News From State Representative Dan Ugaste – October 9, 2025

As many of you may have noticed, I did not send many newsletters during September. This was due to my schedule. However, as many of you have mentioned how much you appreciate these weekly updates and the information provided, I wanted to send you a "Supplemental Newsletter" catching you up on what happened in our state.

CRIMINAL LAW

Governor Pritzker Had a Bad Month

WGN revealed that the Illinois Department of Corrections has not been able to compute recidivism rates since 2022. Put simply, the agency has no idea how many recently released inmates have gone on to commit new crimes. It's the latest example of mismanagement under the Pritzker Administration.

Since August 3rd, Governor Pritzker has been involved in or his administration has:

● He signed SB 328, that will unleash a tidal wave of frivolous lawsuits that will hurt Illinois businesses.

● He signed HB 3125, allowing illegal immigrants to become driving instructors.

● He signed HB 460, giving illegal immigrants taxpayer-funded college aid while hardworking Illinois students could be left behind.

● The Governor claimed his policies have made Illinois safer, but his record tells another story.

● After more than 50 people were shot over Labor Day weekend, he brushed it off, saying, "Look, big cities have crime."

● The Illinois State Board of Education lowered academic standards, making students seem more proficient, despite the fact that in 2024 only 41% of 3rd-8th graders could read at grade level.

Pritzker Plays Political Games as Violence Terrorizes Chicago Neighborhoods

No matter what statistics you cite, violent crime and public safety continue to be major issues in Chicago. Crime numbers may be slightly down in 2025, as compared to 2024, but how many 'less' murders are acceptable? How many 'less' violent robberies and devastating impacts to public safety and neighborhoods are acceptable? In a recent interview with NBC Chicago, Pritzker was forced to admit the quiet part out loud. While attempting to dodge a question about violent crime and the recent outbreak over Labor Day weekend, Pritzker stated, "Look, big cities have crime, there's no doubt about it." The response was tone deaf and offensive to thousands of families who have had their lives shattered due to the crime and violence in Chicago in the last decade and beyond. Instead of pushing to find solutions, combat violent crime, and work to save lives, the Governor chooses to hide behind veiled statistics and political talking points.

The war of words between Pritzker and the federal government does nothing to help the citizens of Illinois. And policies championed by the Pritzker administration and Illinois Democrats, headlined by the SAFE-T Act and TRUST Act, continue to put communities in danger. Almost every day in Illinois, violent criminals are set free within hours of being arrested due to the SAFE-T Act. If the crimes these suspects are being accused of are not on the list of detainable offenses, judges have no choice but to set them free. These violent criminals are released into our neighborhoods, free to commit other heinous crimes while awaiting trial.

Justice for Political Points, Not for Illinois Victims

Governor Pritzker has declared: "If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me, not time or political circumstance, from making sure you face justice under our constitutional rule of law."

But Illinois families are asking: why doesn't he show the same resolve toward the violent criminals roaming free under his own SAFE-T Act? Instead of protecting law-abiding citizens, his soft-on-crime policies let offenders walk, only to strike again.

● A man accused of hitting and killing a DeKalb County deputy was released pretrial.

● A Plainfield man charged with sexual assault was allowed pretrial release.

● A Bolingbrook man charged with arson was freed, only to offend again.

● A man charged with first degree murder in Rockford was given pretrial release.

'Peacekeeper' pictured at Pritzker event accused in deadly Mag Mile smash-and-grab

A man accused of his involvement in the deadly smash-and-grab last week on Chicago's Magnificent Mile posed for a picture with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker just days earlier.

Kellen McMiller, a 35-year-old Chicago man, is one of seven people charged in connection with the Thursday, Sept. 11 incident at the Louis Vuitton store near the 100 block of E. Walton Street. McMiller faces felony counts of murder, burglary, theft, and three counts of fugitive from justice with an out-of-state warrant.

