Illinois Senators Return to Springfield as the Final Weeks of Session Begin
After spending the last two weeks in our home districts addressing the needs of our constituents, Illinois Senators are back in Springfield this week to begin reviewing and debating legislation recently passed by the House.
There’s a running joke among us in the Senate that many of the bills that come over from the House arrive with a familiar refrain from their House sponsors: “Don’t worry — we’ll fix it in the Senate.”
In addition to considering bills that have advanced from the House, we will also deal with Senate bills that received extensions and we will start seeing some appropriations bills. All of this must occur before the General Assembly adjourns on May 31. As in previous years, the most significant task will be the passage of the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which covers the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
In February, Governor Pritzker proposed the largest budget in state history, spending more than $53 billion, despite a projected deficit. Even with full knowledge of these fiscal realities, there has been no talk of financial restraint or reform.
I will continue to call for fiscal responsibility that puts hardworking Illinois families first. This includes a top priority of cutting more than $1 billion in spending tied to the Governor’s programs for non-citizens.
Mayor Brandon Johnson Returns to Springfield, Demands More State Dollars for Chicago
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is heading to Springfield yet again this week, renewing his push for increased state funding for the City despite ongoing criticism from Republican lawmakers who say suburban and downstate taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for the City’s poor financial decisions. We are, after all, not the Mayor’s personal piggy bank.
At a news conference last week, Johnson announced his plan to meet with Governor Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch, and Senate President Don Harmon. He is expected to continue lobbying the General Assembly for additional funding to support Chicago’s public schools, transit systems, and other Chicago priorities.
In my opinion, Johnson’s return to Springfield is a political distraction from the real issues facing his city. Instead of tackling problems at home, I believe the mayor is trying to shift the burden to the rest of the state.
Taxpayers should not be left to once again bail out Chicago for years of financial mismanagement. Rather, the Mayor should focus on implementing real reforms instead of asking overtaxed Illinoisans to take on additional burdens that benefit only Chicago.
Legislation Supported by Wilcox Passes to Ease Regulations for Disabled People
Legislation I was proud to support this year that makes a state law less burdensome for people with disabilities recently passed the Illinois Senate with unanimous support.
Under current rules, disabled individuals (or their parents or guardians) are required to submit a letter from a doctor to the Secretary of State declaring that the individual suffers from a disability before they can be issued disability plates or parking decals.
Senate Bill 1256 is designed to reduce that burden by requiring the certification to be updated only once every 5 years, and it allows licensed physical therapists to be able to sign off on the applications, potentially saving individuals from an additional costly doctor’s visit. SB 1256 now awaits action in the House.
Illinois Farmers Back on the Roadways for Planting Season
As spring gets into full swing, Illinois farmers are hitting the fields for the start of planting season. With tractors, planters, and other large equipment on the move, drivers across the state are reminded to slow down, stay alert, and share the road.
Farmers across Illinois are working long hours to prepare and plant their fields, which means increased farm equipment on the roadways. This equipment often travels at much slower speeds and may take up more space than a typical vehicle. In many rural areas, narrow roads and limited visibility can create added risks during this busy time of year.
The American Farm Bureau Federation offers the following tips to help keep the roadways safe for everyone:
- Be alert and cautious. Give large farm equipment and other slow-moving vehicles space.
- Do not pass if you are in a space designated as a “No Passing Zone” or in any area where it is not safe to do so—intersections, bridges and railroad crossings, among others.
- Make sure the tractor isn’t trying to make a left turn before you pass on the left.
- Don’t tailgate.
- Be careful when you do get the chance to pass. Farmers will often move their equipment over when it is safe to do so.
Wilcox Events Calendar Coming Together
My staff and I are in the process of putting together a comprehensive list of outreach events for the summer and fall, and I wanted to share with you the events that are already set. This summer’s events kick off on Thursday, June 26 with an ICASH Unclaimed Property Event in Fox Lake. These ICASH events are incredibly popular, and my office’s running total for cash returned to constituents stands at $3,406,150.95! In most cases the recipients didn’t even know they had cash or property waiting for them!
Please mark your calendars now for these upcoming events and visit the Events page of my website regularly to be kept up to date about events taking place near you.
- June 26: ICASH Unclaimed Property Event, Fox Lake Public Library, 255 East Grand Avenue, Fox Lake, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- July 15: Conversations Untapped, Spirit Water Brewery, Distillery, and Taproom, 3300 Three Oaks Road, Cary, 5:30PM – 7:00 PM
- October 4: Senior Resource Fair, Grand Oaks Recreation Center, 1401 IL-176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00PM
Congratulations, Illinois State Scholars from D32!
I want to extend my heartiest congratulations to the 272 high school students from the 32nd District who were recently named Illinois State Scholars. I am incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding academic achievement of these bright future leaders. Being named an Illinois State Scholar is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence throughout high school. The honor reflects not only their talent but also their perseverance—and it sets the stage for a bright future ahead. Well done!
“Revitalize Main Street” Grants Coming to 32nd District Communities
I am thrilled to announce that over $2.67 million in state grant funds are coming to the 32nd Senate District to help revitalize main street/downtown areas. The Cities of McHenry and Woodstock and Village of Lake Villa are three of just 25 grantees statewide that are receiving funds through the program, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
The City of Woodstock is receiving a “Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery” (RISE) grant, which aims to accelerate economic recovery. The funds can be used for historic building preservation and renovation, to acquire land for affordable housing development, and for streetscaping and other critical infrastructure projects. The City of Woodstock is receiving $1,047,750 to renovate the Opera House’s Stage Left Café and its west annex as a reception and bar area, and for the installation of three dual-screen interactive kiosks on the Historic Woodstock Square to engage residents and visitors in music and art, holiday celebrations, cultural events, and Opera House and Stage Left Café performances.
The City of McHenry is receiving a “Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets” (RDMS) grant totaling $771,263. RDMS grants may be used for construction, repair, and modernization of public infrastructure and other amenities to boost jobs, improve quality of life, and stimulate economic activity. Specifically, the City of McHenry will use the grant to reconstruct Riverside Drive from Venice Avenue to just past Pearl Street in the City’s downtown district.
The Village of Lake Villa is also receiving an RDMS grant and will utilize its $855,013 allocation for the “Station One” project. Through this initiative, the village will acquire and develop a vacant fire station building and mixed-use commercial property and transform the land into a mixed-use development that includes commercial, residential, civic, and public recreational spaces.
These projects will bring temporary jobs and permanent improvements to key corridors in the 32nd Senate District and should also help spur economic development and growth and help bring new jobs to the area. I look forward to seeing these areas thrive once the projects are complete.
Public Libraries Awarded $1.3 Million in State Grants
I am also pleased to announce that more than $30,000 in state-sponsored library grants have been awarded to schools in the 32nd Senate District. The annual grants, administered by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, are aimed at supporting school libraries serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The 32nd Senate District allocations are as follows:
The resources and services provided by the grants include library books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs. School districts received $0.885 per student, based on the statutory formula decided by the General Assembly.