“Your Timely Roundup of Local, State, and Federal Updates”
Chamber members:
Texas is getting a lot of attention for gerrymandering, but here in Illinois it has been a hot topic now for at least a decade. See below for a new push here at home. Also, more information on federal government push to curb homelessness and the big SALT deduction impact.
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Bipartisan Group Launches New Push to End Partisan Gerrymandering in Illinois
For the third time in just over a decade, a bipartisan coalition is launching a voter initiative to amend the Illinois Constitution and reduce partisan influence in the once-per-decade redrawing of state legislative boundaries.
Unlike current efforts in states like Texas—where Republicans are attempting to redraw congressional lines to boost GOP control in the U.S. House—the Illinois initiative focuses solely on Illinois House and Senate maps.
Previous efforts in 2014 and 2016 were struck down by the courts. This new proposal has been carefully crafted to comply with narrow state Supreme Court rulings that restrict citizen-led constitutional amendments to issues that affect the structure and procedure of the legislature.
The campaign, called Fair Maps Illinois, will formally launch Aug. 19 at an event co-hosted by the Lincoln Forum and the Union League Club of Chicago. Leading the effort are co-chairs William Daley, former White House chief of staff and longtime Democrat, and Ray LaHood, a Republican former congressman and U.S. transportation secretary. Daley is the brother and son of two former Chicago mayors; LaHood is the father of current GOP U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood.
Serving as legal co-counsels are veteran election attorney Michael Dorf, former general counsel for the state Democratic Party, and William Cadigan, former GOP member and chairman of the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Illinois’ redistricting process, established in the 1970 Constitution, has long been criticized for allowing lawmakers to choose their voters rather than the other way around. Critics argue that partisan gerrymandering has led to uncompetitive general elections and entrenched incumbents, making primaries the only real contests.
“We are in a situation now where every seat is safe,” said Dorf. “Members don’t have to ever attempt to reach beyond their core supporters. This effort won’t remove politics completely from redistricting, but it’s a step toward more rational maps that foster broader representation.”
In both 2011 and 2021, when Democrats controlled both the legislature and governor’s office, redistricting maps were drawn to protect and expand Democratic power. Then-candidate JB Pritzker said he supported an independent commission but ultimately signed the 2021 maps passed by the Democratic-controlled legislature. Last week, he reiterated support for an independent body but said, “It’s not like I can force the legislature to do something like that.”
The current maps, based on the 2020 census, have resulted in supermajorities for Democrats: 78 of 118 seats in the House and 40 of 59 in the Senate.
Under the state constitution, if the legislature and governor fail to enact a redistricting plan, an eight-member commission is formed, with the four legislative leaders each appointing one member of their caucus and one non-member. If the commission deadlocks, the Illinois Supreme Court submits two names, and the Secretary of State draws one at random to serve as the tiebreaker.
This random draw mechanism—intended to force compromise—has instead reinforced partisan outcomes. The process went to a tiebreaker in 1981, 1991, and 2001, with Democrats winning the draw in 1981 and 2001, and Republicans in 1991.
The Fair Maps proposal would remove the legislature and governor from the redistricting process altogether. Instead, a 12-member commission would draw the maps. Each legislative leader would appoint one current lawmaker and two non-legislators. If a deadlock occurs, the same random draw process would be used.
The new commission would be prohibited from using past voting history or party affiliation in drawing maps, and specific individuals could not be factored in, except to comply with federal laws like the Voting Rights Act. Instead, maps would emphasize geographic compactness and aim to follow county, municipal, and township boundaries, especially keeping smaller counties within a single district.
To comply with constitutional requirements, the proposal would also tie the size of the General Assembly to population: the state’s total population divided by 215,000, rounded to the nearest odd number. While this would currently retain the existing 59 Senate and 118 House districts, future population shifts could adjust the size of the legislature.
To qualify for the November 2026 ballot, supporters must collect at least 328,171 valid signatures from registered voters by May 2026. Typically, organizers aim for double that number to account for invalid or ineligible signatures.
Earlier proposals were deemed too complex by the courts, especially in how they selected commission members. Organizers believe this new, streamlined plan better fits within the legal framework and has a stronger chance of passing judicial review—and voter approval.
President Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Homelessness, Drug Use in U.S. Cities
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order aimed at pressuring cities and states to reduce visible homelessness, drug use, and public disorder in urban areas.
According to a White House fact sheet obtained by The Hill, the order calls for a broad federal response, including efforts to remove individuals living on the streets, crack down on open drug use, and expand involuntary commitment options for people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Under the order, Attorney General Pam Bondi is directed to review and reverse legal precedents that restrict the ability of state and local governments to commit individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders who are living unsheltered.
This measure also instructs federal agencies to coordinate grant programs that support state enforcement of laws against open drug use, urban camping, loitering, and squatting. It prioritizes redirecting federal funds to help relocate people from the streets into treatment centers or other facilities.
Other provisions in the order include:
- Prohibiting federal grants for substance use prevention and recovery from funding supervised drug injection sites or any activity involving illicit drug use.
- Ensuring that individuals listed on sex offender registries who receive homelessness assistance are not housed with children.
- Allowing federally supported housing programs to prioritize women and children for exclusive placement.
The White House describes the executive order as part of an effort “to restore order to American cities and remove vagrant individuals from our streets.” It emphasizes redirecting federal resources toward addressing mental illness, addiction, and public safety concerns.
The move follows a separate March directive from Trump ordering the National Park Service to clear homeless encampments and graffiti from federal lands.
