Senate Republicans Propose Measures Aimed at Making Homeownership More Affordable
For Illinois families struggling with the cost of living, some of the biggest expenses can be found right at home.
Buying a home is only one part of the financial challenge. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage costs, and utility bills can add to the ongoing cost of homeownership. Senate Republicans have introduced several proposals aimed at providing relief for both future and current homeowners.
Several of the proposals focus on property taxes. Senate Bill 3868 would double Illinois’ residential Property Tax Credit from 5% to 10% of qualifying property taxes paid on a taxpayer’s principal residence. Senate Bill 3849 would tie the maximum General Homestead Exemption reduction to inflation.
Another proposal specifically focuses on seniors. Senate Bill 4029 would eventually tie the income eligibility limit for the Low Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption to inflation, helping prevent inflation alone from pushing seniors beyond the program’s income threshold.
Other legislative proposals focus on costs beyond property taxes. Senate Bill 3848 would create an income tax deduction based on increases in homeowners insurance premiums for qualifying taxpayers.
Senate Republicans are also seeking to address the challenge of purchasing a first home. Senate Bill 3959 would create the Welcome Home Illinois tax credit, providing eligible first-time homebuyers with a $500 state income tax credit after purchasing a home in Illinois.
The package also includes Senate Bill 2687, the Home Utility Relief Act, which is intended to provide rebates for families struggling with utility bills.
State Senator Sally Turner says the affordability challenges surrounding homeownership do not stop once someone receives the keys. She says property taxes, insurance, utilities, and other household expenses can continue putting pressure on family budgets long after a home is purchased.
Senator Sally Turner says the legislative proposals approach home affordability from multiple directions, with the goal of helping first-time buyers become homeowners while providing current homeowners and seniors with relief.
Illinois Democrats’ New Taxes and Fees Face Legal Battle
Illinois families and businesses already face one of the highest state and local tax burdens in the nation, yet the Fiscal Year 2027 budget pushed by Illinois Democrats added hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes and fees. Now, three of the new taxes and fees are facing a legal battle.
The measures include a Digital Asset Tax, a Targeted Advertising Services Tax commonly referred to as the Digital Ad Tax, and a Social Media Platform Fee. All three were approved as part of the revenue package accompanying the FY27 state budget.
The Digital Asset Tax imposes a 0.2 percent tax on qualifying digital asset business activity involving Illinois customers. The Digital Chamber has filed a lawsuit challenging the measure, alleging that it unlawfully singles out digital asset transactions for different tax treatment. The courts have not yet resolved those claims.
Separate lawsuits filed by NetChoice challenge the Digital Ad Tax and Social Media Platform Fee, alleging violations of federal law and constitutional protections. Those claims likewise remain pending before the courts.
While the revenue from the Digital Asset Tax and Social Media Platform Fee, a total of $260 million, was included in the FY27 budget, Illinois Democrats didn’t even include the revenue from the Digital Ad Tax because they knew it would face a legal challenge.
State Senator Sally Turner says that fact alone raises serious questions about why Democrats would pass a new tax that they didn’t have enough confidence in its legality to rely on it for their budget. She says Illinois should be focused on reducing costs and creating a more competitive environment for families and employers rather than continually searching for new sources of tax revenue.
Senate Republicans Call on Attorney General to Investigate Alleged FOIA Abuse
Illinois Senate Republicans are calling on Attorney General Kwame Raoul to investigate concerns that the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) may be systematically misused in some cases to generate litigation and settlement demands for financial gain.
In a letter signed by the Senate Republican Caucus, lawmakers emphasized that their concerns are not directed at legitimate public records requests or the public’s right to access government information. Instead, they are asking the Attorney General to determine whether an alleged pattern of FOIA requests, litigation, and settlement demands constitutes misuse of the law and whether any of the conduct could rise to the level of fraudulent activity.
The caucus letter cites information collected by the Illinois Municipal League. According to the letter, 689 municipalities responded to an IML survey as of August 28, representing 53.2 percent of Illinois municipalities. Of those respondents, 41.2 percent reported FOIA requests increasing by more than 50 percent during the previous five years, while another 25.4 percent reported increases between 25 and 50 percent.
Lawmakers say they have heard from local units of government about repetitive or formulaic FOIA requests that are later followed by threatened court action. The letter says some of the entities involved are small fire districts, drainage districts, and townships with limited budgets and without full-time staff to handle requests and litigation.
State Senator Sally Turner says FOIA is an important transparency law that gives Illinoisans access to government records and that legitimate use of the law must remain protected.
She says the concerns being raised by local governments are serious enough to warrant an investigation and that taxpayers deserve to know whether FOIA is being deliberately exploited to create litigation and settlement opportunities.
The Senate Republican letter to the Attorney General can be viewed here.
AFSCME Files Lawsuit Over Choate Closure
The union representing many employees at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center has filed a lawsuit challenging the Pritzker Administration’s plan to drastically reduce operations at the Anna facility.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Council 31 filed a lawsuit in Union County Circuit Court alleging that Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) failed to comply with multiple state laws governing facility closures and access to mental health services. AFSCME is asking the court to intervene and halt the planned reductions.
In July, IDHS announced that Choate’s general residential units serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities would cease operations by September 30, 2026. The Administration also announced plans to phase out all 75 civil mental health beds at Choate by March 2027. While the forensic developmental disabilities unit is expected to remain, these changes will result in the elimination of a significant portion of the services currently provided on the Choate campus.
State Senator Sally Turner says the lawsuit adds to growing concerns about the Administration’s handling of major decisions affecting state facilities and the downstate communities that depend on them, particularly when those decisions involve the loss of state jobs, services and resources.
Earlier this year, the Pritzker Administration announced plans to eventually close Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln and replace it with a new women’s correctional facility in the Chicago suburbs. More recently, the Illinois Department of Corrections also announced plans to phase out the Clayton and Greene County work camps, along with the Dixon Springs and DuQuoin impact programs.
Legislative Ethics Commission Names Acting Inspector General
The Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) has appointed David E. Risley to serve as Acting Legislative Inspector General (LIG) beginning October 1, following the resignation of current Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey, which takes effect September 30.
According to the LEC’s announcement, Risley, who is a Certified Inspector General, has more than 30 years of investigative and prosecutorial experience, including serving as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney. He has also served as Ethics Officer for the Illinois Department of Transportation and as Legal and Ethics Advisor to the Office of the Legislative Inspector General. Risley also served in the U.S. Regime Crimes Liaison Office.
Under state law, the Legislative Ethics Commission can appoint an acting inspector general following a vacancy. The acting LIG has the same authority and responsibilities as a permanent inspector general and may serve until a permanent replacement is confirmed by the General Assembly.
The LEC announced that Risley will assume his new temporary role beginning October 1 while the Commission continues its search for a permanent inspector general. The position has been posted publicly, and the application deadline is currently set for October 31.
Upcoming Senior Fair in Lincoln
State Senator Sally Turner is partnering with State Representative Bill Hauter to host a Senior Health Fair at the Lincoln Park District Rec Center on Thursday, September 24, from 9 – 11 a.m.
