The centerpiece of Governor Pritzker’s budget address back in February was his Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) housing proposal. This misguided plan seeks to strip away local decision-making with regard to zoning, parking requirements, development standards, and land use planning decisions, and paves the way for high-density housing developments in every Illinois town. Even worse, local elected officials wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it. Over the last few months, I have heard from dozens of mayors, county officials, and other municipal leaders who vehemently oppose the plan.
In response to the growing opposition against the Pritzker BUILD plan, on Thursday, I filed Senate Bill 4200, a comprehensive alternative plan designed to increase housing affordability while protecting local control.
I am referring to SB 4200 as the Reducing Expenses and Advancing Local (REAL) Housing Act. Developed in cooperation with the Illinois Municipal League (IML), which represents nearly 1,300 municipalities across the state, the legislation offers a practical, community-driven approach to addressing Illinois’ housing challenges without stripping zoning authority away from local governments.
Key components of the REAL Housing Act include:
- Preserving local authority by explicitly stating that nothing in the legislation requires municipalities or counties to approve developments, change zoning ordinances, reduce parking requirements, or adopt specific housing policies.
- Establishing a voluntary Middle Housing Incentive Program that allows municipalities and counties to opt in if they choose to support housing options such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and accessory dwelling units.
- Providing incentives, not mandates, for communities that pursue locally tailored housing strategies, including access to infrastructure grants, technical assistance, planning support, and priority consideration for state funding programs.
- Creating a state sales tax exemption on building materials used in qualifying residential developments to help reduce construction costs and encourage more affordable housing.
- Supporting property tax relief by allowing local governments to receive additional Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) revenue above a certain threshold if those dollars are used to provide property tax relief to residents.
- Offering grants and assistance for comprehensive planning, zoning modernization, housing studies, infrastructure planning, and redevelopment of blighted properties.
- Expanding workforce development initiatives tied to housing construction through partnerships with community colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeship programs to address skilled labor shortages.
- Extending the Veterans Property Tax Relief Reimbursement Pilot Program and dedicating additional funding to help reimburse local governments for state-mandated veterans’ property tax exemptions.
Unlike the BUILD proposal, the REAL Housing Act preserves local authority. The legislation specifically states that municipalities and counties are not required to approve developments, alter zoning ordinances, or adopt housing policies dictated by the state.
What works in downtown Chicago may not work in the Fox Valley or other communities across Illinois. You do not have to choose between housing affordability and local control. My REAL Housing Act proves we can do both.
Property Tax Exemptions Seminar Set for June 2 in St. Charles
My staff and I are putting the finishing touches on many other outreach events in June and beyond. Please mark your calendars for the following outreach events in the 33rd District:
- June 2: Property Tax Seminar in St. Charles
- June 9: IPASS on Demand in Lake in the Hills
- June 17: ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event in Carpentersville
- July 13: IPASS on Demand in South Elgin
- August 4: ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event in South Elgin
- August 19: Senior Fair in Carpentersville
- September 12: Document Shredding Event in Elgin
- October 14: Senior Fair in Crystal Lake
All of these events are listed on the Events page of my website with full details. Additional events are added regularly, so please visit my Events page regularly to learn about new events as they are added to the schedule.
Senate Republicans Push Back on Tax Increase Proposals
Illinois Senate Republicans are pushing back on a series of tax increases and policy rollbacks proposed by Democrats, warning they would raise costs for families, workers, and businesses.
The proposals include Senate Bill 3353, which would create a new tax on digital advertising, and Senate Bill 3796, which would repeal key provisions of the Blue Collar Jobs Act and eliminate the sales tax exemption on biodiesel.
These proposals would increase the cost of doing business in Illinois and put the state at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighboring states.
The digital advertising tax would be passed on to small businesses that rely on affordable online platforms to reach customers, ultimately increasing costs for consumers. Additionally, removing the sales tax exemption on biodiesel would put the tax back on fuel, raising costs for consumers at the pump and increasing transportation costs across the economy. Those higher costs would then be passed on through higher prices for everyday goods.
In addition, repealing the Blue Collar Jobs Act would reduce job opportunities in construction and manufacturing and discourage future investment in Illinois. I believe Illinois should be focused on policies that encourage economic growth and affordability, rather than proposals that increase costs.
Senate Republicans Advance Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Student Victims of Sexual Assault
Legislation that strengthens protections for students who are victims of sexual assault in schools passed in the Illinois Senate with broad bipartisan support last week. I was a proud supporter of the bill.
Senate Bill 939 establishes a minimum one-year expulsion for students who commit or attempt sexual assault at school or during school-sponsored activities.
The proposal was introduced in response to incidents across the state where students who committed sexual assault were not removed from the school environment, raising concerns about safety and accountability, and generating accusations that the schools were trying to sweep the incidents under the rug.
The bill creates clear consequences for serious misconduct and ensures schools take appropriate action when these incidents occur. School boards would have the ability to review the punishment, but would be required to vote on how to handle the situation, making it much more difficult to hide instances of sexual assault.
Annual Police Memorial Ceremony Recognizes Officers Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
Law enforcement officers, families, and community members gathered at the Illinois State Capitol on May 7 for the annual Illinois Peace Officers Memorial ceremony honoring officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The ceremony included a procession of squad cars from agencies across the state and a memorial service recognizing both recently fallen officers and officers whose sacrifices occurred many years ago. During the event, the names of eight officers were formally added to the Illinois Peace Officers Memorial.
Among those honored were Chicago Police Department Officer Krystal Rivera and Park Forest Detective Tim Jones, both of whom were killed in 2025 while serving their communities. Six additional historical officers were also recognized for their service and sacrifice.
The memorial ceremony serves as an important reminder of the courage and dedication demonstrated by law enforcement officers across Illinois. Honoring fallen officers ensures their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.