Hello everyone,
This week, the Illinois House is not in session. In fact, we don’t return to Springfield until March 18th!
Unfortunately, February was another slow month in the General Assembly. Multiple committee meetings were canceled, and very few bills were voted on. Hopefully, Illinois Democrats will come back to Springfield this month ready to get to work. Illinois families cannot wait for meaningful tax relief, energy cost relief, and more.
Upcoming Session Days:
- March 18-20
- March 24-27
Keep up to date with scheduled session and committee times here.
Watch session and committee meetings live here.
Back home, my office has been planning multiple upcoming outreach events for constituents. Stay tuned to future e-newsletters for more information as we get closer to the events.
Bad Bills
This session, Illinois House Democrats introduced two new proposals that would nickel and dime taxpayers, including:
- A new fee on campfires for families trying to enjoy outdoor recreation
- A carryout bag tax that would start at 10 cents and climb to 25 cents per bag by 2030, including on reusable bags
Piling on more fees is unsustainable. We should be rolling back taxes, not adding more. Hopefully, these two proposals will not advance in the House.
Update on Chicago Bears Stadium
One major anticipated issue in the General Assembly this year is legislation aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears here in Illinois. Last month, Indiana enacted an infrastructure bill to enable the Chicago Bears to move from Soldier Field to Hammond, Indiana. Senate Bill 27, which was signed into law last week, creates a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to potentially host the Bears.
While we expected floor action on a bill here in Illinois during last week’s session, lengthy debate in the Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee was ultimately unsuccessful after multiple concerns were raised about the bill by lawmakers.
This issue is likely to reach a boiling point over the next few months. Stay tuned for more information on this topic.
Response to State of the State and Budget Address
In February, Governor Pritzker gave his annual State of the State and Budget Address. After watching his address, one thing is clearer than ever: Governor Pritzker is setting himself up for a White House run. Unfortunately, Illinois citizens will only continue to suffer as the Governor remains far more focused on his national ambitions than the people he already represents.
My message to Governor Pritzker is this: Illinoisans are not a platform to boost your national ambitions. Our state is facing critical issues that need to be addressed immediately. Illinoisans cannot wait for relief from high property taxes, energy bills, and grocery bills. Illinoisans cannot wait for comprehensive legislation to overhaul the SAFE-T and TRUST acts, which are making our communities more dangerous.
Governor Pritzker’s lack of focus on our state is apparent in his proposed FY27 budget. The Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) is being slashed by $60 million, which will translate directly into higher property taxes for homeowners. The budget has increased by $1 billion in spending from last year, with an additional $728 million in new taxes, fees, and revenue enhancements. This is what happens when we have a Governor more focused on far-fetched Presidential ambitions than on impacting real change for the people of our great state.
Community Outreach
I attended the Associated Builders and Contractors Illinois Chapter Annual Gala. I was incredibly honored to be named one of the 2025 Merit Shop Legislative Champions!
I had a fun time visiting the Rochelle Flagg Township Museum! My team and I enjoyed an informative tour, along with good conversation with other community members who were in attendance. I encourage all interested constituents to stop by and visit this educational and fun local museum!
My office attended a ribbon cutting for a Brave Arts Creative Studio. This is a new business in Dixon that offers open studio, private lessons, and paint nights for families, adults, and children. This is a great new asset to our community, and I look forward to seeing constituents enjoy this space!
I attended the FFA’s Cultivating Connections in Agriculture event. Students made presentations and shared some of the great work they’ve been doing. I always appreciate seeing current FFA students thrive as they work to become the future leaders of our agricultural industry!
I want to give a very big congratulations to local barber Dick Dir on his retirement! I remember getting my very first haircut with Dick, who has been my trusted barber ever since. He has been serving our community for 61 years. Thank you, Dick, for your years of hard work! Hoping you enjoy your well-earned retirement!
Museum Pass
Are you looking to visit one of the incredible museums across the Chicagoland area? Utilize my office’s FREE museum pass, allowing admission to any participating museum for up to four people.
Reservations are required and must be made by completing our request form, which can be completed by clicking here.
Community Calendar
The Community Calendar is a great resource to view upcoming events throughout our community in one streamlined location. To access this calendar, visit my website or click here.
Please note that as state ethics laws apply to this site, event restrictions apply. For-profit, political, or personal events will not be posted. Final decisions on which events are allowed are made at the discretion of the Office of Rep. Fritts.
Talk to you soon,
State Representative Bradley J. Fritts