I am thankful every day for the opportunity to serve as your State Representative. 2023 has been a year of adversity and challenge. Still, great progress has been made towards protecting our shared values. Below is a sample of bills that are now passed into law this year. Protecting women’s rights, standing up for working families and bringing resources to our district are at the core of my actions in service to you.
Protecting Minority Owned Businesses
House Bill 2089 requires insurance companies with assets totaling more than $50 million will be required to submit a yearly supplier diversity report including how the company achieved their goals and local/ state certifications that recognize minority-owned, women-owned, LGBT-owned, or veteran-owned business status.
Standing Up For Women’s Choice
The US Supreme Court dealt a blow to women’s rights with their overturning of Roe V Wade. In January, I voted to enact our interstate shield law protecting providers, patients, and people who help others access abortion and gender affirming care from licensure consequences and the reach of out-of-state investigations and legal actions. In July, we enacted the Deceptive Practices Related to Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act, which prohibits anti-abortion centers from using deception to interfere with a person seeking access to abortion. I will always stand up to protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.
Protecting Public Safety
This year, I voted for our annual budget which provides funding for body worn cameras, expanding training and initiatives to remove dangerous guns from our streets. Our system of highway cameras implemented under the Tamara Clayton Act continues to help keep us safe. This has proven to be an essential aid for law enforcement which has enabled them to identify and capture dangerous suspects, getting them off of the streets and away from our community.
Improving Public Health
House Bill 2039 creates stronger state and local partnerships when it comes to public health data, ensuring health departments can combat future health emergencies with greater efficiency and breadth of knowledge.
Pursuing Environmental Justice Goals
House Bill 2487 creates the Justice40 Oversight Committee to provide recommendations on how to meet environmental justice goals that deliver 40% of investment to communities disproportionately impacted by climate change
You motivate me to work hard each and every day on behalf of our community and I am looking forward to getting back to Springfield in January to continue building on the progress we have made. In the interim, I hope you and your family have joyous holiday season.
Sincerely,
Thaddeus Jones
State Representative District 29