West Central Reporter

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) recently opposed legislation that "sets a dangerous precedent" by making changes and exceptions to the Health Care Right of Conscience Act (HCRCA), specifically for COVID-19 vaccines and testing.

Tracy voted against Senate Bill 1169, but it was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Nov. 8. 

"As the COVID-19 carve-out to the HCRCA moved through the legislative committee process, lawmakers witnessed an unprecedented level of opposition from Illinoisans," Tracy wrote in her Nov. 12 week in review update. "Nearly 85,000 witness slips were filed in opposition to the legislation, with one amendment receiving more than 54,000 opposing witness slips. Democrats ignored these residents, and together with the Governor instead said it is OK for people to be discriminated against in the workplace and even lose their jobs if they do not submit to the heavy hand of state government."

Tracy has opposed several controversial bills making their way through the state legislature and recently publicly spoke out against the Parental Notification of Abortion Act. 

"Of all the human relationships, there's none stronger than a bond between a parent and a child, and certainly while it lasts an entire lifetime there is no better critical event in the minor years when that child needs nurturing and support and counseling from the parents," Tracy said during an Oct. 26 news conference. 

During the summer, Tracy vocalized her objection to the proposed Democrat-drawn state legislative maps. 

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and we have the perfect example in the maps that passed Aug. 31 and the process in which they were created," Tracy wrote in a Facebook post. "Tell Governor Pritzker to keep this promise!"

She asked constituents who were upset over how the redistricting process was playing out to sign a petition and send the governor a message to have their voices heard.

Earlier this year Tracy also stressed the importance of school sports in a letter to Pritzker that encouraged him to allow for sports to resume in schools.

Tracy said sports help teach children "valuable life skills."