Happy June, everyone! The 2026 Spring Legislative Session has officially come to a close, with both the House and Senate adjourning in the early morning hours of June 1. This year, we worked past the May 31 constitutional deadline before approving a record-breaking state budget and concluding legislative business for the Spring. With the majority party in charge, this has become the new normal in Springfield each May.
In this edition of Friess Frame, I’ll provide a final recap of the final weeks of session, including an update on the FY27 state budget and what that looks like for you, and the hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes and fees included. I’ll also discuss key legislation that passed the General Assembly, efforts to protect our youth on social media, the Chicago Bears, and more.
Now that session has concluded, my focus shifts towards the district. In the months leading up to VETO Session, I’ll be meeting with constituents, hosting community events, and continuing to advocate for Southern Illinois. As always, thank you to everyone who reached out this session to share your thoughts. It remains an honor to serve as your State Rep. for the 115th!
FY27 Budget Passes With New Taxes
If you remember my End of Session Update last year, this portion may sound familiar. Unfortunately, that’s because Springfield Democrats continue to follow the same playbook. In 2025, we passed a record-breaking $55.2 billion budget in the dead of night with little time for legislators or the public to review thousands of pages of spending. This year was no different.
At 4:00 a.m. on June 1, Illinois Democrats rammed through a record-breaking $56 billion budget, the largest spending plan in state history. Once again, lawmakers were given only hours to review the budget before being asked to vote on billions of dollars in spending that will impact every taxpayer in Illinois.
To support this spending, Democrats included approximately $800 million in new taxes and fees. These tax hikes include, but are not limited to, a tax on large social media platforms, a cryptocurrency exchange tax, a digital advertising tax, a new sports wagering fee, and increases on consumer goods and tobacco products. The budget also directs at least $220 million toward pork projects benefiting Democrat districts while providing more than $400 million for programs serving ILLEGAL immigrants.
What makes this process even more frustrating each year is how disconnected and out of touch JB Pritzker and the Illinois Democrats really are. Just recently, Governor Pritzker, on a podcast, said, “I hate the word affordability. I don’t think people really understand the concept.”
Thanks to Governor Pritzker, his version of affordability has meant higher taxes, higher costs, and bigger government with a tax-and-spend problem. It’s important to note that prior to the passage of the budget on June 1, 2026, the Governor had implemented 57 new taxes and fees, accounting for an estimated $77 billion taken from the pockets of Illinois taxpayers and out of the Illinois economy.
Meanwhile, the budget includes no meaningful property tax relief for Illinois homeowners, and local governments will see their Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) funding frozen. Families struggling with inflation, rising utility bills, and some of the highest property taxes in the nation were once again pushed to the back of the line.
When the budget came before the House, I cast a strong “NO” vote. We need a government that lives within its means, prioritizes taxpayers, provides real tax relief, and conducts the people’s business in the light of day, not through backroom deals and 4:00 a.m. votes.
Key Legislation Passed
After a relatively slow start to the final month of the Spring Legislative Session, the pace of activity accelerated during the final week before adjournment. Over the course of just a few days, more than 150 bills were debated and passed through the House and Senate as lawmakers rushed to meet the May 31 deadline.
Among the legislation approved during the final week were the FY27 state budget and the budget implementation package. Lawmakers also approved legislation allowing rideshare drivers to unionize, establishing statewide regulations on e-bikes, amending cannabis and hemp laws, enacting artificial intelligence regulations, and numerous other measures that will now move to the Governor’s desk.
This session in the General Assembly, I was proud to sponsor and co-sponsor more than 100 pieces of legislation addressing issues ranging from public safety and education to government transparency, tax relief, and efforts to reverse failed policies enacted by the Pritzker Administration.
Throughout the session, I also joined my Republican colleagues in advocating for lower property taxes, increased government transparency, stronger public safety policies, and greater accountability in state government. We held press conferences, filed legislation, and sent letters directly to Governor Pritzker calling for action on issues impacting families across Southern Illinois.
