McHenry Times

Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly advanced several major legislative initiatives during the final day of the 2026 fall veto session, resulting in significant new taxes, changes to transit governance, energy policy reforms, and adjustments to immigration enforcement.

According to Illinois State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry), “The 2026 fall veto session was the most expensive and reckless I have ever seen.” He criticized the overnight passage of over $10 billion in new taxes and fees on October 30-31. Wilcox stated that these measures would fund increased government spending and included legislation legalizing physician-assisted suicide.

One of the most debated bills was Senate Bill 2111, which overhauls the governance and funding of Metra, Pace, and the Chicago Transit Agency (CTA). The bill passed at 4:00 AM on October 31. Funding for improvements will come from various sources, including a 45-cent increase in every toll paid on Illinois’ tollway system. The new toll structure is tied to inflation indexes, meaning automatic yearly increases. The bill also reallocates road funding from downstate communities to Cook County and Chicago.

Wilcox expressed concern about representation under the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) board. The board will consist of 20 members: five appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker, five by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, five by Cook County Board Chair Toni Preckwinkle, and one each from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Wilcox said this arrangement places control with Chicago Democrats at the expense of suburban areas.

Another key measure was Senate Bill 25 concerning energy rates. Wilcox noted that this legislation removes caps on how much energy rates can be increased, potentially leading to an $8 billion rise in power bills statewide. He argued that it would drive up costs for families already struggling with high utility bills while supporting special-interest projects rather than improving affordability or reliability.

On tax policy, Democrats passed Senate Bill 1911 to “decouple” Illinois from recent federal tax relief measures enacted under former President Donald Trump’s administration. Wilcox claimed this change would effectively raise taxes on businesses and manufacturers during a period when Illinois has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

Wilcox further criticized House Bill 1312 for restricting federal immigration enforcement near courthouses by prohibiting civil immigration arrests within 1,000 feet of such facilities. He argued that this law creates “safe zones” for undocumented immigrants and imposes fines or lawsuits against federal officers performing their duties.

Wilcox has represented Illinois’ 32nd Senate District since his election in 2018 as a Republican successor to Pamela Althoff.