NW Illinois News

Andrew Chesney, senator for Illinois' 45th District, has challenged the state budget on procedural grounds. He argues that Democrats did not adhere to established rules regarding when and how many times a bill must be read before a vote.

"This morning I filed a court challenge to the passage of the FY 2026 budget, claiming Democrats did not follow proper procedure that requires every bill to have three readings on three different days," said Andrew S. Chesney, Illinois State Senator (R), according to Facebook.

The fiscal year 2026 budget was introduced in the Illinois House on May 30, 2025, just one day before the legislature's deadline to pass it with a simple majority, according to ABC 7. The extensive spending plan, spanning over 3,300 pages, included nearly $1 billion in new taxes on tobacco, vaping products, and gambling but did not alter state income or sales taxes.

Screenshot of State Senator Andrew Chesney's June 5 Facebook post | State Senator Andrew Chesney's Facebook page

In a news release linked to his Facebook post, Chesney said that his legal challenge is based on a constitutional violation. He cited the requirement that every bill be read on three separate days in both the House and Senate before a vote. This rule is intended to ensure legislators understand what they are voting on, allow for deliberation, and protect taxpayers. "This is a deliberate and repeated subversion of the people’s Constitution," said Chesney. "When it’s all done in secret and there’s token debate, here’s what you get: a billion dollars in tax hikes, $43 million in property tax relief removed, and a $40 million earmark quietly slipped into the Speaker’s district."

Several other Republicans have joined the complaint against House Speaker Emmanuel Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon. They are seeking a temporary restraining order to block enforcement of Senate Bill 2510 during legal proceedings. The complaint also requests a permanent injunction to prevent Welch and Harmon from certifying SB 2510, House Bill 20755, and House Bill 1075—bills identified as key components of the fiscal year 2026 budget.

Chesney has represented Illinois’ 45th Senate District since 2022 after serving in the House representing the 89th District starting in December 2018. His previous roles include being a member of the Freeport City Council and serving on the board of the Regional Access Mobilization Project (RAMP), which supports people with disabilities. Additionally, he has been involved as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.