NW Illinois News

State Representative Bradley Fritts expressed concerns regarding Senate Bill 867, stating, "I am not outwardly opposed to conversations regarding honoring an agreement made in 1829, but there are many glaring issues with this legislation that this bill’s sponsor never addressed." He made the statement in a January 7 Facebook post.

"I am deeply concerned with the passage of Senate Bill 867," said J Fritts, according to Facebook. "I am not outwardly opposed to conversations regarding honoring an agreement made in 1829, but there are many glaring issues with this legislation that this bill's sponsor never addressed. I am immensely frustrated that this bill's sponsor, who lives three counties away from Shabbona State Park, refused to listen to the voices of people actually living in this community. As the State Representative for this area, I had many in-depth conversations with Shabbona residents and released a survey for my constituents on this issue."

Senate Bill 867 authorizes the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to convey Shabbona Lake and State Park to the Prairie Band of the Potawatomi Nation. The bill was originally filed by Senator Don Harmon in 2024. It passed the state senate in May 2024 and moved to the House of Representatives on May 26, 2024, where it passed on January 7. According to the legislature's webpage focused on the legislation, it has an immediate effective date.

Screenshot of State Rep. Bradley Fritts' Jan. 7 Facebook post | State Representative Bradley Fritts' Facebook page

According to The Center Square, sponsors of the bill, including Representative Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago), say that the land in DeKalb County was seized and auctioned illegally by the U.S. government. The report noted that Guzzardi does not represent the district where Shabbona Lake State Park is located.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation provided a statement to The Center Square regarding the bill’s passage. "With this historic vote, Illinois has taken a meaningful step toward righting that wrong. We are deeply grateful for the leadership, dedication and commitment of the Illinois Legislature and the many individuals who worked tirelessly to make this possible," said Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph "Zeke" Rupnick.

Fritts' concerns focus on protection for landowners living on property included in the land agreement and regulation of development that may or may not be permitted. "The bill also does not address that the State of Illinois is giving away a State Park, worth tens of millions of dollars, without regard for the taxpayer or residents who utilize the park," Fritts wrote. He further criticized what he described as political motivations behind passing such significant legislation without adequate consideration for local residents and taxpayers.

Bradley Fritts is the State Representative for District 74 and took office in January 2023. A lifelong resident of Illinois, he works as a substitute teacher and farms with his family when not in Springfield. He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural and consumer economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.