Illinois Valley Times

Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) shared information regarding his committee assignments in a Facebook post published on Wednesday.

"Agriculture is Illinois' #1 industry, so a strong pro-Ag voice is needed on the Senate committees that hear bills that affect this vital sector of the Illinois Economy," Chesney wrote. "For the 103rd [General Assembly], I will serve on both committees that hear these bills."

In a press release published on Wednesday, Chesney reported that he had been assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Environment & Conservation committees while also serving on the Financial Institutions, Labor, Public Health, and Appropriations- Public Safety & Infrastructure committees.

“It is a privilege to be assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Environment & Conservation committees,” Chesney said. “The 45th Senate District is home to an abundance of rich farmland that produces food for Illinois, the nation, and the world, and as lawmakers, we must protect this industry and those who work within it. I look forward to having a hand in the creation of policy that helps our farming families and agribusinesses, and halts measures that could threaten their livelihoods.”

“Legislation that could negatively affect agriculture is typically assigned to the Environment & Conservation Committee, so I am pleased to be the ranking Republican on this panel," Chesney continued. "Along with the other Republicans on this committee, we will be an important check on extreme environmental legislation. We will work to ensure environmental protection is done responsibly and reasonably, and not at the expense of the farm families and the greater agricultural community.”

On Feb. 6, Chesney wrote a post titled "The Phasing Out of Police Protections in Illinois." In it, he notes a slow diminishment in both the presence of law enforcement in Illinois communities and the weakening of the legal system meant to administer justice to criminals. He considers this to be a part of a larger, coordinated plan by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and other Democrats.

"The beginning of this coordinated plan dates back to 2020, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker quietly used his expanded executive powers to release more than 1,000 prison inmates from Department of Corrections facilities," Chesney wrote. "Some were guilty of serious crimes, even murder, that carried a life sentence. These prisoners were released in the name of COVID-19 safety, with no thought whatsoever given to the safety of their victims."

"The next phase took place in 2021, when Democrats passed the (un)SAFE-T Act in the middle of the night during a 'lame duck' session of the Legislature," Chesney continued. "The Act severely limits police officers’ ability to use force when apprehending a suspect, yet grants the accused expanded rights once they are in custody."

Chesney was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2022, leaving the Illinois House after serving there since 2018. He has served as an elected member of the Freeport City Council and has also been a prior board member of the Regional Access Mobilization Project (RAMP), which provides support services and advocacy for people with disabilities. He also once worked as a former mentor with Big Brother Big Sisters.