From State Senator Craig Wilcox:
Republicans Stop Harmful Legislation This Year
| When working from the position of the super-minority, much of our work as Republicans involves trying to stop damaging legislation that is filed. My Republican colleagues and I had great success with that this year. When the Governor presents his recommended budget in February, we get a glimpse of the proposals that could find their way into the final budget that is presented in late May. The Governor’s recommended budget included some very problematic priorities, including another reduction in the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) and the passage of a BUILD proposal that would remove local control on zoning and housing density issues and eliminate the very successful Blue Collar Jobs Act. I am very happy to report that our caucus’ advocacy on behalf of local units of government and working families stopped some damaging legislation, and improved several elements of the budget. BUILD Act The single issue that was at the top of the list of priorities for our municipal and other community partners was the devastation that would be caused if Governor Pritzker’s BUILD proposal was passed. A great deal of time was spent fighting back against the misguided proposals. I am thrilled to report that the BUILD bills did not advance during the spring legislative session. I applaud all of the community leaders who made their voices heard on this issue; with me, with other legislators, and with the Pritzker administration. Stopping these bills is one of the greatest accomplishments of this legislative year. Stripping of Local Control on Zoning IssuesOne of the most disturbing elements of the BUILD proposal was a measure that would take local decision-making authority out of the hands of local elected officials and place those decisions in the hands of state bureaucrats. I have always maintained that those on the ground at the local level are in the best positions to make decisions that affect housing density and community planning. Blue Collar Jobs ActThe Blue Collar Jobs Act, passed in 2019, was the product of a thoughtful, bipartisan agreement. Democrats and Republicans came together to modernize how Illinois supports job creation and capital investment. It has helped businesses expand facilities, modernize operations, and create good-paying jobs. These kinds of investments support contractors, suppliers, and local economies. Thousands of Illinoisans have benefited from good-paying jobs tied to the Blue Collar Jobs Act. Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) The Governor’s recommended budget called for another reduction in the amount of money that is sent to municipalities. These cuts directly lead to property tax hikes at the local level. The final budget has the LGDF percentage remaining the same as in the FY 2026 enacted budget (6.47%). While the LGDG is remaining flat this year, it still is, and has been since 2011, a broken promise by the state by not providing the full 10% of income tax received to local governments. I will continue to push for this promise to be made whole in future budgets. Education Funding The portion of the education budget that provides funds to a Property Tax Relief Fund was initially scheduled to see a $45 million reduction. Again, because of pushback by Republicans, the $45 million was restored in the approved budget. Confusing Credit Card Swiping Issue You have undoubtedly seen the television commercials about the confusion that would be caused by the credit card swiping fee law that was approved last year and was set to take effect on July 1, 2026. Due to significant pushback from lawmakers, consumers, and businesses, the effective date for the bill has been pushed back by another year. This should provide time to fix the issues within the bill that are causing confusion. |
