OPPOSE THE LATEST GUN GRAB
We are in the final two weeks of spring legislative session in the Illinois House. This is the time when major pieces of legislation are passed, often in the late night or early morning hours. I would encourage you to stay involved, tune into session online at ilga.gov, and continue to share your views on policies that come forward.
That being said, there will be a vote tomorrow afternoon in the Gun Violence Prevention Committee on House Bill 4471, another gun grab by the Democrats that would ban Glock pistols in Illinois. I would encourage you to stand up and voice your opposition to this by filling out a witness slip here.
Witness slips are a vital piece of the legislative process. Before a bill is heard in committee, the chairperson will read who has submitted witness slips and whether they support or oppose the bill. This helps inform legislators as to where Illinoisans and organizations stand, allowing members of the committee to make informed decisions when voting.
AFFORDABILITY: HOUSE REPUBLICANS PRESENT SOLUTIONS
As Illinois families continue to face rising costs on everything from groceries to gas, House Republicans are renewing calls for commonsense policies that provide immediate relief and long-term affordability solutions.
Last week, Republican lawmakers (State Reps. Bill Hauter, Mike Coffey, and Brad Fritts) highlighted several proposals focused on putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Illinoisans, including eliminating taxes on tips, suspending the state sales tax on gasoline, and expanding educational opportunities for families.
I echoed those calls for relief saying: “Illinois families are stretched thin, and they deserve leaders focused on solutions instead of partisan politics. We should be working together to make everyday life more affordable, whether that means lowering taxes, reducing costs at the pump, or giving parents more educational opportunities for their children.”
Among the proposals House Republicans brought forward:
- Legislation to eliminate Illinois’ state income tax on tips, allowing service workers to keep more of what they earn.
- A temporary suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline to provide direct relief to drivers and families.
- Support for Illinois opting into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, which would expand educational opportunities for students and families at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Affordability continues to be one of the top concerns I hear from residents across Illinois.
Illinois does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. Families are making tough decisions every day because costs keep rising. State government should be focused on easing those burdens, not adding to them.
House Republicans continue urging Governor Pritzker and Democratic lawmakers to advance policies that prioritize taxpayers, affordability, and economic opportunity before the scheduled end of session.
For background: More than 30 states have opted into the Educational Choice for Children Act, including Democrat-led New York earlier this month.
BUDGET: WARNING SIGNS EMERGE
As budget talks continue in Springfield, new revenue projections are raising even more concerns about the State’s financial outlook and whether lawmakers will pursue spending restraint or yet another round of tax hikes.
This week, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) both revised their FY27 revenue estimates downward, further exposing the growing gap between state spending and actual revenues.
CGFA lowered its FY27 estimate by $190 million, while GOMB reduced its projection by $175 million. Updated FY26 projections also reflect continued instability, with CGFA revising revenues downward by $75 million while GOMB increased its estimate by $445 million.
Based on the revised projections, Governor Pritzker’s proposed FY27 budget is now estimated to be between $500 million and $900 million out of balance and that does not even include the Governor’s proposed $728 million in new taxes and revenue increases.
I had the following response:
“The real question now is whether Democrats will use the more realistic numbers coming from GOMB and CGFA when building the budget. They should. Ignoring the warning signs and spending beyond our means is exactly what got Illinois into financial trouble in the first place.”
I also warned that without spending discipline, Illinois families and businesses could once again face tax hikes pushed through in the final days of session: Illinois families are already struggling with affordability. The answer cannot continue to be higher taxes every time Springfield overspends.
For background, check out COGFA’s report: The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA.)
CRIME CONCERNS: 1 IN 12 DEFENDENTS AWOL
Nearly 1 in 12 criminal defendants released pre-trial on ankle monitors in Chicago have gone AWOL, and authorities have no idea where they are, even as some in the program allegedly go on to commit violent crimes.
Data from the Circuit Clerk of Cook County shows that 246 out of 3,048 defendants released pre-trial and placed on ankle monitoring are missing and aren’t actively wearing their ankle monitor. Several individuals released pre-trial have gone on to allegedly commit violent crimes, like Alphanso Talley, who’s accused of murdering Chicago Police Department Officer John Bartholomew.
Hundreds of defendants on pre-trial release through the ankle monitor program accused of violent crimes:
- 13 individuals charged with attempted murder
- 103 individuals charged with sexual assault
- 21 individuals charged with murder
- 173 individuals charged with aggravated battery
I issued the following statement in response to the Chief Judge of Cook County reporting that 8% (1 in 12) of people on electronic monitoring are currently AWOL:
“Electronic monitoring should not be a free pass for criminals. Improving public safety should start with revoking pre-trial release. Individuals charged with heinous crimes, especially attempted murder, sexual assault, and aggravated battery must be held accountable and victims must be prioritized and protected. As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to fix what’s broken.”
I filed legislation last month, House Bill 5757, which proposes a mandatory revocation of pre-trial release if offenders commit a new felony while out on electronic monitoring.
INCREASING EFFICIENCY FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION
I filed legislation in the Illinois House this week aimed at making the vehicle registration process more efficient and accessible for Illinois residents. House Bill 5767, would require the Illinois Secretary of State to provide residents with the option to renew a two-year registration sticker online, just as they can currently do in person.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has made improving customer service and modernizing office operations a priority, and this legislation builds on those efforts by identifying another commonsense way to make state government work better for the people we serve. For rural residents especially, having flexible, accessible options isn’t just convenient, it’s essential.
My legislation is designed to support ongoing modernization efforts within the Secretary of State’s office while eliminating unnecessary steps in the registration process.
Although residents currently have access to a two-year vehicle registration in person, the process online still involves annual sticker mailings. My legislation removes that unnecessary extra step while ensuring the streamlined process is protected in Illinois statute.
HB 5767 is awaiting consideration in the Illinois House.
SAVE THE DATE
There are several upcoming events for spring and summer! Check them out and mark your calendars:
