EDUCATION
This week, we celebrated Homeschool Lobby Day at the State Capitol. We proudly stood with homeschool families and advocates to protect their rights. I was honored to host homeschool families from El Paso, Washington and Varna in District 105.
This year, Democrats have proposed legislation (HB 2827) that places burdensome reporting, curricular and administrative requirements on families in the homeschool community. We believe that parents know what’s best for their children and we stand against these intrusive mandates.
Sign my petition to protect homeschool freedom in Illinois. Tipsword Homeschool Petition – Illinois House Republicans
AROUND THE DISTRICT
I had a great discussion with the folks who attended the Livingston County Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast this morning! Special thanks to Precision Planting, who were our hosts, and to the FFA students who cooked for us!
SCOTT’S LAW
Remember: SLOW DOWN and MOVE OVER when passing any vehicle with hazard or emergency lights activated.
Illinois State Police trooper injured in I-57 crash after driver fails to move over
IMMIGRATION
Audit shows Pritzker Administration vastly underestimated the cost of immigrant healthcare program. Last week, the Illinois Auditor General released the results of an audit of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors and Adults programs, which showed that the State of Illinois has already spent over $1.6 billion in taxpayer funds on health benefits for undocumented immigrants.
According to the Auditor General’s report released on February 26, Governor Pritzker’s administration vastly underestimated the actual cost and actual enrollment of the HBIS and HBIA programs.
Regarding the initial cost estimates for all three fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023:
- for HBIS (65+) the total estimate was $224.0 million, while the actual total cost was $412.3 million or 84 percent higher;
- for HBIA (55-64) the total estimate was $58.4 million, while the actual total cost was $223.1 million or 282 percent higher; and
- for HBIA (42-54) the total estimate was $68.0 million, while the actual total cost was $262.2 million or 286 percent higher.
The total cost for the HBIS and HBIA programs since inception was just over $1.6 billion (for FY21-FY24). Fiscal Year 2025 has an estimated cost of $629 million, which was not included in the audit, bringing the total estimated cost of the programs to $2.2 billion.
Regarding the estimated number of enrollees, in FY23:
- for HBIS (65+), the initial estimated number of enrollees was 6,700, while the actual number enrolled was 15,831;
- for HBIA (55-64), the initial estimated number of enrollees was 8,000, while the actual number enrolled was 17,024; and
- for HBIA (42-54), the initial estimated number of enrollees was 18,800, while the actual number enrolled was 36,912.
Governor Pritzker has proposed ending the HBIA program for undocumented immigrant adults aged 42-64 in his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The State of Illinois has already spent nearly $1 billion on health benefits for this age group, with actual costs being 282 to 286 percent higher than the administration’s initial estimates. Gov. Pritzker only proposed eliminating this program for adults aged 42-64, while keeping the HBIS program intact for undocumented immigrants aged 65+.
HEALTHCARE
Health Alliance to exit insurance market at the end of 2025. Health Alliance, a provider of health insurance coverage to approximately 280,000 Illinoisans – mostly in Central Illinois – announced plans this week to wind down its coverage for working-age patients and their families and to withdraw from non-Medicare markets on January 1, 2026.
Health Alliance has approximately 600 employees in Illinois, mostly located in and around its Champaign-Urbana headquarters. The health care announcement was made on Wednesday, February 26.
WITNESS SLIPS
Do you want to file a witness slip on proposed legislation and have your voice heard? Please visit the Illinois General Assembly website at the link below and follow the instructions on the graphic above.
Illinois General Assembly Home Page
HUNTING
Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary record statewide total of 1,045 wild turkeys during the 2024-25 fall archery turkey season.
Fall archery season in Illinois yields record harvest of 1,045 wild turkeys – Muddy River Sports