover of darkness.
At home, we have a number of events coming up in July, including mobile office hours and a Pet Adoption Event! Learn more about these events below.
As always, please reach out to my office at any time! You can contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone at 815-523-7779. We are here to serve you!
Legislative Updates
I voted no on the FY27 budget because it is not a truly balanced or responsible budget. We have another record-breaking budget this year, with the largest budget in state history at a total of $55.9 billion. To make the budget balanced, Illinois Democrats are also raising taxes on working families by $800 million.
This constant tax-and-spend strategy is completely unsustainable. Families and seniors across Illinois are already at their limit, and this budget will only add to their burden. At a time when affordability is the top issue for Illinoisans, passing this budget was irresponsible.
This budget, which was passed with minimal time for review, also includes pork projects for Democrat member districts. To be clear, the majority party is giving tax dollars to district projects only in Democratic districts. That is just wrong, and I was disheartened to see this practice again this year. Every Illinoisan deserves to be prioritized and protected in our budget.
I will continue fighting for affordability, property tax relief, and a truly balanced budget for residents in the 79th District.
Pet Adoption Event
Join my office and Kankakee County Animal Control for a Pet Adoption Event on Saturday, July 11th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Kankakee County Animal Control, located at 134 Mooney Drive in Bourbonnais.
This is a great opportunity for constituents to meet multiple pets up for adoption and find a perfect fit. Stop by on July 11th to find the newest furry addition to your family! All are encouraged to attend.
This event is in partnership with Kankakee County Animal Control. Please note that constituents may not be able to bring an animal home directly from the event, but will be able to meet prospective pets and begin the adoption process.
Summer Reading Program
My office is proud to offer our sixth annual summer reading program this year! Students from Kindergarten to 5th grade can participate by reading ten or more books before August 14th, 2026. Books over 150 pages count as two books. All students who complete their summer reading will receive an invitation to an ice cream party and a certificate ceremony in late summer!
This program is a great way to encourage kids to remain active readers during the summer months, which is critical to ensuring a smooth transition back to school in the fall. I invite all interested students to participate and join our celebration for their achievements in late summer!
Once a student completes their reading, they can fill out their form and have their parents verify the information. Online forms can be completed by clicking here or visiting RepHaas.com. Paper forms are available at my district office, located at 187 S Schuyler Avenue, Suite 110, in Kankakee.
May Local Business Spotlight: Meineke Car Care Center
For my May Local Business Spotlight, I recognized Meineke Car Care Center in Bourbonnais. For nearly two decades, Meineke Car Care Center has served Kankakee County with reliable service. Locally owned businesses like Meineke help keep our economy moving.
In 2006, the current owner, William Perakis, purchased the shop from the original owner due to the already strong reputation and customer base. Since then, he has grown the business. This location is ranked as the number one Meineke franchise in Illinois, number two in the Midwest, and number sixteen in the country.
Meineke Car Care Center offers automotive services including oil changes, brakes, tires and wheels, exhaust and muffler work, A/C services, and tune-ups.
I am proud to recognize a business that not only takes care of its customers but also gives back to the community. They support local festivals, the race track, local car shows, Olivet Nazarene University, and Kankakee Community College through donations of both time and money. Their commitment to quality service, their employees, and the broader Kankakee County community is exactly why I am honored to highlight them this month.
Around the District & Under the Dome
Zonta 70th Anniversary
I attended Zonta’s 70th anniversary celebration event. Zonta does incredible work supporting women and girls across the region. Thank you for your continued work!
Kankakee YMCA Tour
I joined Kankakee YMCA CEO David Parker for a tour of their facility. He told me about their ongoing upgrades and what services they currently offer. I always appreciate the important work the YMCA does in our community, and look forward to seeing their completed upgrades!
Avitation Film Festival
I was proud to join in the celebration honoring a trailblazer in the aviation industry, Bessie Coleman, at the Aviation Film Festival. This year for Women’s History Month, I was proud to honor Bessie’s legacy on the House floor. Thank you to all who attended this wonderful event!
Historia Coffee House Ribbon Cutting
We celebrated the ribbon cutting for Historia Coffee House in Monee! We are all thrilled to have this delicious new local coffee spot in the community!
Kankakee County CEO Visit
It was my honor to welcome the Kankakee County CEO class to my office! I always enjoy supporting our next generation of leaders through our amazing local CEO program. Thanks for stopping by for the great questions and conversation!
Police Memorial
In Springfield, it was my honor to attend the annual Police Memorial. This is an important event that reminds us of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty in Illinois. I am always so moved by this display of support for our law enforcement officers and will never forget the brave men and women who risk their lives everyday for our community.
Serenity Health and Body Ribbon Cutting
Congratulations to Serenity Health and Body in Bradley on officially joining our local chamber of commerce! My office was happy to attend this celebration of a wonderful local business!
Catholic Charities Senior Fair
While I was away in Springfield, my staff attended the Catholic Charities Senior Fair. Thank you to everyone who worked on putting this great event together to provide more resources for our seniors!
GEDC Legislative Breakfast
The Grundy Economic Development Commission held their annual Legislative Breakfast yesterday morning. This annual event is a great chance for legislators to give an update to the Grundy business community about what is happening down in Springfield.
Firefighter Memorial
I attended the annual Firefighters’ Memorial in Springfield in honor of the brave Illinois firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This is a cause that means a great deal to me, and it was moving to see the support our firefighters received at the memorial. I look forward to continuing my work in support of our first responders!
Kankakee County Police Memorial
While I was away in Springfield, my staff attended the annual police memorial at the Kankakee County Courthouse. This is always an important time for my office to show our support for the men and women in our community who risk their lives to keep us safe every day.
Manteno Mayor’s Meeting
The Village of Manteno hosted a mayors’ meeting. Jorge Bonilla led a discussion about leadership, and Chief Swinford gave a public safety update. Thank you to everyone who helped put on this event!
Mental Health Awareness Fair
It was a great day at the Mental Health Awareness Fair, hosted by Riverside Healthcare and Kankakee School District 111! My office was proud to participate in this event, which offers mental health resources and information to our community.
Wellness Fest
My office attended a local wellness fest hosted by ILAN Life Education Center in honor of SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week! We were thrilled to see all of the other vendors promoting health and wellness in our community.
Fitness Personal Training and Nutrition Tour
I had the opportunity to tour Fitness Personal Training & Nutrition, which is scheduled to open later this summer. This new fitness space is located at 245 S West Avenue in Kankakee, and we are all excited to officially welcome them into the community!
American Cancer Society Luncheon
I was absolutely honored to be the keynote speaker at the American Cancer Society’s Survivor Luncheon for the Relay for Life Kankakee County event. This is an issue that’s personal to me, and I appreciated the chance to share my story and inspire others in the fight to end cancer!
Museum Pass
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.
Mark Your Calendar!
📌 July 8 – Monee Office Hours
Monee Village Hall | 5130 W. Court Street | 9 AM – 12 PM
📌 July 11 – Pet Adoption Event
Kankakee County Animal Control | 134 Mooney Drive, Bourbonnais | 9 AM – 12 PM
📌 July 22 – Monee Office Hours
Monee Village Hall | 5130 W. Court Street | 9 AM – 12 PM
📌 July 30 – Park Forest Office Hours
Park Forest Public Library l | 400 Lakewood Blvd. | 10 AM – 1 PM
Talk to you soon,
State Representative Jackie Haas
District 79