DEERFIELD – Residents will be able to learn more about the property tax appeal process at a series of upcoming workshops presented by West Deerfield Township Assessor Andrew Richter in cooperation with State Senator Julie Morrison and State Representative Bob Morgan.

“High property taxes are one of the top issues I hear about from constituents,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We’re working on long-term property tax reforms in Springfield, but to provide some relief in the meantime, residents may want to consider appealing their property tax assessment to potentially lessen their tax burden.”

The workshops presented by West Deerfield Township Assessor Andrew Richter will be held at:

• Deerfield Public Library
  • Saturday, September 9 at 2 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 12 at 1 p.m.
  • Monday, September 18 at 7 p.m.
• Highland Park Police Station
  • Monday, September 11 at 6 p.m.
• Dickinson Hall – Lake Forest
  • Tuesday, September 19 at 2 p.m.

Registration is not required. For further information please contact the township assessor's office at 847-945-3020 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the General Assembly’s assault weapons ban:

“I commend the Illinois Supreme Court for taking appropriate action to ensure our state becomes safer. Military-style weapons designed for war have no use on our streets and in our neighborhoods.”

Senator Morrison first led an assault weapons ban bill in 2017. She was instrumental in the passage of the measure passed in January, which came just six months after she and her family ran for their lives during the 2022 Fourth of July mass shooting in Highland Park.

SPRINGFIELD – Expanding upon her previously passed legislation, State Senator Julie Morrison led a new law to prohibit pesticides on school grounds within 24 hours of students being present.

“Children are at higher risk for health effects from exposure to pesticides than adults because their nervous, immune, digestive and other systems are still developing, making them more susceptible to these pollutants compared to adults,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Keeping harmful chemicals away from children will protect them from a plethora of potential health problems.”

Morrison spearheaded a measure passed in 2021 that makes it illegal to use restricted pesticides within 500 feet of a school during normal school hours when children are present.

The law signed Friday – Senate Bill 1772 – prohibits the spraying of pesticides on K-8 school grounds in areas where children may be present during a school day, starting July 1, 2024.

“It’s clear that pesticide exposure is bad for children’s health,” Morrison said. “Today is the first step toward ending that unnecessary exposure.”

The measure was signed into law Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure – which was signed by the governor Friday – to fill a significant gap in current Illinois law by giving victims of doxing a voice in deterring bad actors looking to take advantage of the evolving cyber landscape.

“As technology evolves, so must our laws,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “The measure signed into law today is a positive step toward providing a necessary solution to the dangerous practice of doxing, both by helping victims and deterring future bad actors.”

To give victims of doxing the justice they deserve, Morrison passed House Bill 2954. The law allows people a civil private right of action against the individual who committed the offense. The victim will be able to recover damages and any other appropriate relief, including attorney’s fees.

Doxing is the act of sharing an individual’s personal information without that person’s consent and with the intent to cause harm to the individual whose personal information is shared.

“Today marks a critical step forward in the fight against online hate in Illinois. Doxing victims will now have a critical ability to hold their attackers accountable in the aftermath of unspeakable pain,” said David Goldenberg, ADL Midwest Regional Director. “Thank you to Representative Gong-Gershowitz and Senator Morrison for their tremendous leadership in pushing this bill through the legislature, to Governor Pritzker for swiftly signing the bill into law, and to our robust coalition of partners who activated at each stage of the process. ADL is committed to fighting hate on all fronts and the evolving online landscape is no exception.”

House Bill 2954 was signed by the governor Friday.