Wilcox Signs on as Chief Co-Sponsor of Successful Legislation that Enshrines Merit-Based Hiring Practices in Illinois
Last week I was proud to sign on as the Chief Senate Co-Sponsor of legislation that enshrines the practice of “merit-based hiring” in the State of Illinois. House Bill 1586 received a unanimous vote in the Illinois Senate on Thursday.
The Democrat sponsor of HB 1586 claimed her bill was an attempt to ‘Trump-proof’ hiring practices in Illinois, but as I read the bill, I believe it does quite the opposite. The Pendleton Act of 1883 is a nearly century-and-a-half-old law that formally established a merit-based system for federal employment and ended the spoils system where political parties rewarded their supporters with government jobs. I am glad we are taking similar steps for the State of Illinois.
Specifically, HB 1586 states that if changes occur at the federal level that affect the administration of major federal programs in Illinois, programs must continue to be conducted by employees according to Illinois’ Personnel Code. The bill also states that programs must be subject to a merit-based hiring system.
These efforts to enshrine merit-based hiring practices in Illinois align with President Donald Trump’s April 23 Executive Order, Restoring Equality of Opportunity & Meritocracy. The Order proclaims that it is a “bedrock principle of the United States that all citizens are treated equally under the law,” and that the principle “guarantees equality of opportunity, not equal outcomes.” It further promises that “people are treated as individuals, not components of a particular race or group,” and “encourages meritocracy and a colorblind society, not race- or sex-based favoritism.”
While I support efforts to prevent extreme actions within any level of government, I believe this bill does more to cement merit-based hiring than prevent any perceived problems members of the majority party believe may occur down the road. I was glad to sign on as the Leading Republican on this bill and believe strongly that enshrining merit-based hiring practices helps to establish a more professional, qualified, and stable public workforce. HB 1586 is now headed to the Governor for final action.
Wilcox Speaks at Ribbon Cutting for Senate Republicans’ 2025 Memorial Wall of Honor Display at Capitol
On Thursday I joined my Senate Republican colleagues for the official unveiling of the 2025 Memorial Day Wall of Remembrance, a tribute to the brave men and women from Illinois who gave their lives in service to their nation. Three of us in our caucus are veterans, and we were all offered the opportunity to speak.
Click here to view our press conference.
Located in the South Hall of the Capitol Rotunda, the digital Wall of Remembrance features a continuously looping display of photos and stories of fallen service members from across Illinois. It will remain on display for public viewing through Friday, June 6.
Since 2015, the Senate Republican Caucus has proudly hosted the Memorial Day Wall of Remembrance to ensure that the stories of Illinois’ fallen heroes are honored and remembered. The display is open to the public during normal Capitol hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The public is also invited to leave a personal message of thanks at the Remembrance Wall inside the Capitol. Together, these gestures ensure that Illinois’ fallen heroes are remembered with the dignity and gratitude they deserve.
Illinois Senate Republicans Urge Governor Pritzker to Protect Care for Vulnerable Illinoisans
Last week I joined the entire Senate Republican Caucus in calling on Governor JB Pritzker to protect critical funding that provides care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Illinois. In a letter sent Friday, Republican Senators urged him to fully restore a proposed $32 million cut to Direct Support Professional (DSP) service hours in Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs), where nearly 10,000 Illinois residents with IDD receive care.
“There will be lean years and there will be tight years, but every year – the state budget is a list of priorities. It is our duty as legislators to represent not just our constituents but all vulnerable Illinoisans who need our state’s help and protection,” the letter reads. “The IDD community has been pushed aside for far too long. This year you have the chance to prioritize them and make promised investments that help bring dignity and quality of life to these valued and vulnerable citizens.”
While the Governor’s proposed budget includes a 50-cent wage increase for DSPs, the Senate Republicans point out that the impact is undercut by the planned reduction of 900,000 service hours—the impact of which could eliminate an estimated 430 positions and result in a net loss of $32 million to the community-based care system.
