Welcome to Illinois State Senator Mike Halpin Legislative Website
Halpin moves to protect student free speech on college campuses
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SPRINGFIELD – In the face of fierce debate on the role of speech and protest on college campuses, and the federal government moving to influence university curriculum, State Senator Mike Halpin has pushed forward a bill to secure the rights of students, faculty and higher education institutions.
“We cannot allow pressures from the federal government or cynical political groups to suppress speech, free assembly and learning on our campuses,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “Higher education institutions serve the role of building knowledge and understanding of one another and teaching our young people how to tackle new ideas and skills. We need to protect the rights of students and faculty to ensure a safe, just and open learning environment for everyone.”
House Bill 4304 would protect the constitutional rights of students in higher education institutions and spell out further academic rights. These rights would include an inclusive and safe learning environment, accessibility, free expression and academic access, freedom of association and organization, peaceful protest, academic transparency, fair evaluation, educational records, protection of academic programs from political interference, career preparation, educational quality, due process, institutional accountability, financial transparency, refunds and withdrawals and right to transfer.
Halpin secures $69,600 for Potter’s Lake East boat launch
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ROCK ISLAND – State Senator Mike Halpin has secured grant funding to replace the boat launch on Potter’s Lake in Sunset Park.
“This funding is going toward practical upgrades on Lake Potter,” said State Senator Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island). “I am glad to see an emphasis on safety and recreation with this project. Riverfront development is key to building Western Illinois’ economy, and projects like this not only bring jobs but benefit the whole community.”
The grant project will replace the existing courtesy dock at the east boat launch on Potter’s Lake in Sunset Park with a new disabled-accessible gangway and dock system. The dock will be designed to adjust to changing water levels for year-round use. Handrails will be installed to improve safety and accessibility for boating, fishing and other recreational activities.
Halpin secures funding for Safe Routes to School in Macomb and Bushnell
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ROCK ISLAND – State Senator Mike Halpin has secured a total $350,000 for projects in Macomb and Bushnell as a part of the Illinois’ Safe Routes to School Program.
“Safety is a parent’s number one concern when it comes to their children,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “We advocated for these investments to make sure students in Western Illinois have a safe way to get to school.”
The $250,000 investment to benefit Bushnell-Prairie City Elementary will bring new construction and replacement of unsafe areas of existing sidewalk and installation of ADA compliant ramps at all necessary intersections. A $100,000 investment in Macomb is being implemented to develop a community travel plan. A community travel plan is a strategic blueprint to map out specific ways to improve pedestrian and bicycle travel to and from school. Several schools in Macomb will be involved in the planning including Macomb SD 185, West Central Illinois Special Education, St. Paul Catholic and Project Insight School
Halpin measure to keep track of Illinois student loan market passes Senate
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SPRINGFIELD – In the face of higher student debt for many in Illinois and across the country, State Senator Mike Halpin’s measure to keep track of the private student loan borrowing market has passed the Senate.
“With the Trump administration placing caps on federal lending for student borrowers, we need to keep track of where the Illinois student loan market is at,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “Monitoring student loan default rates and loans with cosigners will give us a clearer picture of how students are doing with their debt and what actions Illinois can make to assist them.”
Halpin’s measure would provide that the annual report to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation should include the total number and dollar amount – instead of the volume – of private education loans made annually by a private educational lender. It should also include the total number and dollar amount of private education loans made annually at institutions of higher education, the total number and dollar amount of private education loans made annually with a cosigner, and the default rate for the private education loans reported by the private educational lender.
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Welcome
Dear Friends,
Thank you for visiting my legislative website. It is my honor to serve the citizens of the 36th Senate District in the Illinois General Assembly. On this website, you can learn a little bit about me, my record in the General Assembly, and the services I can provide you.
I always welcome feedback from my constituents, so if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Senator Mike Halpin
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Office Info
Rock Island Office:
County Office Building
1504 3rd Ave., 2nd Floor
Rock Island, IL 61201
(309) 558-3612
(309) 297-4483 (Text)
Galesburg Office:
117 E. Main St.
Suite 103
Galesburg, IL 61401
(309) 297-4483
Springfield Office:
609 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-4307