Her landmark legislation - bills requiring mental health parity, MRSA infection control, improving the Amber Alert system and strengthening child support in Illinois - has been recognized on the national level. Last session, she co-sponsored legislation to create jobs in Illinois, to repeal taxes on business, and to address the state’s health care availability and medical malpractice crises. Recently she has worked on model legislation regarding school food allergy guides and a drug repository for low income individuals. She works closely with constituents and local officials to ensure their concerns are heard in Springfield.

Bellock has received state and national awards for her role in numerous community projects and serves on several local boards for groups addressing the issues of taxes, substance abuse, autism, human services, juvenile violence prevention, and the arts. She was named to the Center for Policy Alternatives’ Flemming Fellows and the Eleanor Roosevelt Fellows, two national leadership institutes that study and make recommendations on state and national public policy. She was appointed to the National Health Care Committees of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) in Washington, D.C. She also serves as a Midwest Director for the national group, Women in Government, and she chaired the Conference of Women Legislators in Springfield, a group of all Illinois women legislators.

The Illinois Manufacturer’s Association rated Bellock among the top five Illinois legislators because of her consistency on business issues. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce also recognized Mrs. Bellock’s support of state and local businesses by naming her a Champion of Free Enterprise. She was named Legislator of the Year by twelve associations including the Illinois Psychological Association and the Illinois Health Care Association for her long-standing commitment to improving long term care, health care and mental health in Illinois. Her focus on women’s issues earned her the honor of “Illinois Women Making a Difference” from the State Treasurer’s Office.

A native of River Forest, Mrs. Bellock graduated from Saint Norbert College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in History and American Government. She taught school in both Fairbanks, Alaska, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and served as vice president of a sports investment firm in the private sector. She and her family have lived in Hinsdale, Illinois for 36 years.