God is still at work in Springfield. And unlike the Illinois General Assembly, His work does not end when lawmakers finally adjourn. But the rest of us still breathe a sigh of relief. Here’s a recap.
The Final Week of Session
Like last year, the state lawmakers finished at 4 a.m. Monday morning. Like last year, they passed a 3500-page budget no GOP lawmaker had seen until the last day. Like last year, they raised roughly $800 million in new taxes. This year, they failed to get a megaprojects, or Chicago Bears deal, done. In other words, it was a fairly typical end to session.
So the final week was pretty hectic on the budget and the Bears. For IFI, however, the biggest fights of the week centered on HB 4966 and HB 5295.
HB 4966: Unconstitutional? Let’s pass it anyway.
The supermajority ignored the warnings of State Senator Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) on the unconstitutionality of HB 4966 and increasing the plight of these often-traumatized children under DCFS care. They passed it on a partisan roll call. It awaits the governor’s signature, which he is likely to give.
Specifically, HB 4966 creates an affirmation-only framework regarding gender identity and sexual orientation within the DCFS system. If a child says he or she is the opposite sex, then that must be affirmed. Foster parents, caregivers, caseworkers, service providers, placement decisions, and case plans are all directed through that lens. There is no actual help for the child.
Luckily for children, though, help comes via the U.S. Constitution. During debate, Senator Tracy repeatedly pointed senators to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent 8-1 decision in Chiles v. Salazar. In that case, the Court held that government cannot suppress one viewpoint in counseling while permitting another viewpoint. Even Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor joined the majority.
Tracy’s argument was straightforward. If Colorado cannot require counselors to affirm one viewpoint regarding gender identity while prohibiting another, how can Illinois require DCFS caregivers, foster parents, and providers to operate under an affirmation-only model?
So even though it passed, it will be challenged in court by the Thomas More Society.
HB 5295: Another Bill Looking for a Lawsuit.
HB 5295 also crossed the finish line during the final hours of session. HB 5295 mandates that abortion-related and gender-transition-related medical information be hidden from doctors and health care personnel on an electronic health information exchange used all over the country.
The Illinois Hospital Association said that HB 5295 would expose medical professionals to legal liability. State Representative William Hauter, M.D. (R-Morton), the only medical doctor in the legislature, was more direct: HB 5295 will kill people because doctors cannot see their patients’ medical history, which is the primary thing doctors look at in treating patients (in-state or out of state).
Those concerns never went away, though unbelievably proponents got the Illinois Hospital Association to be neutral. I’m sure it was a straitjacket neutral. The IHA was pretty hot about the bill and nothing changed to appease their concerns. I was told MyChart is going to take the state to court over HB 5295. Good for them.
The Speech of the Weekend
One of the more memorable moments came from State Representative Blaine Wilhour (R-Louisville) during budget debate. If you’ve ever seen floor debates, particularly Illinois House floor debates, you know that one legislator may be recognized to “have the floor” to speak, but the other 117 legislators are in conversation with each other and half-listening or not at all.
Everybody knew Representative Wilhour, a member of the Illinois Freedom Caucus, wouldn’t like the budget. Everybody knew he would ask to speak on the budget. What they didn’t predict was the substance and nature of his speech that stopped all (and I mean all) conversations on the floor. Everyone from far left to left to moderate to conservative listened intently. That’s rare.
Since 2019, Wilhour said, Gov. Pritzker and the supermajority has raised taxes by $77 billion on families. Families pay the price – not special interests, not lobbyists, not lawmakers – “moms and dads,” and “seniors” and “people on fixed income.” Why do we keep asking them to pay more, Wilhour asked. “You know what I keep hearing all over the state? ‘Why does my government hate me?’”
When families face financial pressure, they cut spending, he said. When Springfield faces financial pressure, it increases taxes on families. And every year the state comes back to families and says it’s broke. “How does that happen?” he asked. “Why is it never enough?” The money is always going to be used to fix this or that, but it never does because government is spending money on the wrong things.
It was quite a speech.
One Final Observation
Last week I wrote about the growing number of prayer efforts taking place around the Capitol. The Wednesday morning prayer gathering. The Thursday Intercessors for America prayer meetings. The Freedom Caucus Bible study. The pastors quietly walking the halls and praying with legislators. Those efforts continue to grow.
Yes, the legislation is discouraging. The direction of much of our culture remains discouraging. Yet I continue to see conversations taking place that would not have happened a few years ago. I continue to see legislators wrestling with questions of faith. I continue to see people willing to speak biblical truth in a building where doing so often comes with a political cost.
Please pray for the believers who are in the Capitol who are praying with lawmakers and sharing the Gospel. Please pray that the Lord would open the eyes of those they encounter and pray that they would repent, turn to Him, and accept His gift of eternal life.
Read more about the FY 2027 Illinois budget:
More Government, More Taxes, Less Relief for Illinois Families
