The spring legislative session officially ended in the early hours of June 1. As your local lawmaker, I have been hard at work in Springfield over the past five months. Now, I am back in DuPage County and wanted to give you a quick update.
State Representative Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) pictured with Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) the first female party leader in Illinois General Assembly history.
State Budget Passed—Includes $1 Billion in New Taxes
A $55.2 billion state budget was passed, with support only from Democrats. Despite bipartisan concerns, it includes $1 billion in new taxes—on top of last year’s $1 billion in tax hikes. This budget increases spending by another $2 billion and brings total growth under Governor Pritzker to nearly 40% in just six years.
Some concerning changes:
- Education: Promised increases for early childhood education fell short. Some school districts lost property tax relief funding.
- Public Safety: Only 100 new State Police cadets will be trained.
- Direct care for people with disabilities will lose about 300,000 hours of service due to funding changes.
- A new $40 million program supports services for undocumented residents.
Chicago Transit Takeover Stalls—for Now
A controversial public transit bill backed by Chicago interests failed to pass. It would have:
- Shifted control of regional transit boards to Chicago
- Added a $1.50 delivery tax on nearly every item brought to your door—regardless of where you live
I fought hard to stop this unfair proposal and will keep working to protect suburban and downstate taxpayers if it returns later this year.
Good News: $10 Million Coming to Local Communities
I’m excited to announce over $10 million in transportation enhancement grants for our district. Projects include:
- New sidewalks and trails in Warrenville and DuPage County
- A new bridge in Blackwell Forest Preserve
These projects will improve safety, access, and quality of life across our community.
Looking Ahead
Some controversial proposals—like taxpayer funding for a Bears stadium move and legalizing assisted suicide—did not pass but could come back up this year. I’ll keep a close eye on these issues and keep you informed.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve. I am here to help, and I am always listening.
Sincerely,
State Rep. Amy Grant
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State Representative Amy Grant, is currently in her 3rd term as State Representative in the General Assembly. The 47th district is made up of several communities in DuPage County, including Naperville, Warrenville, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lisle, Carol Stream, Bartlett, West Chicago, Winfield, and Wayne.