NW Illinois News

Senator Andrew Chesney spent last week meeting with residents and local groups across Northwest Illinois to discuss issues facing the 45th District. He emphasized the importance of these conversations for understanding constituents’ priorities.

Chesney attended events such as the Rockton Township Community picnic, met with Shannon’s new Village President Ryan Shaner, and participated in a Legislative Lunch & Learn hosted by the Oregon Chamber of Commerce.

Illinois now holds the highest property tax rate in the United States, according to data from the Tax Foundation. In 2023, Illinois homeowners paid an average effective property tax rate of 1.83%. Neighboring states have lower rates, which Chesney says is one reason people are leaving Illinois. This development follows Governor J.B. Pritzker’s approval of what has been described as the largest state budget in Illinois history, which included nearly $1 billion in new taxes and fees.

Chesney criticized recent tax increases, stating: “The Governor’s agenda is crushing working families, piling even more taxes onto Illinoisans. Instead of making life more affordable, Pritzker and his allies are choosing to spend more, tax more, and ignore real reforms that could actually bring relief to homeowners.”

Governor Pritzker also signed Senate Bill 8 into law last week. The legislation reduces the deadline for reporting a lost or stolen firearm from 72 hours to 48 hours starting January 1, 2026. Those who do not meet this requirement could face fines or lose their Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card.

After the bill was signed, Chesney issued a statement: “These two bills chip away at personal responsibility and constitutional freedoms under the guise of ‘safety’. Forcing law-abiding citizens to jump through bureaucratic hoops while violent offenders walk free in Chicago is nothing more than virtue signaling. It is certainly not an effort to improve public safety.

“Mandating onerous gun storage rules and forcing cops into a federal tracking scheme like eTrace is just more government surveillance wrapped in feel-good rhetoric. If Democrats spent half as much time locking up criminals as they do harassing gun owners, Illinois might actually be safe.”

Chesney argued that many gun owners securely store firearms but may not check them daily, making compliance with a 48-hour rule difficult.

On education issues, Chesney encouraged teachers to consider opting out of union membership during August—the only month most unions accept such requests. He cited federal records from 2024 indicating that organizations like the Illinois Education Association (IEA) spent only 15% of their budgets on representing teachers last year; most funds went toward political activities and administration instead of directly supporting educators or classrooms.

Chesney said this lack of focus harms both teachers and students: “When unions don’t advocate effectively for the issues that truly matter, students are the ones who ultimately lose.” He noted that teachers can retain full salary and benefits if they opt out and choose alternative coverage options.

Finally, Senate Republicans criticized Governor Pritzker for comments about redistricting efforts outside Illinois. They accused him of hypocrisy after he signed partisan maps drawn by Democrats in secret during his term—despite previously promising to support independent redistricting.

“If the rules only matter when his party benefits, it was never about voters or fairness,” Chesney said regarding Pritzker’s approach to redistricting.

Chesney was elected as a Republican to represent Illinois’ 45th Senate District in 2023 after Brian Stewart retired from office.