Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) is hosting a Holiday Food Drive again this year. 

All across Illinois, House Republican legislators are hosting drives to collect essentials like food, winter clothing and more for individuals and families in our communities this holiday season. 

In this spirit of giving and supporting neighbors in need, please consider donating to a drive in your area: 

Leader Tony McCombie is hosting a Holiday Blood & Food Drive in Savanna on December 19.

Rep. Kevin Schmidt is hosting a Holiday Food Drive at his district office in Cahokia Heights December 8-10. 

From left: Rep. Dennis Tipsword, Rep. Nicole La Ha, Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro. 

Human trafficking is a hidden crisis that devastates lives. Often described as modern-day slavery, trafficking involves the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for sex or labor. While it thrives in secrecy, the data and survivor testimonies reveal its presence in communities large and small. Illinois lawmakers, advocates, and survivors are working to expose this crime and strengthen protections for victims.

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Illinois has reported over 10,000 trafficking signals since 2007, leading to thousands of identified victims. In 2024 alone, the hotline received 792 signals from Illinois, resulting in 385 identified cases and 627 victims. Of those victims, 83 were minors and 289 were adults, with the majority being women.

The risk of harm or death from overdose is a struggle that impacts families across Illinois, regardless of zip code, race or background. Synthetic opioids, particularly from fentanyl-laced substances, have been the primary driver of this rise in fatal overdoses. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois experienced 3,261 fatal opioid-related drug overdoses in 2022 and 2,855 in 2023. More telling is that since 2013, fatal overdoses from synthetic opioids have increased by 3,341%.

As families across Illinois prepare for the upcoming school year, the rising cost of school supplies is weighing heavily on household budgets. While other states are stepping up to ease the burden through back-to-school sales tax holidays, Illinois families are still waiting for relief.

State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Hanover Park) is fighting to change that with her legislation, HB1905, which would create a 7-day sales tax holiday on essential school supplies during the first week of August each year. The bill would provide real savings on items like backpacks, notebooks, calculators, pencils, and more—putting money back into the pockets of hardworking Illinois families.

At a press conference held today, State Representatives Tom Weber, Nicole La Ha, and Steve Reick called for urgent reforms to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Findings from the Illinois Auditor General’s July 2025 compliance report revealed 34 violations at DCFS, 29 of which were repeat failures. Also, the death of 18-year-old Mackenzi Felmlee in a foster home in Fairview Heights has raised serious concerns about accountability within the Department of Children and Family Services.

Rep. Weber, who chairs the House Republican working group on Sustaining & Protecting At-Risk Kids, said, “This isn’t about funding. It’s about a culture of mismanagement that continues to put children at risk.”

State Representative Nicole La Ha is leading the charge in how communities think about accessibility. Her work is rooted in lived experience as a parent, a neighbor, and someone who’s seen firsthand how hard it can be to navigate public spaces when mobility is limited.

Rep. La Ha’s advocacy is lived. Her daughter was born with cerebral palsy, and that experience reshaped how Rep. La Ha sees the world. She’s navigated the health care system, fought for better equipment, and watched her child face barriers that most families never have to think about.

House Republican lawmakers presented their legislative proposals today to bring light to human trafficking and the impact it has throughout Illinois. With Illinois ranking among the top ten nationwide for human trafficking cases, State Representatives Nicole La Ha (Homer Glen), Jennifer Sanalitro (Hanover Park), and Dennis Tipsword (Metamora) discussed the importance of putting forth viable solutions.

The definitive guide to the biographies of Illinois’ chief executives, The Illinois Governors: Mostly Good and Competent, describes the state’s 38th Governor, Jim Edgar, as “the right governor at the right time.”

Edgar, who served two terms between 1991 and 1999, held the office between the flashy, big-spending days of his predecessor and the scandal-tarred administrations of his two successors. Edgar was, according to the book’s authors, Robert P. Howard, Taylor Pensoneau and Peggy Boyer Long, “comparatively dull, yet popular throughout his two terms.”

Women's History Month has been an annual celebration in the United States since 1987, but its roots go back to a weeklong event in Sonoma, California, in 1978. The celebration was expanded to a month-long observance by Congress in 1987, to recognize the often-overlooked achievements of women throughout history.

Here in Illinois, we're proud to have several women stepping up to represent their communities in the House Republicans. These women bring a wealth of diverse experiences and a shared commitment to public service. They've made significant strides in healthcare, education, and economic development, showing us all what dedicated leadership looks like. Their hard work and advocacy have opened doors for future generations of women leaders.

