Summer Rate Hikes Hit Customers’ Wallets
Earlier this year, Ameren and ComEd announced summer electricity rates would increase significantly. These increases are the result of energy grid capacity auctions and the ongoing strain on Illinois’ power supply.
Senate Republicans say the blame for the current rate hikes and supply issues in Illinois’ energy sector lies squarely with failed policies pushed by Democrat lawmakers that have forced reliable power plants offline and blocked construction of new ones.
To fight back, State Senator Terri Bryant is calling for the passage of their energy legislative package when the General Assembly returns for its fall Veto Session. The legislative package would:
- Create a task force to examine how state energy policies are impacting prices and reliability (SB 1234),
- Repeal the forced closure date for fossil fuel plants and allow new peaker plants to be built (SB 1235), and
- Cut permitting delays that have stalled projects like the Lincoln Land Energy Center (SB 1236).
In the meantime, Illinois residents looking for ways to reduce their energy usage and lower their monthly bills can visit the Senate Republican Caucus’ Energy Savings FAQ page.
Illinois Sends Search and Rescue Team to Texas
In the aftermath of the deadly flooding in Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, an Illinois Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team has been deployed by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS). Illinois is one of around two dozen states offering aid to Texas.
Thirty-nine rescuers from various fire departments are part of the team sent to Texas under a mutual aid agreement among states, in place since 1996. This mutual aid agreement has led to thousands of aid deployments after hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other disasters.
The Illinois team departed on July 11, 2025, and is expected to remain there for up to two weeks.
Illinois Ranks Last for Financial Transparency
In a recently released report, Illinois was dead last in the country concerning financial transparency when compared to all 50 states. Researchers with Truth in Accounting, who put out the report, claim Illinois’ ranking can be highlighted by the state’s delay in publishing its fiscal year 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports. That report was meant to be published by June 30, 2024, but the Illinois Comptroller’s Office has only released an “interim” version.
The Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports are meant to be one of the most accurate ways to view the state’s financial outlook. While the 2023 report remains incomplete, the state’s 2022 report included a disclaimer of opinion, meaning auditors were unable to ensure the financial statements were free of material misstatements. This raises further questions about the state’s fiscal accountability.
State Senator Terri Bryant says that this report is yet another reminder of Illinois Democrats’ inability to provide basic transparency to taxpayers. She argues that timely and accurate financial reporting is essential for building trust with the public and for making sound budgetary decisions. Senator Bryant warns Illinois will continue to struggle with credibility and fiscal stability until Illinois Democrats take financial responsibility seriously.
DCEO Awards Tech Incubator Grants
Last week, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DECO) announced that they will be awarding $7 million to four tech incubators across the state.
The Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant (TIEG) Program allows the state to give capital grants to facilities that focus on a key growth industry as defined in the Illinois Economic Growth Plan. In addition, TEIG plans to focus on industries of the future such as life sciences, clean energy production and manufacturing, and next-generation agriculture, which are also outlined in the 2024 Growth Plan.
The program aims to support incubators that foster innovation, collaboration, and resilience. After a competitive selection process, the grants were awarded to three new projects and one already existing incubator. The grantees and their awards are as follows:
- 518 Collective at Carl Sandburg College- $1,811,907
- Deep Tech Innovation Lab at mHUB- $590,200
- EnterpriseWorks 2.0 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign- $3,000,000
- SouthernTECH High-Tech Food Incubator at Southern Illinois University- $1,597,893
State Senator Terri Bryant says this program will help incubators to continue to play an essential role in innovation and entrepreneurship in Illinois’ economy.
State Police Graduates Largest Class in 25 Years
The Illinois State Police (ISP) recently marked a major milestone as it graduated its largest cadet class in 25 years with the addition of 95 new troopers.
Cadet Class 150, representing both traditional cadets and lateral entries, completed rigorous training that combined classroom and physical instruction.
In addition to academy training, each trooper will now enter 14 weeks of field training under the guidance of experienced Field Training Officers before transitioning to solo patrol duties.
The 95 troopers reported for official duty on July 13th, joining all ten ISP Troop locations statewide.
For more information about becoming a state trooper, click here.
Homelessness Rises to 116% as Cost-of-Living Soars in Illinois
The Illinois Shelter Alliance has released data showing that homelessness within the state has increased by 116% in the last year. Both urban and rural areas are feeling the burden, advocates say a common thread runs through the crisis: the high cost of living.
In just six years, the Governor has significantly expanded state spending to more than $55 billion, a nearly 40% increase. This represents the fastest and most dramatic growth in Illinois state spending in history.
Furthermore, while homelessness was increasing last year, Illinois Democrats prioritized funding for non-citizens, spending nearly a billion dollars on services and programs. Meanwhile, the state only allocated $290 million for housing and homelessness in last year’s budget.
While Chicago experienced issues from asylum-seeking people, working-class families across downstate Illinois are struggling to keep up with rising housing costs. The Illinois Shelter Alliance estimates that housing-related homelessness is up between 40 and 50 percent due to inflation, rent increases, and overall lack of affordability.
State Senator Terri Bryant says the state’s misplaced priorities have made life harder for families and communities across Illinois and that Democratic lawmakers should focus on addressing the root causes of homelessness and providing relief for those who need it most.