Illinois’ Democrat Lawmakers Keep Shortchanging Local Communities

Illinois Democrats love to talk about local control—but their actions tell a very different story. In Springfield, they continue to pass down expensive mandates to cities, towns, and school districts, all while starving them of the resources needed to meet those demands.

Whether it’s the unfunded requirements stemming from the SAFE‑T Act, costly zoning preemptions, or education mandates on school districts — the pattern is clear: the state piles on the requirements, then walks away from the bill.

At the same time, Democrat lawmakers refuse to restore the full share of Local Government Distributive Funds (LGDF)—the portion of state income tax revenue that’s supposed to go back to municipalities. This means towns across Illinois are being forced to do more with less, leading to local tax hikes, staff cuts, or slashed services.

The problem doesn’t stop there. Many of the laws coming out of Springfield are rushed, poorly thought out, and full of unintended consequences. Whether it’s crime policy, energy regulation, or housing rules, Democrat legislation often creates more problems than it solves—hurting the very people it's meant to help.

The result? Local leaders are stuck cleaning up the mess, and taxpayers are left footing the bill.

It’s time for a reset. Illinois House Republicans understand that strong communities don’t grow from top-down control—they grow when Springfield respects local governments, listens to residents, and passes laws that actually work.