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In an effort to provide financial relief to critically wounded veterans and their families, lawmakers passed legislation to increase the property tax exemption for veterans with severe service related-disabilities. The proposal also expands the exemption to include homes donated to veterans by charitable organizations.
“We have an obligation to care for our wounded veterans, and this update will help protect veterans from unwarranted financial costs due to their injuries,” said State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D–Tinley Park), the Senate sponsor of the proposal.
The measure ensures that veterans with severe service-related disabilities who receive specially adapted homes from charitable organizations can access a property tax exemption. That exception is already available to disabled veterans who receive homes built with federal dollars.
Hastings passed the legislation to prevent veterans who have received donated homes at zero cost from falling victim to foreclosures because they cannot afford property taxes due to their fixed incomes.
“These homes are custom built to match the unique needs of each injured veteran,” Hastings said. “This specific change will help a family in Antioch who received a graciously donated home back in 2012, but have had to deal with an increased tax burden.”
In 2012, after suffering deliberating injuries in Afghanistan, Nick Mapson his wife, Jackie, and their children received keys to a new home in the Newport Cove community at the Chain O’Lakes near Antioch thanks to charitable donors and New American Homes Inc. The family was then hit with an unaffordable tax bill.
The proposal also expanded the Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Exemption to the spouse of a veteran killed in the line of duty and, to keep pace with rising property values, increases the benefit from $70,000 to $100,000.
Senate Bill 2905 passed both the Illinois House and Senate without opposition and is now awaiting Governor Pat Quinn’s signature.
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Latest state to outlaw “revenge porn”
SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to curb the growing cyberbullying phenomenon known as “revenge porn,” State Senator Michael Hastings (D–Tinley Park) passed legislation today that would make it a felony to share sexually explicit videos or photos of another person, without their consent.
“Unfortunately, there are situations where a jilted lover who, in act of vengeance, distributes an image or video that was made in private,” Hastings said. “And with the rise of social media, it is now easier than ever for those photos to be passed around like a dirty note in class.”
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MATTESON - Senator Michael Hastings (D – Tinley Park) recently joined Dr. Anton J. Fakhouri, M.D. as a part of the Chicago Medical Society's partnership with physicians in the South Suburbs.
The purpose of the partnership program is to increase awareness of how legislation and policy impact the day-to-day lives of physicians and patients. Hastings visited the Mokena Campus of MidAmerica Orthopaedics and completed rounds with Dr. Fakhouri to gain a better understanding of the work physicians conduct every day.
“The relationship between policymaking and medical practice impacts the well-being and quality of care for everyone in Illinois,” Hastings said. “By witnessing a day in the life of Dr. Fakhouri and the challenges he faces, I will be able to apply his practical experiences to my policymaking decisions in Springfield.”
If you want to learn more about MidAmerica Orthopaedics you can find more here: http://midamericaortho.com/
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CHICAGO HEIGHTS — State Senator Michael Hastings (D – Tinley Park) recently spoke at the mental health summit hosted by Prairie State College. He discussed recent cuts made to mental health in Illinois, the increasing amounts of mental health inmates in the Illinois Department of Corrections, the tenets of Senate Bill 822 and each citizen’s responsibility to civically engage in the community.
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