Senator Chesney Urges President Trump to Proceed with Plans to Send National Guard to Chicago
The news has been filled with articles lately about President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., and the success that effort has had in reducing crime in our nation’s capital.
The President has made it clear that public safety in the City of Chicago is also top of mind, as crime statistics for over a decade have listed Chicago as “the Murder Capitol of the United States.” After the President made his announcement regarding a deployment in Chicago, Governor Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and several other liberal Democrats held a press conference and denounced the idea of the National Guard being deployed in Chicago, going so far as to suggest that Illinois did not need any help the Trump Administration might want to provide.
On Tuesday, I participated in a press conference with a group of conservative legislators and anti-crime advocates. During the conference, we urged President Trump to move forward with plans to deploy the National Guard in Chicago.
Click here to view my press conference remarks.
Illinois’ Cashless Bail System Under National Scrutiny
Illinois is once again in the national spotlight as concerns grow over the state’s controversial decision to eliminate cash bail. On August 25, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to explore blocking funding to states that ended cash bail, claiming that the policy undermines public safety. I support this executive order 100%.
As you may recall, I recently renewed my own call for the repeal of the SAFE-T Act following the senseless and preventable death of an innocent Freeport woman at the hands of an illegal immigrant who was a repeat felony DUI and battery offender.
Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate cash bail in 2023 under the SAFE-T Act, a move that Republicans warned would hurt law enforcement’s ability to keep dangerous offenders off the streets. Since then, critics say the law has allowed repeat and violent offenders to walk free while communities pay the price.
Illinois families deserve a justice system that prioritizes victims and law enforcement over criminals, not reckless policies that put ideology ahead of safety and reward criminals. To that end, I am again calling on Democrat leaders to repeal the SAFE-T Act and restore accountability before communities and law-abiding citizens are harmed.
Record Number of Kids Participate in Senator Chesney’s Summer Reading Program
I recently had an opportunity to celebrate reading with a record number of children from the 45th District who participated in my 2025 Summer Reading Program. We had a total of 160 participants this year, and on August 23, we met at Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square in Freeport. Participants received official Senate recognition for their participation and a gift card for an ice cream treat at a local parlor.
Summer reading is vital to young minds, and I thank everyone who helped make this year’s program a tremendous success!
Bill Ensuring Care for Retired Police K9s Signed into Law
Legislation I supported this year that creates the Care for Retired Police Dogs Grant Program has been signed into law. The program is designed to support the veterinary needs of retired police K9s across Illinois.
House Bill 3140 establishes a grant that provides up to $1,500 each year to reimburse handlers or adoptive families for veterinary expenses. Eligible K9s must have served at least five years, or three years if they were injured while on duty.
The program is fully funded through sales of Illinois’ new K-9 Memorial License Plate, with no cost to taxpayers. To ensure sustainability, the initiative will only launch if a minimum of 2,000 license plate requests are received by January 2028.
This new law helps honor the service of police dogs while easing the financial burden on the families who care for them in retirement.
Illinois Families and Educators Can Claim Back-to-School Tax Savings
As students return to classrooms across the state, Illinois families and educators have access to valuable tax credits to help offset the cost of education. These programs are designed to provide relief for both parents covering school expenses and teachers who often spend their own money on supplies.
Parents and guardians may qualify for the K-12 Education Expense Credit, which provides up to $750 per household. Families can claim 25 percent of eligible expenses above $250, including costs such as tuition, book rentals, and lab fees paid directly to a school. Home-school families may also qualify for certain expenses tied to an approved curriculum. Last year alone, nearly 200,000 families took advantage of this credit, saving an average of $324.
Educators may be eligible for the Instructional Materials and Supplies Credit, which helps reimburse the out-of-pocket costs of classroom needs. Full-time K-12 teachers, aides, counselors, and principals working at least 900 hours in the school year can claim up to $500 in credits. Married couples who are both educators and file jointly may receive up to $1,000. More than 81,000 Illinois educators used this credit in 2024, collectively saving over $35 million.
These tax credits are a practical way to help ease the financial burden of a new school year, and I would encourage families and teachers to keep their receipts and file for the relief they deserve.
For more information, visit tax.illinois.gov and see IDOR Publication 112.