Unfortunately, many common-sense proposals put forward by my House Republican colleagues were never called for a vote by the Democratic majority.
Although the Spring Legislative Session has concluded, my attention is turned back towards the district. We will be back in Springfield in late November for VETO Session, and I will continue fighting for policies that put taxpayers first, protect our communities, and ensure Southern Illinois has a strong voice in Springfield.
New Laws Taking Effect July 1
Beginning July 1, a new wave of Illinois laws will officially take effect. Many of these changes could impact your daily life, which is why it’s important to stay informed about what lawmakers in Springfield have passed.
Among the new laws taking effect on July 1 is the End-of-life options act, also referred to as Deb’s Law, which allows patients with a terminal disease to ask a doctor to prescribe medication to essentially end their life in a “peaceful manner.” This bill was presented as a “Sanitary Food Preparation Act” on the House Floor as a shell bill to conceal its true meaning: the Pritzker Administration’s support for Illinois residents ending their lives.
Also included is HB 2962, which creates a specialized school bus driver permit allowing drivers to operate smaller passenger vehicles and multifunction school activity buses. Another new law raises the age at which Illinois drivers are required to take a behind-the-wheel driving test when renewing their licenses, increasing the threshold from 79 to 87.
Take a look at the full list here
Chicago Bears
Last month, House Democrats pushed through HB 910, the so-called “megaproject” bill, which included an incomplete and concerning proposed deal involving a new Chicago Bears stadium. When the bill came before the House on April 22, I cast a strong “NO” vote. HB 910 ultimately passed the House but stalled in the Senate after the majority party failed to secure enough votes to advance it.
Then, in another late-night attempt to keep the Chicago Bears in the State of Illinois, HB 958 was introduced in the Senate without a committee hearing and was quickly moved directly to the Senate Floor at approximately 3:30 a.m. The bill passed the Senate but ultimately stalled in the House and was never called for a vote before adjournment shortly before 5:00 a.m. on June 1.
It’s important to remember that the Chicago Bears’ public push for a new stadium did not happen overnight. The effort began in June 2021, when the team submitted a formal bid to purchase the 326-acre Arlington International Racecourse property in suburban Arlington Heights. Since then, elected officials, including the Governor, have known that the Bears were exploring options outside of Chicago.
Unfortunately, as of today, the Governor and General Assembly were unable to agree on a proposal to keep the Bears in Chicago and the State of Illinois. Following the Bears’ June 5 statement, all indications now point toward the team relocating to Indiana.
Passing Legislation To Protect Children
This General Assembly, a major topic of conversation was protecting children across various social media platforms. In an attempt to protect children from the harmful effects of unfiltered and unchecked addictive social media, the House and the Senate passed a bill that is designed to protect children online and limit their access to addictive social media features.
HB 5511, also known as the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, will require social media companies to verify a child’s age through the device’s operating system and implement stronger protections for minors, including limiting location sharing and restricting nighttime notifications. When this bill came before the House, I was proud to cast a “YES” vote on this bipartisan piece of legislation aimed at protecting our youth.
In addition to protecting children on social media, the General Assembly passed SB 2427, a bill requiring each school board to adopt and implement a wireless communication policy prohibiting students from using electronic devices during instructional time. I was proud to vote “YES” on this legislation because education should remain the focus in the classroom.
Pushing For SAFE-T Act Reforms
Throughout my time in the General Assembly, House Republicans have repeatedly raised concerns about Governor Pritzker’s SAFE-T Act and its impact on public safety across Illinois. Our caucus has sponsored legislation, held press conferences, and met with community leaders, consistently hearing the issues our law enforcement faces across the state.
Unfortunately, instead of addressing the serious flaws in this law, the majority party continues to ignore the concerns raised by law enforcement, prosecutors, and communities across our state.
