By Terri Bryant, Illinois state senator
Pritzker Adds Two to Prisoner Review Board, Republicans Continue Calls for More Transparency
Appointments to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB) are once again facing criticism after Governor JB Pritzker added two new members to the state’s parole and release board last month.
On August 29, Governor Pritzker appointed Timothy Nugent and Tracy Buckley as the newest, yet-to-be-confirmed members of the Prisoner Review Board. Nugent, who served as mayor of Manteno, supported Pritzker’s efforts to secure zoning for a controversial Chinese battery manufacturing company. Buckley, a former chief of operations and administrator for the board, served during a period when the PRB itself faced intense criticism.
The Prisoner Review Board is responsible for deciding whether individuals, often convicted of serious crimes, should be granted release. Despite persistent criticism from Senate Republicans over the qualifications of its members and Governor Pritzker’s refusal to bring those members before the General Assembly for confirmation, the board, under the Governor’s authority, has approved significantly more releases than previous administrations, including several high-profile cases involving convicted murderers.
In June, Gov. Pritzker also signed Senate Bill 19 into law, making sweeping changes to the PRB, including extending member terms from six to eight years.
State Senator Terri Bryant, who opposed SB 19, warned that the Governor is more interested in protecting his appointees from accountability than in ensuring transparency. She argued that the focus should be on keeping violent criminals behind bars, not shielding appointees from oversight.
Federal Lawsuit Challenges Illinois Law Giving Financial Aid to Undocumented Students
Illinois is once again facing a federal lawsuit over its immigration policies, this time for offering taxpayer-funded financial aid and in-state tuition to undocumented students. Earlier this summer, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 460 into law, expanding state scholarships and grants to include undocumented immigrants beginning next year.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit against Illinois, Governor Pritzker, and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, arguing the law violates federal statutes that prohibit giving benefits to individuals in the country illegally that are not equally provided to U.S. citizens. Federal officials say the law discriminates against students from other states who are legally in the U.S. but do not receive the same financial breaks Illinois is now promising to undocumented immigrants.
The lawsuit contends that Illinois’ policy not only conflicts with federal law but also shifts the financial burden onto taxpayers while incentivizing more illegal immigration.
State Senator Terri Bryant says this latest lawsuit is further proof that Governor Pritzker’s policies are putting the interests of those here illegally ahead of hardworking Illinois families. She believes taxpayer-funded financial aid should be reserved for U.S. citizens and legal residents, not used to create additional incentives for illegal immigration.
New Legislation Seeks to Provide Relief to Middle-Class Illinoisans Struggling with Soaring Utility Bills
In response to the recent spike in electricity rates throughout the entire state, newly filed Senate Republican legislation seeks to provide much-needed relief for Illinois families struggling with rising utility bills.
Senate Bill 2687, also known as the Home Utility Relief Act, creates a Home Utility Rebate Program through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The program would provide rebates to households with incomes between 100% and 500% of the federal poverty guidelines. These are families who often earn too much to qualify for traditional low-income assistance programs but are still burdened by rapidly rising energy costs.
The measure establishes a $500 million Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund to be used in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. After rebates are issued to qualifying households, any remaining funds may also be made available to certain first-time small business owners.
State Senator Terri Bryant says that families across the state are already struggling to keep up with the higher costs of living and are now being hit with soaring electricity bills. She says that working and middle-class families often find themselves with no access to programs to help offset spiraling energy prices.
State Launches Cemetery Relief Fund Grant Program
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) recently announced the launch of the Cemetery Relief Fund Grant Program. The initiative is designed to help restore cemeteries that have been abandoned, neglected, or are otherwise in need of care.
Under the program, IDFPR will award ten grants of up to $20,000 each year to eligible applicants. Units of local government and not-for-profit organizations, including cemetery authorities, are encouraged to apply.
To qualify, applicants must meet requirements under the Cemetery Oversight Act, have a valid FEIN, be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, and be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grant Portal. Local governments must show proof of authorization for the application, while not-for-profits must provide proof of nonprofit status. If the applying entity does not own the cemetery, it must either secure permission from the owner or explain why that permission is not possible.
Applications are due by October 24, 2025. To assist with the process, AmpliFund, the state’s grant management platform, hosted a virtual training session earlier this month and made the session available on IDFPR’s YouTube page.
Questions about the program can be directed to Denise Bullocks, IDFPR Deputy Director of Cemetery and Funeral Oversight, at denise.bullocks@illinois.gov or (312) 814-6187.