East Central Reporter

Illinois State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) said he supports the "Parents Matter Coalition's" proposed referendum for the 2024 ballot. 

"I support the right of parents to know the kind of material being provided to them at clinics and at schools," Halbrook told East Central Reporter. "Children are not adults. If children need a parent's consent to go on a field trip to the Zoo, then they need parental consent when it comes to their healthcare." 

"If schools and clinics will not be forthcoming about the kind of material they are handing out to children, then we have no choice but to force them to do the right thing," Halbrook said. "School and healthcare personnel are not the parents of these children. They have no right to unilaterally make decisions on behalf of these kids without the parents' knowledge or consent. I support the “Parents Matter Coalition’s” proposed Illinois advisory referendum."

Parents Matter Coalition is an advocacy organization that aims to "help parents and the community reclaim and restore the rights for parents and guardians to parent their minor children, free from government overreach," according to their website. 

The proposed ballot language reads, “Shall the written consent from a minor’s parent or guardian be required before any entity, person, clinic or school can provide a minor (under the age of 18 years) any non-emergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical, or any gender modification procedure, gender identification, gender-affirming counseling or gender therapy?”

Halbrook was born in Pana, Illinois. He attended Lake Land College. Before being elected as state representative for the 107th district in 2023, Halbrook served in the 110th district from 2012 until 2015. 

Halbrook and his wife Linda have two children and one grandchild. They live in Shelbyville.