Bill Text: IL SJR0032 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designates Interstate 74 east of US 45 in Champaign-Urbana to the Indiana border as the "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway".

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-4)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-31 - Adopted Both Houses [SJR0032 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SJR0032-Introduced.html

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate of the 103rd
General Assembly of the State of Illinois learned with great
sadness of the death of their colleague and friend, Senator
Scott Michael Bennett, on December 9, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bennett was born on July 16, 1977 to Dr.
Robert and Barbara Bennett in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where
his father was stationed in the U.S. Army; when he was an
infant, the family moved to Gibson City, where five
generations of his family have worked on their family farm; he
graduated from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School in 1995
and then studied history at Illinois State University,
graduating in 1998; he then attended law school at the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduating in 2002;
and
WHEREAS, Though Senator Bennett could have pursued a
high-paying career in corporate law, he returned to his roots
and the central Illinois community he treasured, working as an
assistant state's attorney in Bloomington-Normal and then in
Champaign-Urbana; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bennett joined the Senate in 2015 as the
unanimous choice to fill the vacancy created when Michael W.

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Frerichs was sworn in as the Illinois State Treasurer after
serving the 52nd District for eight years; and
WHEREAS, Immediately after his appointment to the Senate,
Senator Bennett's first act as sitting state senator was to
drive to Danville to meet with Vermilion County and Danville
officials to discuss how they could work together to spur
economic development in the region; and
WHEREAS, As the chair of the Senate's Higher Education
Committee for the last two years, Senator Bennett fought to
provide Illinois' students with the opportunity to be
successful; he worked to secure resources for the University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Parkland College, Danville Area
Community College, and all of the State's higher education
facilities by advocating for additional funding for need-based
tuition assistance, lowering tuition costs and fees, and
preventing licensing boards from denying and revoking or
suspending individual professional licenses due to student
loan default in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bennett's love for his family farm was
evident in the active role he played as the chair of the
Agriculture Committee for two years; he even sought a
commercial driver's license so he could haul grain in a
semi-truck to the area grain elevator from his family's

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centennial farm during harvest; he could be found returning
calls, participating in weekly team meeting calls, negotiating
legislation, and much more in the name of service to the
constituents of the 52nd District while waiting for the truck
to be loaded; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bennett's absence has left a big Scott
Bennett-sized hole in our hearts forever; we can honor him by
taking the time to find common ground, being kind to our
neighbors, and doing our best to leave the world a brighter and
more compassionate place; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bennett prioritized service above self
and deeply cared for the 52nd State Senate District; however,
his greatest love was for his family, his wife of 20 years,
Stacy, and his children, Sam and Emma, who served as his rock
and heart in every action he took; he would often forgo staying
in Springfield after long session days to go home and be with
his family; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bennett dedicated his life to public
service and giving back to his community, particularly
Champaign and Vermilion counties; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bennett believed in the spirit of
bipartisanship and providing full representation for all

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communities, whether they agreed with him or not, which led to
him spending many hours driving between the Champaign-Urbana
and the Danville area and throughout the 52nd Legislative
District; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate
Interstate 74 east of US 45 in Champaign-Urbana to the Indiana
border as the "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway"; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
giving notice of the name "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial
Highway"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to the family of Senator Bennett, his wife of 20
years, former Senator Stacy Bennett, and his children, Sam and
Emma, as an expression of our sincerest condolences for the
loss of their loved one and our dear friend.