Less than a week before the incident, Pritzker praised McMiller for his work as a peacekeeper. Both were pictured together in an image taken on Friday, Sept. 5, as Pritzker met with the peacekeepers in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.

The governor's team referred to the group as "trusted messengers" in the community, in a press release issued that same day. Cook County prosecutors would later charge McMiller for his alleged role in the crash-and-grab burglary.

Read more on this story from WGN.

If the Governor truly meant what he said, he'd get tougher on crime.

TAXES

Inaction by Democrat-controlled General Assembly threatens Illinois property taxpayers.

A complex chain of circumstances could lead to even higher property taxes levied by Illinois counties. The origin lies in a series of current procedures, themselves very complex, in the Property Tax Code that are meant to move into place if a property tax bill remains unpaid for several years. Under the law, the delinquent owner is sent repeated mail warnings and, if the bill remains unpaid, the property is subjected to what is called a "property tax sale." This means that a third party can come in and bid for a tax deed to the property. After further complex procedures have taken place, the tax deed can be transformed into a real deed and the previous owner can be evicted.

Under Illinois law, the entire amount that a tax purchaser bids in a property tax sale for a tax deed is kept by the county collector. It is this feature of Illinois law that was struck down, in May 2023, by a decision of the federal Supreme Court in the case of "Tyler vs. Hennepin County." Based on a tax sale that had taken place in Minnesota, the court ruled that entire-amount retention by local property-tax governmental units was an unconstitutional "taking" of private property. The decision instructed local governments to retain only that portion of the tax-sale money that represented the actual tax debt, plus reasonable penalties and interest, and stated they must return any surplus to the original owner of the property. The decision also implicitly mandated the state governments with laws like Minnesota, and Illinois, to change their laws to create a legal procedure to return these moneys to their rightful owners.

Minnesota, and all of the other states with the tax-sale laws scrutinized in "Tyler vs. Hennepin," revised their laws in accordance with this federal Supreme Court decision, with the exception of Illinois. Several bills to revise Illinois law to put our State into conformity with "Tyler vs. Hennepin" have been assigned to the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee, but none of the bills have advanced through both chambers to become law. Although the "Tyler" decision was published on May 25, 2023, more than two years ago, the Democrat-controlled General Assembly has yet to take action on the matter.

This inaction, in turn, has placed local governments and their taxpayers at risk. Since May 2023, county collectors that carry out tax sales have been engaged in conduct that renders them vulnerable to private lawsuits filed by legitimate plaintiffs and aggressive trial attorneys. These lawsuits seek redress and substantial damages, including hourly fees for the plaintiff attorneys. These lawsuits against Illinois counties are starting to pile up. Current State law does not allow counties to adjust their property tax sale procedures to obey "Tyler vs. Hennepin," but does allow them to charge higher property taxes when a county loses a "Tyler"-based lawsuit or is forced to accept an unfavorable "Tyler"-based litigation settlement. Thus, the inability of the General Assembly to change the Property Tax Code to comply with "Tyler vs. Hennepin" could soon lead to even higher property taxes in affected counties.

JOBS

Illinois Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.4%, Payroll Jobs Decrease in August

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced recently that total nonfarm payrolls decreased over-the-month in August, down -13,300 (-0.2%) to 6,153,700. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -2,500 to -1,100.

The industry sectors with over-the-month jobs increases included: Information (+800), Manufacturing (+400), and Construction (+300). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-4,500), Private Education and Health Services (-4,000), and Professional and Business Services (-2,600).

The unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in August, down -0.2 percentage point from the previous month, the lowest unemployment rate since July 2023, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised July unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6 percent.

BUDGET/TAXES

Illinois Needs Real Budget Transparency, Not Excuses

Governor Pritzker is blaming Washington for a crisis he created. Since taking office, he has increased state spending by roughly 40% and just signed the largest budget in Illinois history.

