Representative Mike Tryon’s Legislative Accomplishments
Since taking office in 2004, Representative Mike Tryon has worked hard in Springfield and at home to represent the interests of the people of the 64th District, which includes parts or all of the following communities:

•   Algonquin
•   Barrington Hills
•   Cary
•   Crystal Lake
•   Fox River Grove
•   Huntley
•   Lake In The Hills
•   Lakewood
•   Trout Valley

His ability to listen and work with others has resulted in substantial legislative accomplishments in just four years. Known as a leader and consensus builder, Representative Mike Tryon has become a very effective and respected lawmaker in Illinois.

During the 2008 Legislative Session, Representative Mike Tryon served on the following State Committees:

•   Committee of the Whole
•   Environment & Energy
•   Environmental Health
•   Health Care Availability Access
•   Least Cost Power Procurement
•   Local Government
•   Smart Growth/Regional Planning
•   Mass Transit
•   Impact Fee Task Force
•   Environmental Quality Subcommittee
•   Foreclosure Subcommittee

Representative Tryon is in tune with the needs of his constituents and spends a great deal of time in Springfield working on their behalf. During the 2008 Legislative Session, Representative Tryon sponsored the following bills on behalf of the residents of the 64th District:

House Bill 4765: The Illinois Transparency & Accountability Portal (iTAP)
In an effort to end political corruption in Illinois, Representative Tryon took the lead by sponsoring this bill that addresses the “pay-to-play” culture which has become all too prevalent in Illinois. The bill increases transparency in government by establishing an easy-to-navigate website that residents can visit and look up all state contracts, all government expenditures including employee salaries, and all tax credits given to businesses through a searchable, user friendly database. The legislation received unanimous bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate.

House Bill 4766: Tower Coverage
This bill minimizes the number of cell towers located in any area by allowing every county the right to lease space on its telecommunications towers to public or private entities. The bill reduces the number of towers while simultaneously increasing the reliability of cell service for residents. This bill was soundly approved in both the House and Senate.

House Bill 4367: Closed Loop, Clean Groundwater
Representative Tryon, who has a degree in environmental science, sponsored this bill because he believes that unregulated closed loop well systems that are used for geo-thermal heating and cooling systems provide a conduit for groundwater contamination. House Bill 4367 requires the Department of Public Health to issue permits for the construction and modification of closed loop well systems. The bill also allows for a one-time permit fee of no more than $100 for these systems. Representative Tryon was approached by, and worked with, the Illinois Association of Groundwater Professionals on this bill. It passed in the House and is pending in the Senate.

House Bill 4635: Pawn Broker E-Accountability
This bill was sponsored as a direct result of a situation in District 64, where stolen goods from big box stores were being sold to pawn brokers, who then sold the stolen merchandise online. The bill requires that all pawnbrokers who use the Internet as a secondary outlet for selling goods record and report an accurate account and description of all goods, the time of all purchases and receipts, and the name and address of the person or business that sold or delivered the goods. The bill also provides that all records are not erased, mutilated or changed in any way. This bill is still pending.

House Bill 4768: Tax Reform Legislation
This bill allows the corporate authorities of two adjacent municipalities to divide the proceeds of certain retailers’ occupation taxes. It passed in both the House and the Senate.

House Bill 4767: Budget Reform Legislation
In response to the negative consequences associated with the budget stalemate caused by Governor Blagojevich in 2007, Representative Tryon sponsored this bill, which states that if a budget is not in place by the first day of the new fiscal year (July 1), appropriations equal to the prior year’s budget will take effect for the new fiscal year. The 2007 budget stalemate caused the House of Representatives and Senate to go into the longest overtime session in the history of Illinois. This overtime session wasted over $1 million taxpayer dollars, nearly caused a government shutdown, and forced schools and health providers to operate without promised state funding for a long time. The legislation passed in the House, but was stalled by Democrat Senate President Emil Jones in the Senate.

House Bill 5195: Municipal Boundary Line Agreements
This bill aims to help local municipalities plan for orderly growth by allowing the creation of boundary line agreements for unincorporated territory that is located within three miles of an existing municipal border. It has passed the House and is pending in the Senate.

House Bill 6655: Money for Local Road Projects
Because McHenry County is in desperate need of road money, Representative Tryon filed this bill, which is a creative step toward securing more funding for local road projects. The bill calls for the creation of a new state fund called the Local Transportation Match Fund, and revenue generated from county sales tax and supplemental motor fuel tax would be eligible for matching federal funds dedicated for transportation projects. The bill is pending.

House Bills 6644 and 6646: Mortgage Assistance
In an effort to stimulate the housing market and economy, Representative Tryon filed these bills to help potential and existing homeowners. House Bill 6644 would offer a 1%, or up to $2,000 tax credit based on the purchase price of a new home (principal residence). House bill 6646 aims to help those homeowners who, due to the economy, have found themselves upside down in their mortgage obligations. Much like government first-time homeowner incentives, HB 6646 would authorize $1 billion in bonds to be used to help struggling homeowners refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates. This bill is pending.

Previous General Assemblies (Tryon bills that are now Public Acts) Coming Soon