Every few weeks, we continue to see examples of how this failed policy has made it more difficult to keep dangerous individuals off our streets. From concerns surrounding electronic monitoring failures to repeat offenders committing additional crimes while on pretrial release, the consequences of these policies are being felt by families and communities throughout Illinois.
The safety of our residents must come first. That is why I was proud to sponsor and co-sponsor legislation aimed at strengthening public safety and fixing the failures of the SAFE-T Act. HB4907, which I sponsored, would revoke pretrial release for defendants convicted of another offense while on release, ensuring that individuals who continue to break the law face consequences. I also supported efforts such as HB1207, which would require immediate notification to law enforcement when a defendant on pretrial release violates a no-contact order.
These are common-sense solutions that prioritize victims and law-abiding citizens.
Unfortunately, while House Republicans continue working to address these problems, Illinois Democrats have repeatedly refused to advance meaningful reforms. Over 40 proposals have been introduced to fix the flaws within the SAFE-T Act, yet too many have been ignored by the majority party.
Public safety should never be a partisan issue. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and they deserve the tools and support necessary to do their jobs. I will continue fighting for policies that hold criminals accountable, protect victims, and keep Illinois families safe.
Obama Presidential Center Hypocrisy
If you haven’t seen the news recently, the Tower of Mordor is complete. Yes, the Obama Presidential Library is finished and will open for visitors on June 19. The good news is that Illinois residents will receive a discount on ticket prices, and, given the ever-increasing tax burden we are forced to pay under the Pritzker Administration, we should.
Now, the problem with receiving this discount on tickets to the Obama Presidential Library is that it requires a photo ID. According to Democrats, this requirement is going to disenfranchise thousands, if not millions, of Illinois residents.
If you casually pay attention to politics, you know that Republicans nationwide have long advocated for voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements. However, time and time again, we have been told that not everybody has an ID and that it is too difficult to obtain one if it is required to vote.
Yet now a photo ID is required to save a few dollars on the ticket’s purchase price. If a photo ID is required to receive a discount at the Obama Presidential Library, don’t you think a photo ID should be required to vote in this country?
Once again, Illinois Democrats appear eager to apply one standard in one situation and a completely different standard in another. The irony is hard to miss.
Bringing Grant Dollars Back To The 115th
I’m proud to announce that hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funding are coming back to communities across the 115th District to support public safety, education, and local infrastructure.
Through the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Small Equipment Grant Program, eight emergency service departments and ambulance services throughout the district were awarded more than $164,000 to purchase critical equipment and resources. These investments will help our local first responders continue protecting our communities.
Additional funding was also awarded through the Safe Routes to School Program, providing $500,000 between Chester Elementary, Chester High School, and Murphysboro High School to improve safety and accessibility for students.
Our volunteer fire departments also received support through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant Program, with Maeystown Rural Fire Protection District and Valmeyer Fire Protection District receiving more than $9,600 to support equipment needs and firefighter resources.
These investments represent the importance of bringing state resources back home and ensuring the communities of the 115th District have the tools they need to stay safe and succeed.
Upcoming Events
In the coming months, my office has several upcoming events planned throughout the district. I’d like to invite you to review the opportunities listed above and join us.
Please note that our Shred and Recycling Event, originally scheduled for July 11, has been rescheduled for August 1. We have also added tire recycling at no cost to attendees. Tire recycling will be limited to five passenger vehicle tires and/or two tractor tires per vehicle.
For additional details, updates, and future event announcements, please visit repfriess.com. I hope to see you there!
Looking Ahead
With the Spring Legislative Session now concluded, I look forward to spending more time back in the district meeting with constituents, attending community events, and hearing directly from the people I have the privilege of representing.
While our work in Springfield continues throughout the year, the end of session provides an important opportunity to reconnect with our communities, visit with local leaders, and continue working on the issues that matter most to Southern Illinois.
As always, my office remains available to assist with state agency matters, answer questions about legislation, and help residents navigate any issues they may be facing. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your voice in Springfield. It remains an honor to represent the 115th District!