Transparency first. House Republicans have demanded real transparency across agencies and the budget process, including time to review billion-dollar bills and clear accounting of dedicated funds. The current process hides the ball and fails taxpayers.

Agency mismanagement. Shining a light on agencies would help fix services for Illinoisans and target funding where it actually works. Even Senator Andy Manar asked agencies on May 7, 2024 to identify $800 million in collective savings. Not a single cut was presented for public review.

The result. Illinois families were handed a $55.2 billion FY 2026 budget, about $2 billion higher than last year, along with $1 billion in tax hikes and fund sweeps. This showed little restraint and ignored the very "threat to our fiscal condition" the Governor talks about. The so-called "balanced" plan leans on fund sweeps, delayed rainy-day deposits, and cuts to priorities like education, public safety, and property tax relief.

Where to cut, today:

Migrant spending

○ HBIA elimination noted, but HBIS still funded at $110 million

○ $40 million for Welcome Centers, reduced from $140 million but still significant

○ $35 million for immigrant services such as legal support

Pork projects

○ "Fund for Illinois' Future," a partisan slush fund, receives a $370 million GRF transfer and sweeps from other funds, with a $420 million balance

○ $40 million for Proviso Township High School District 209, in Speaker Welch's district, for capital improvements and an outdoor sports complex at Proviso West

Bottom line. This crisis did not start in D.C. It is the product of years of unchecked spending, gimmicks, and a closed-door process in Springfield. House Republicans stand ready with concrete cuts and a transparent, line-by-line budget review that protects taxpayers and focuses on core services.

TAXES

Property Taxes a Top Concern for Illinois Residents

Illinois has topped the list of states with the highest property taxes, which comes as no surprise to many Illinois residents. The burden has made Illinois unaffordable for too many families and particularly weighs heavily on senior citizens and working families. Illinois House Republicans have been vocal about the need for relief and have proposed legislation to bring down costs for families.

State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) has proposed real solutions to lower property taxes. House Bill 9 is legislation crafted to set aside part of the state budget for a grant fund to be given to school districts, and in return, requiring them to lower property taxes.

"Illinois has the highest property taxes in the country, and because of that residents are fleeing to neighboring states with friendlier tax environments," said Rep. Ugaste. "High property taxes drive out our families, businesses, and keep investment from happening. We're strangling our economy from the inside."

Amy Elik (R-Alton), who serves as House Republican Deputy Budgeteer, has been outspoken in highlighting the need for property tax relief.

"My district borders Missouri, and when I talk to my constituents I constantly hear about the lower taxes across the border," said Rep. Elik. "If we want to stop the flow of residents leaving our great state, the legislature must stop raising our residents' taxes. Our seniors suffer under the weight of crushing property tax bills, young families cannot afford to own a home, and our residents are begging for relief. The people of Illinois are tapped out, and deserve relief now."

Other House Republican measures to lower property taxes include:

● HB 0009- Ugaste- Property Tax Relief

● HB 1321- Ugaste- Tax District Surplus

● HB 1746- Sosnowski- Homestead Exemption

● HB 2543- Sosnowski- Taxpayer Empowerment

● HB 4011- Weber- Assessment Limit

The House Republicans will continue to advocate for proposals that would deliver property tax relief for Illinois homeowners.

Illinois Department of Revenue announces 2025 Tax Amnesty Program

The window to pay past-due State taxes opened October 1 and closes on Monday, November 17. During this six-week period, Illinois taxpayers will have the opportunity to pay past-due taxes without penalties or interest. The payments of taxes due must be made in full during this time period. This tax amnesty has been declared as a result of legislation adopted by the Illinois General Assembly in May 2025.

After the tax amnesty window closes, liable taxpayers making past-due tax payments will be required to pay not only the full amount of the taxes that are due, but also the penalties and interest payments that are set forth by statute and administrative law. These may create substantial additional liabilities for past-due taxpayers. Individuals and businesses in this category are urged to consult their tax advisors for guidance.