According to the administration, this latest action reinforces Trump’s broader commitment to ending homelessness through stricter enforcement, civil commitment, and expanded treatment infrastructure.
Illinois Taxpayers to Benefit from Higher SALT Deduction Cap
Illinois residents may see relief on their federal tax bills next year thanks to a major change in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction limit included in the sweeping tax and spending legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump this month.
The law raises the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for the 2025 tax year, a change that could lead to meaningful federal income tax savings for millions of Illinoisans—especially those living in high-property-tax areas.
Illinois consistently ranks among the states with the highest property taxes. When the SALT deduction was capped at $10,000 as part of the 2017 tax overhaul, many residents—particularly in Chicago suburbs—saw a substantial jump in their federal tax burdens.
“People blow through that $10,000 cap very quickly,” said David Hughes, a partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. “This change gives people room to deduct much more of what they’re already paying in state and local taxes.”
According to state data, 67 Chicago suburbs have average property taxes of $10,000 or more. In fact, a 2019 estimate from the University of Illinois Chicago’s Government Finance Research Center found nearly 900,000 Illinois tax filers (15%) were impacted by the previous SALT cap, with some ZIP codes seeing over 50% of residents affected. In Glencoe, that number reached 64%.
The new $40,000 cap applies to households earning less than $500,000 annually, covering about 98% of taxpayers. One of the biggest beneficiary groups? The 1.4 million Illinois filers with incomes between $100,000 and $500,000. “For people making $150,000-plus, carrying a mortgage, and owning property, I suspect more of them will be itemizing,” said Danny Torello, a partner at tax and audit firm Crowe.
Torello also noted that some counties may see an uptick in property tax prepayments as taxpayers try to maximize their deductions under the new cap—similar to what occurred just before the SALT cap took effect in 2018.
With the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly set at $31,500, more taxpayers will now find it advantageous to itemize their deductions.
While individual taxpayers stand to benefit from the higher cap, business owners face uncertainty.
Illinois is one of about a dozen states that adopted a SALT workaround after the 2017 law. It allows pass-through entities—like S corporations and partnerships—to deduct state taxes at the business level, where the deduction is uncapped.
Maurice Scholten, president of the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois, estimates the workaround saved taxpayers $500 million or more annually in federal taxes without reducing state revenue.
However, this provision is set to expire next year along with the original Trump tax cuts. Although a bill to extend the workaround was introduced in Springfield, it never received a hearing. “You’ve got to keep an eye on the expiration date at the end of the year and whether the General Assembly does something in the veto session,” Hughes said.
When asked about the SALT changes, Gov. JB Pritzker didn’t weigh in on the business workaround specifically but welcomed the increased cap for individuals. “It never should have been put in place to begin with,” he said. “I think raising it is a good thing for the state of Illinois.”
Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Illinois’ Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity announced the next round of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program has opened applications.
This round of $25 million in funding will increase the representation of underrepresented groups – including people of color, veterans, and women in the construction trades. This round of Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program funding will fund up to 45 programs throughout the state including new grantees, serving nearly 2,000 residents.
Participants of the program attend tuition-free and receive a stipend and other supportive, barrier reduction services, to help enter the construction industry. Upon completion of the program, pre-apprentices receive industry aligned certifications, which will prepare and qualify them to continue to a registered apprenticeship program in one of the trades.
“The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program increases economic opportunity for all Illinoisans,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “Our state’s workforce is our biggest strength, and the Illinois Works Program is preparing more Illinoisans for jobs in construction and building trades. I encourage all eligible entities to apply for this round of funding.”
Qualified entities can apply for grants between $150,000 to $550,000. Applications will be accepted until Aug. 31. To learn more and apply for the grant, visit DCEO’s website.
Opportunity for B-Corp Members: UIC’s B Impact Clinic – In partnership with UIC Innovation and B Local Illinois
Program Overview:
Student teams in Professor Shahnaz Ibrahim’s undergraduate business class, Business and External Environment, will be paired with a B-Corp or other purpose-driven companies for the semester.
Applying their stakeholder theory learnings from the classroom, students will explore their assigned company’s impact by using the B Impact Assessment, impact reports, and other relevant data provided by the company. Over the course of the semester, students will develop recommendations for the company to improve their sustainability efforts.
Goals
- Provide students with real-world, hands-on experience with sustainable businesses
- Support companies improving their impact on their stakeholders and thriving at the intersection of profit and purpose
- Provide companies with actionable recommendations to improve impact
Eligibility Requirements
- Certified B-Corp and/or purpose-driven company with significant sustainability and social impact efforts
- Willing to share most recent B Impact Assessment submission and/or impact reports – with appropriate redactions and/or NDA in place
- Representative able to attend the kickoff session held in class
Course Overview for Companies
Kickoff: late August / early September – class schedule TBD
- Company to share introduction and overview of their sustainability journey and sustainability goals
Course work: September – end of December
- While students are learning and working, companies are requested to be available to answer questions. Company representatives will establish a point of contact and communication preferences with their assigned teams.
- We understand company engagement will vary during this time. We ask for a good-faith effort to be engaged as needed with the students.
Mid-point check in: TBD
- Student teams will share their initial findings for review and feedback.
Final presentation: December
- Student teams will share their final recommendations and wrap up the project
Questions? Contact Avi Mayerhoff at avim@uic.edu
Here is the application link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegKygcZJLEgYVEdwDLmujI0ueo6f_PmKyPFxsh9OepkAgnOA/viewform
Stay well,
Mike Paone
Executive Vice President
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
mpaone@jolietchamber.com
815.727.5371 main
815.727.5373 direct