Senator DeWitte Hosts Spring Youth Advisory Council
I want to thank all the students who came to my Spring Youth Advisory Council (YAC) last week. The students were able to learn about state government, public service, and the legislative process through a hands-on experience. I also want to thank the speakers who donated their time and talents to talk with students about their careers in the public sector and experiences with state government. This year’s speakers, shown above (L-R) are: Dr. John Burkey, Executive Director of the Large Unit School District Association (LUDA), Lexie Zeppos, Prevention and Wellness Specialist at BREAK Crystal Lake, and Debby Sosine, Village President of the Village of Algonquin.
The YAC is always one of my favorite events of the year because I truly enjoy watching the students get excited about their futures and learning how their voice can affect real change. The future looks bright, and I was very impressed with this group of emerging leaders!
Survey Finds Illinois Among Least Affordable States
A new survey found that most Americans believe the country is facing a cost-of-living crisis, and Illinois ranks among the states viewed as less affordable.
According to 2026 research commissioned by Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, 87 percent of Americans say the United States is in a crisis due to a lack of affordability. More than half of those surveyed said they are struggling to pay bills on time, while half report difficulty affording basic necessities like groceries.
The survey also found that nearly eight in ten respondents said everything became more expensive in 2025, and nearly half believe affordability will get even worse in 2026.
In Illinois, just 27 percent of respondents described the state as affordable, placing it among the lowest-ranked states in the country and on par with states like California and New York.
It is no surprise Illinois is facing an affordability crisis under Governor Pritzker’s watch, pointing to the state’s unfriendly business climate, growing tax burden, and escalating utility costs. Hardworking families are paying the price for policies that continue to make Illinois more expensive and less competitive.
Legislation Targets Greater Transparency for Taxpayer Costs
Legislation has recently been introduced by Senate Republicans to strengthen transparency and accountability in the Illinois legislative process by ensuring lawmakers have access to fiscal impact information before voting on legislation.
Senate Bill 2094 amends the Illinois Fiscal Note Act to guarantee that when a member of the General Assembly requests a fiscal note on legislation, the request must be honored and cannot be dismissed by chamber vote.
Fiscal notes are reports that provide estimates of how proposed legislation may affect state revenues or expenditures. The idea is to know how much it will cost the taxpayers if a bill becomes law. Any legislator may request a fiscal note for a bill. However, such requests may be voted down, stopping that information from being made public. SB 2094 ensures that fiscal notes are prepared whenever legislators request them.
The aim of this legislation is to promote greater transparency and ensure that lawmakers have access to the fiscal impact legislation will have on the taxpayers of this state.
Measure Would Expand Death Certificate Reporting Requirements
Another piece of legislation recently filed by Senate Republicans would increase transparency and accuracy in how deaths under Illinois’ medical aid in dying law are documented.
Senate Bill 3937 would amend Illinois’ End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act to require that death certificates reflect both a patient’s underlying terminal illness and the fact that medical aid in dying occurred.
Under current law, when the Act takes effect on September 12, 2026, the official death certificate for a patient who self-administers life-ending medication will list only the person’s terminal illness. SB 3937 would change that by requiring the death certificate to include both the terminal condition and the use of medical aid in dying. The bill also makes clear that such deaths would not be classified as suicide or homicide.
Supporters of the legislation argue that clearer reporting standards would provide greater accountability and consistency in reporting for medical records, public health data, and public trust.
IL SOS Launches Library Security Grant Program
Applications are now being accepted for a new public library security grant program aimed at helping libraries across Illinois respond to growing safety concerns.
Administered through the Illinois Secretary of State, public libraries may apply for up to $100,000 per agency for technology-based security improvements. A total of $1.1 million in state funding has been set aside for this year’s round of grants.
Eligible expenses include security cameras, silent or duress alarms, security checkpoints, and other technology-based safety measures. Libraries may also use grant funding for security assessments, planning, equipment installation, and staff training related to new systems.
The grant program was created through Senate Bill 1550, which was signed into law last year.
Libraries must email the completed grant application and required certification of eligibility to ISLgrants@ilsos.gov by April 15. To find out more information or access the application, please call the Illinois State Library at 217-524-8836.
Recent Postal Service Changes Could Impact this Year’s Tax Filings
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is warning taxpayers that recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changes to postmarks could affect 2026 tax filings.
Under the new system, postmarks will show when mail is first processed, not when it is dropped off, which could create potential risks for meeting deadlines on time-sensitive items like tax returns and payments.
IDOR urges taxpayers to mail documents earlier than usual, ahead of the April 15 deadline, to avoid penalties. Those who are mailing close to the deadline should request a free manual postmark at the post office, which will reflect the actual drop-off date. IDOR also emphasizes that electronic filing is the most reliable option to ensure timely submission. Alternatively, taxpayers can drop off returns at an IDOR office, where documents will be date-stamped as proof of receipt.
For more information on this change, click here.