Major Wins for Illinois Families
This veto session delivered results that make a tangible difference in the lives of Illinois families. Together, we tackled challenges that affect people where it matters most, at the kitchen table, in their communities, and on their commutes.
ICIRR / Immigrant Protections — Illinois will not allow constitutional shortcuts.
Speaker Welch and the House advanced a core values win for safety, dignity, and the rule of law. We passed legislation that strengthens protections against violations of constitutional rights during civil-immigration enforcement and safeguards access to courthouses, hospitals, early-learning centers, and campuses without fear.
Transit — Transit is a lifeline — Democrats kept it running.
After months of coordination and collaboration, we passed a comprehensive statewide transit package to avert the fiscal cliff, stabilize funding, and modernize governance — protecting riders, workers, and service statewide. Republicans participated in every call, meeting, and working group throughout the drafting process, yet when the moment came to vote, not a single Republican supported the bill. Democrats stayed united, did the work, and delivered a system that benefits every community in Illinois.
Energy — Affordable. Reliable. Cleaner. Illinois leads.
We passed a forward-looking energy package to strengthen grid reliability, scale storage, enable thermal-energy networks, and protect ratepayers — positioning Illinois as a national leader in clean-energy transition while preserving good-paying jobs.
Property Taxes & TIF Reform — Strong local tools, smarter oversight.
We modernized local finance tools, including a TIF-extension omnibus that adjusts timelines for multiple communities and improves transparency and accountability in redevelopment.
Sunsets — No gaps in the law — steady, responsible governance.
We enacted an omnibus to extend and correct key sunset dates and reenact inadvertently repealed provisions — keeping essential programs operating without interruption.
Workplace Fix — Clear rules, fair enforcement.
We clarified the Workplace Transparency Act by refining damages language and removing outdated provisions, ensuring fairness for workers and predictability for employers.
Public Officials & Safety Act — Protecting those who serve.
We created protections to reduce doxing and harassment of public officials, allowing them to request redaction of personal data while preserving transparency.
Comptroller Modernization — Modern books, public-facing transparency.
We modernized state-finance reporting, requiring online payroll transparency and updating statutory language to reflect current technology.
Decoupling / STAR Bonds / Film Credits — Competitive growth — with guardrails and fiscal prudence.
We enacted a balanced economic and revenue package that decouples Illinois from federal bonus-depreciation rules to protect state revenue, authorizes a STAR Bonds program with strong guardrails, and updates the film-credit program to maintain competitiveness.
Across all these efforts, Democrats stood together and delivered for the people of Illinois — even when others refused to cast a vote. And when a Republican colleague needed a district fix, every Democrat voted to help. That’s what governing looks like.
Leadership, Unity & “Winners Do the Work”
Behind every late-night vote, every policy win, and every floor debate was a team that never wavered. The Speaker’s leadership kept this caucus steady, focused, and united — even when challenges arose and tensions ran high. He reminded us that progress demands discipline, that transparency builds trust, and that our work means nothing unless it improves the lives of the people we serve.