Rep. Bunting’s Springfield news update for August 21
August 21, 2026
In this issue:
- Damage surveys for Ford County flooding
- Farm vehicle legislation signed
- IDOT hiring snowplow drivers for upcoming winter season
- Illinois headlines
Damage surveys for Ford County flooding
If you are a Ford County resident and your home, property, business, or belongings were impacted by the recent flooding, please take a few minutes to visit this link and complete a damage assessment survey.
These surveys are an important part of the recovery process. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) use damage assessments to evaluate the full impact of a disaster, prioritize assistance, and help support requests for a federal disaster declaration.
Even if you’re unsure whether your damage qualifies, please complete the survey and report it. Every response matters!
Please share this information with friends, family, neighbors, and anyone in Ford County who may have been affected.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Ford County Emergency Management Agency.
Thank you for helping document the impact on the community!
Farm vehicle legislation signed
I was very happy to see the Governor sign a bill I co-sponsored which would provide Illinois farmers with additional flexibility in transporting goods and allow larger, modern farm equipment on the state’s highways.
Illinois farmers feed the world and are the backbone of our state’s number one industry, but they have to be able to get their products to markets. This new law will make it easier for farmers to carry more products across our highways. This change was long overdue.
Senate Bill 3208 passed both houses of the General Assembly unanimously this spring. It changes the law to allow farm vehicles, known as “implements of husbandry” of up to 44,000 pounds on any two or more axles to operate on Illinois highways. The previous law limited these vehicles to 36,000 pounds.
The bill was supported by agricultural groups, including the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Soybean Growers’ Association. It goes into effect on January 1.
IDOT hiring snowplow drivers for upcoming winter season
I hate to even think about snow right now, but IDOT is already looking for snowbirds!
Yes, you read that right. Winter is coming eventually, and IDOT is looking for folks with a CDL to help keep our roads safe when the snow starts flying!
If you’ve got a CDL and wouldn’t mind picking up some extra work this winter, this could be a great opportunity!
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $1,350,202,483. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $2.2 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
Not partisans, but ‘statesmen’ in investigation of Ammons, says area lawmaker
Ford County: I-57 work at Big Four Ditch begins Friday
Eastern Illinois Foodbank announces food distribution in Iroquois County
