Photo of Chris Balkema
R Illinois Senate · District 53 On the 2026 ballot

Sen. Chris Balkema

Compare
Total votes
1,839
all sessions
Attendance
99%
15 missed
Higher than 80% of chamber peers
With party
97%
of cast votes
Lower than 80% of chamber peers
Bipartisan score
2%
crosses aisle rarely
Higher than 80% of chamber peers
Sponsored
404
bills & resolutions
Higher than 87% of chamber peers
Committees
7
assignments
404 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
404
Primary
74
Co-sponsor
330
This page
404
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Co-sponsor SB 3213
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that prescriptions for drugs in Schedule II of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act may be transferred only once and may not be further transferred, consistent with federal regulations. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the prescriber shall not be required to issue prescriptions electronically if the prescriptions need to be filled outside of typical retail pharmacy operating hours or may be difficult to obtain because of drug shortages or pharmacy inventory limitations. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 21, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 2951
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE TIME

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that any indebtedness of any kind that is secured by a mortgage or deed of trust in the nature of a mortgage has a 10-year period to commence an action. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that in any proceeding to sell or mortgage real estate, if the secured creditors cannot be satisfied in full, then the court shall not direct the sale without the secured creditors' approval to accept partial satisfaction; and if the secured creditors cannot be satisfied in full, a sale of the property is not considered necessary for the proper administration of the estate. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 21, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2137
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH

Maddy summaryHB 2137 makes a technical amendment to the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995. This bill specifically modifies a section related to the short title of that existing act.

Signed into law Aug 13, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 3510
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN

Amends the Children's Advocacy Center Act. Provides that Multidisciplinary Team members shall work together, share information, and maintain confidentiality throughout the investigative process. Provides that Multidisciplinary Team members shall coordinate, communicate, and keep nonoffending parents, caregivers, and their families aware of the status of child abuse investigations. Provides that Children's Advocacy Centers shall be (rather than may be) established to coordinate the activities of the various agencies involved in the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child maltreatment. Provides that every Child Advocacy Center shall include a multidisciplinary systems approach that includes all Multidisciplinary Team members as equal partners in the investigation of child maltreatment. Provides that an investigation into child maltreatment shall include a comprehensive interagency notification procedure for all Multidisciplinary Team partners. Amends the Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal Sexual Offenses Act. Provides that a multidisciplinary team member shall not reveal the identity of any child who is the victim of a criminal sexual offense or is allegedly the victim of a criminal sexual offense in a criminal proceeding or a related investigation, unless permitted by a court order. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that certain exceptions to the hearsay rule shall apply to prosecutions for physical or sexual acts perpetrated upon or against a child or youth who is a victim of trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and related offenses. Amends the Bill of Rights for Children. Provides that every child reported to the Department of Children and Family Services to be a victim of a physical act, trafficking in person, involuntary servitude, and related offenses has the right to a forensic interview. Provides that notice of this right must be given by investigative personnel. Amends the Bill of Rights for children. Provides that every child reported to the Department of Children and Family services to be a victim of a physical act, trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and related offenses has the right to a forensic interview. Provides that notice of this right must be given by investigation personnel. Makes other changes.

Signed into law Aug 10, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 5309
Signed into law · Illinois House · Lead sponsor
WILDLIFE CD-MUTE SWAN

Maddy summaryHB 5309 amends Illinois' Wildlife Code to explicitly exclude mute swans (Cygnus olor) from the category of "migratory game birds" that receive legal protection under the law. This change means mute swans will no longer be covered by regulations that protect migratory waterfowl like ducks and geese, altering how they are managed under state wildlife law. The bill directly affects wildlife management practices and hunting regulations for mute swans in Illinois, removing their previous protected status. This is a technical classification change in the law, not a new hunting season or policy. The bill specifies the exclusion in Section 2.2 of the Wildlife Code.

Signed into law Aug 7, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 4587
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
CHILD CARE DIRECTORS

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a licensed day care center may hire an individual who is in the process of completing the educational requirements set forth in administrative rules as an Interim Conditional Child Care Director for a period of 12 months. Requires the hired individual to provide documentation that shows that the individual is enrolled in courses that meet the requirements set forth in administrative rules. Provides that the individual shall be enrolled in an accredited college or university. Provides that during the 12-month employment period, an Interim Conditional Child Care Director with specified qualifications is exempt from the educational requirements set forth in administrative rules.

Signed into law Aug 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 3020
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-HARASSMENT

Amends the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Changes the definition of "harassment". Provides that the court may order the respondent to cease harassment. Establishes procedures for motions to extend plenary protective orders. Provides that the court may order the respondent to stop creating, using, and disseminating; remove; and delete the following harassing conduct: (1) any and all material or statements that constitute harassment, including, but not limited to, doxing, electronically generated or digitally altered content, and sexual private images and digitally altered sexual images; and (2) any and all electronic tracking or monitoring devices, system, or other electronic means, or tracking information. Provides that the court may order the respondent to present sufficient evidence that such compliance has occurred. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 to make conforming changes.

Signed into law Aug 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 3070
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
EDUC-FOREIGN LANG ALTERNATIVE

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that a public university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 5494
Signed into law · Illinois House · Lead sponsor
STROKE CARE MODERNIZATION

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Replaces references to Primary Stroke Centers with Stroke Centers. Provides that a hospital that no longer meets nationally recognized, evidence-based standards for Stroke Centers, loses its Stroke Center certification, or has any change to its designation level shall notify the Department of Public Health and the Regional EMS Advisory Committee within 5 business days. Requires the Department to consult with the State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee for the adoption or deletion of approved stroke designation levels. Provides that the approved stroke designation levels shall coincide with the stroke designation levels recognized by Department-approved certifying bodies. Requires the Department to establish reporting requirements for designated Stroke Centers to capture information using new or existing electronic reporting tools for statewide data collection and certification purposes. Removes provisions concerning previous Stroke Center designations. Makes other changes.

Signed into law Jul 31, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 4654
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
HUMAN TRAFFICKING-SIGNS

Amends the Human Trafficking Resource Center Notice Act. Requires that the Department of Transportation post a notice as required under the Act in all public restrooms of each roadside rest area.

Signed into law Jul 31, 2026 1 co-sponsor
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