Local State Senator sponsors migrant transparency legislation

State Senator Don DeWitte is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 1699, which would require a state agency to produce annual reports detailing expenditures on services such for non-citizens.

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As Illinois grapples with a $3.2 billion budget deficit, a new legislative push aims to shed light on how taxpayer dollars are allocated to programs for non-citizens.

State Senator Don DeWitte (who represents the 33rd District including a sizable portion of the Tri-Cities) is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 1699, which would require detailed annual reports on expenditures on services such as healthcare, housing, and legal aid for non-citizens.

From Senator DeWitte’s newsletter:

Since taking office, Governor Pritzker has increased spending on programs for non-citizens—from a few million to over $1 billion annually—offering free healthcare, legal services, free drivers licenses, and housing to fulfill his goal of making Illinois “the most welcoming state in the nation.”

Over the past 2 ½ years, he has issued 30 monthly emergency declarations, using executive authority to redirect taxpayer dollars without legislative oversight. This unchecked spending comes as families struggle with high taxes and rising living costs, while the administration continues to withhold basic cost details despite Senate Republican inquiries.

SB 1699 would specifically require the Illinois Department of Human Services, in coordination with other relevant state agencies, to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on state spending for non-citizens.

The report would include details on the total amount spent, specific appropriations, the number of families impacted, funding sources, and contracts awarded for services such as healthcare, housing, and legal support.

The report would also be publicly available online for taxpayer transparency. The bill also requires the Governor to include a detailed accounting of all proposed spending on non-citizen populations in future state budgets.

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