I strongly believe the proposed rollback threatens the state’s progress toward meeting federal requirements and increases the risk of institutionalization for individuals with disabilities—a path many families have worked for decades to avoid.
Wilcox Legislation That Guarantees No Loss of Pay for Military Personnel Who Miss Work Due to Duty Sails Through Senate
Legislation I sponsored this year (House Bill 1362) that closes an unintended loophole in the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERA) sailed unanimously through the Illinois Senate on Wednesday and is now headed to the Governor’s desk.
Military personnel engaged in military service, including training events, National Guard work, or drill weekends, are guaranteed through the USERA not to receive a reduction in pay or benefits from their normal jobs due to their military service. However, instances emerged when individuals who worked shifts that crossed over the midnight hour and into a different calendar day were experiencing a disparity in pay. HB 1362 adds clarifying language to the Act to remedy the problem.
The bill is an initiative of the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission. It passed unanimously in the House of Representatives in April and will be sent to the Governor in the coming weeks.
Mark Your Calendars for Wilcox Outreach Events!
Don’t forget that this summer’s community outreach 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, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- July 23: Conversations Untapped, Rivalry Ale House, 945 Main Street, Antioch, IL, 5:30PM – 7:00PM
- August 16: Document Shredding Event, Office of State Rep. Steve Reick, 1072 Lake Avenue, Woodstock, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- October 14: Senior Resource Fair, Grand Oaks Recreation Center, 1401 IL-176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Legislation to Support Young Farmers Passes General Assembly
Legislation to help support the next generation of Illinois farmers has now officially passed out of the General Assembly.
Senate Bill 2372 establishes the Farmland Transition Commission, a new body within the Illinois Department of Agriculture tasked with studying and addressing the challenges faced by individuals aged 25 to 40 who are seeking to purchase or access farmland. The Commission will meet quarterly and submit annual policy recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly through 2031.
The Farmland Transition Commission will be made up of agricultural leaders, policymakers, and young farmers from across the state. The group will evaluate current programs and incentives and provide recommendations to improve land access, ease generational farm transfers, and support long-term success for new and aspiring farmers.
Senate Bill 2372 passed both chambers with unanimous support and now heads to the Governor’s desk.
Senate Republicans Unveil Plan to Combat Rising Energy Bills
With energy prices once again on the rise, Senate Republicans are calling for immediate action to protect Illinois families from even higher electricity costs in the future.
According to recent utility filings, Ameren customers are expected to see their average monthly summer bills rise from $37.62 to $45.98, while ComEd customers could pay up to $118.60 per month, up from $108. These increases are tied to the results of recent energy grid capacity auctions.
With families already stretched thin by rising costs for groceries, gas, and housing, Senate Republicans say it’s time for Illinois Democrats to get serious about energy reform.
To address the problem, Senate Republicans are pushing a three-part legislative package aimed at improving energy reliability and affordability across the state:
- Senate Bill 1234: Creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force, which would examine how state policies, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), are impacting energy prices and reliability.
- Senate Bill 1235: Repeals the forced 2045 closure date for coal and natural gas plants under CEJA and allows for the construction of new gas peaker plants to meet energy demand without fear of premature shutdowns.
- Senate Bill 1236: Cuts red tape at the Illinois EPA to fast-track permits for new power plants. One key example is the Lincoln Land Energy Center in Pawnee, which began the permitting process in 2017 and is now not expected to open until 2028 due to delays.
I am a co-sponsor of all three bills. Our plan will help prevent future rate hikes and ensure grid reliability by expanding access to dependable, affordable energy. Continued inaction by Democratic lawmakers and their refusal to acknowledge the clear link between these rate hikes and the policies they’ve supported is simply unacceptable.
In the meantime, Illinois residents are encouraged to visit the Senate Republican Caucus’ FAQ page to learn how they can reduce energy usage and soften the impact of expected summer rate hikes.