Illinois Senate Republicans launch legislation; say they want more transparency in state spending for non-citizens

With Illinois facing a $3.2 billion budget deficit, Senate Republicans are once again demanding answers about how much taxpayer money is being spent on programs for non-citizens.

At a Tuesday Statehouse news conference, Illinois Senate Republican Whip Jil Tracy (R-Quincy), Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley), and Senator Li Arellano, Jr (R-Dixon) announced the reintroduction of legislation requiring detailed annual reports on non-citizen spending.

“Pouring over $1 billion annually into programs for non-citizens—and that’s just the spending we can track—is reckless and unsustainable, especially when families are struggling to pay their bills,” said Syverson. “We can’t keep asking people to sacrifice more for programs that don’t prioritize them. Illinois families deserve better.”

Since taking office, Governor JB Pritzker has expanded spending on non-citizen programs, including free healthcare, legal services, housing, and other benefits, under the promise of making Illinois “the most welcoming state in the nation.” Meanwhile, this spending comes at a time when families are already struggling with high taxes and the rising cost of living.

Over the past 2 ½ years, Pritzker has issued 30 monthly emergency declarations, using his executive power to move taxpayer dollars around with little oversight. These declarations have allowed him to bypass the legislative process and redirect funding from existing state programs without scrutiny. Despite inquiries from Senate Republicans, the Administration has failed to provide basic details about the total costs.

“Transparency is the first step in restoring accountability and putting the needs of Illinois families back at the forefront,” added Arellano. “It’s time for Pritzker to stop hiding behind emergency powers and give taxpayers the answers they deserve.”

Senate Bill 1699 would require the Illinois Department of Human Services, in coordination with relevant state agencies, to submit an annual report to the General Assembly identifying all state spending on services and resources for non-citizens. The report would also be made publicly available online for full taxpayer transparency.

The report would include details of services and resources provided by various state entities, including but not limited to the State Board of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Health, Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, Department of Central Management Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

The report is required to include the following information concerning expenditures:

• Total amount spent on non-citizen and asylum-seeking populations in the previous fiscal year.
• Specific appropriations authorizing the spending.
• Any transfers among line-item appropriations associated with non-citizen and asylum-seeking populations.
• Total number of families or individuals impacted by each service or resource.
• Funding sources of the service or resource.
• Contracts awarded to organizations providing services or resources in various categories such as emergency shelter, food, health screenings, legal services, job readiness support, enrollment in public schools, long-term housing, mental health assessments, and other related spending.

Further, the legislation requires the Governor to include a detailed accounting of all proposed spending on non-citizen populations in future state budgets, providing an additional layer of transparency to the people of Illinois.

The legislators argued that with the budget process set to begin following the Governor’s annual address on February 18, it is critical to understand the scope of migrant-related spending and its impact on essential services for Illinois residents.

“This legislation will put an end to Governor Pritzker’s ability to hide the true cost of his non-citizen welfare programs behind emergency declarations,” said Tracy. “Taxpayers deserve to know exactly how their money is being spent, and Senate Bill 1699 will give them that transparency while restoring trust in the budgeting process.”

With Senate Bill 1699, Senate Republicans are pushing for transparency to restore public trust and ensure that Illinois taxpayers have a clear understanding of how their money is being used.