SPRINGFIELD – When 7th grade student Gentry Heiple of Carterville approached State Rep. Dave Severin with an idea for a new law, he began a journey that now includes a visit to the State Capitol in Springfield to serve as a Page for a Day.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know Gentry and his mom and dad through this process,” Severin said. “Gentry is an animal enthusiast, and came to me with an idea to designate the Eastern Milksnake as the state’s official snake.”
Gentry joined Rep. Severin for the presentation of HB 4821 to the House State Government Administration Committee in mid-February. The committee granted unanimous consent, which put the bill in the House where it received unanimous support as well.
“I want thank Gentry for bringing me the idea for this legislation, and allowing me the opportunity to work with him to demonstrate how a bill becomes a law,” Severin said. “I want to also thank Gentry’s parents Tim and Lindsay Stockhecke for bringing Gentry to Springfield to serve as my page for a day in the House. Gentry has a very bright future!”
Last week, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed HB 4821. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor JB Pritzker.