State Representative Nicole La Ha (R-Lemont) has introduced HB2541, a bill working to ensure that individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome are fully recognized and eligible for developmental disability services in Illinois.

“Families caring for loved ones with Prader-Willi syndrome face unique and significant challenges,” said Rep. La Ha. “Right now, some individuals with this condition are being denied critical resources simply because the law doesn’t clearly recognize their needs. They deserve the same support and services as others with developmental disabilities.”

Human trafficking is a heartbreaking reality that’s closer to home than many realize. Across Illinois, countless individuals are exploited and abused in ways that often go unseen. In 2022, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 287 calls from Illinois, identifying 199 victims. And those numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. The true scale of this crime is hidden in the shadows, with many victims unable to speak out.

Human trafficking is an often hidden but pervasive crime that continues to impact communities across Illinois. In 2022, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 287 reports from Illinois, leading to the identification of 199 victims of trafficking, according to the hotline's data. These numbers represent only a fraction of the actual cases, as many victims remain unseen and unheard due to the covert nature of the crime.

Some might think that lawmakers are finished with their work once the legislative session ends in May. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact the work of legislators kick into high gear when they are back in their districts.

When State Representative Nicole La Ha is not in the state capital fighting for her constituents, she is in the 82nd District meeting with residents, business owners, civic leaders and those who support our most vulnerable. She is focused on learning about their efforts and needs so she can best represent them and all her constituents when she returns to Springfield.

Legislation co-sponsored by Illinois State Representative Nicole La Ha ensuring all children with disabilities receive the support and resources they need to thrive academically now awaits the Governor's signature.

When enacted, Senate Bill 3606 will create a fair reimbursement rate for special education day schools. The bill addresses tuition payment adjustments for children placed in separate public special education day schools. It adjusts state reimbursement rates going to public schools for high cost, high need, special education students. Currently, only public schools sending high need special education individuals to private special education schools get any reimbursement. With the passage of SB 3606, all school districts will be eligible for state reimbursement.

In December of last year, Illinois State Representative Nicole La Ha started her legislative service in the Illinois General Assembly. However her desire to serve her community began long before then. Her "heart to serve" emerged in childhood and has led her on a path to helping the most vulnerable in her community, first as a volunteer and then as an elected official. In 2020, La Ha was elected to the Homer Glen Village Board of Trustees. Three years later she was appointed to serve the 82nd District in the Illinois House of Representatives. As a lawmaker in the Illinois General Assembly, La Ha continues her strong advocacy for parental empowerment, putting people first when making fiscal decisions and improving inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

The Illinois House Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved State Representative Nicole La Ha's first bill which seeks to eliminate the statute of limitations for human trafficking offenses that involve children under the age of 18 years old.  Children account for 27% of all the human trafficking victims worldwide and the trauma they endure will last a lifetime. This legislation will provide child survivors of trafficking unlimited time to come to terms with their abuse and the opportunity to pursue justice in their own time. 

It is happening in our communities. Often in our own backyards. Modern day slavery, also know as human trafficking, is occurring right under our noses.

Human Trafficking is a crime of exploitation. Traffickers profit at the expense of their victims by forcing them to commit illegal acts, perform free labor, and/or engage in commercial sex. Victims can be of any age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, immigration status, cultural background, religion, socio-economic class, and education attainment level.

Protecting victims of human trafficking is a top priority for Illinois House Republicans during the Spring 2024 Session. The Caucus is fighting this epidemic head-on with a robust bill package that provides protections to individuals who have fallen victim to human trafficking. The legislative package includes bills sponsored by Reps. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore), Nicole La Ha (R-Homer Glen), Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Hanover Park), and Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont).

CORRUPTION

Madigan trial postponed until October. As pretrial work continues on the approaching corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, a court has granted a six-month extension with respect to the trial’s opening date. The federal court trial, originally scheduled to begin in April 2024, is now tentatively set to begin on October 8, 2024.

Senate Bill 188, providing important new protections for parents of children with special needs was enacted in the New Year. The legislation introduced in the Illinois Senate by Sen. Steve McClure and sponsored in the House of Representative by Rep. CD Davidsmeyer makes it easier for parents to access the health records of their children.

Under prior Illinois law, parents faced hurdles in accessing medical records and test results for children aged 12-17, resulting in challenges when trying to make critical medical decisions.