East Central Reporter

Homeschool advocates gathered in Springfield last Thursday to voice their opposition to House Bill 2827, which they argue imposes burdensome regulations on homeschool families. The bill mandates new provisions for homeschool programs, requires declaration forms to be submitted to local school districts, and establishes truancy punishments for non-compliance.

State Representative Chris Miller expressed support for the families opposing the bill, stating, "We are standing up against the radical Democrats who want full control over our children. The parents know what is best for their kids and they don’t want Chicago puppets telling them what to do. Going after homeschoolers is a new low for Illinois Democrats."

House Bill 2827 has been scheduled for a Committee Hearing next Wednesday, March 12 at 8:00 am. Witness slips indicate significant opposition, with over 20,000 opponents compared to just 479 proponents.

In related news on energy policy, Illinois faces potential electricity price hikes due to increased demand from technological hubs like data centers and AI centers. Current government plans call for reducing carbon-based fossil fuel power generation capacity, including coal and natural gas plants. Environmental advocates push for more solar and wind power but acknowledge these sources' reliability issues.

To address this, advocates suggest investment in high-tension battery systems to store large amounts of electricity despite concerns about their technological sustainability and cost implications.

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in Decatur recently suspended CO2 injections after discovering a second leak in a sequestering well. This follows the passage of SB1289 by Democrats earlier this year, allowing Illinois to create permitting regulations for carbon capture, transport, and sequestration.