State Senator Don DeWitte

06/08/2026

We have some very fine artists here in the 33rd Senate District, and last week we celebrated with the winners of my 2026 Art Contest!

06/08/2026

Session ends on a sour note with passage of record-high budget and no deal for the Bears.

With No Bears Bill Sent to the Governor Before Adjournment, Bears Say They’ll Move Forward in Indiana I was hopeful the legislature would have success when I learned a simplified proposal to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois was coming forward in the final hours of session. Typically I would frow...

06/08/2026

We're bringing a mobile team from the IL Tollway to Lake in the Hills this week for an IPASS on Demand event! If you haven't switched out your plastic IPASS transponder for the new sticker technology yet, here's your chance to take care of that for FREE!

State Senators Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) and Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) are bringing a mobile team from the Illinois Tollway to Lake in the Hills for an IPASS on Demand event on June 9. “With so many motorists still needing to make the switch from the old plastic transponders to the new sti...

06/06/2026

I supported the Bears bill that came before the Senate in the final hours of session. Was it a perfect bill? No. But in my opinion, it checked all the boxes of what we needed to do. Click the link to read my official statement on the Bears' announcement.

On Friday, the Chicago Bears organization announced it will advance its stadium development in Hammond, Indiana. Upon learning the news, State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) issued the following statement:   “Today’s announcement that the Chicago Bears will move forward with their stadium ...

06/05/2026

We have had tremendous success in helping people find cash and property they didn’t even know they were owed. In fact, we have had instances where constituents have found tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected cash. I hope you join us for this event!

State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is partnering with the Illinois Treasurer’s Office on Wednesday, June 17, with hopes of connecting residents of the 33rd Senate District with more than $5 billion in unclaimed property and cash. From 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, attendees can meet with a counse...

06/04/2026

Here's my full floor speech prior to the FY 2027 budget vote. Quite simply, the answer to every issue cannot be to spend more and send taxpayers a bigger bill. When does it stop?

06/04/2026

An amazing turnout! So many constituents are concerned about their rising property taxes!

More than 80 constituents learned from the expert on Tuesday night. Mr. Mark Armstrong, Kane County Supervisor of Assessments, explained where the taxes go and how to appeal your property taxes. all while his staff helped answer specific questions.

Thanks to State Representative Dan Ugaste for co-sponsoring. We really enjoyed the conversations.

06/02/2026

At the end of the day, it all comes down to one simple truth. And that truth is why I voted against the budget.

06/02/2026

Join us tonight to learn about how your property tax bill is created, how to make sure you are receiving all available exemptions, and how you can challenge your assessment if you believe it is too high.

06/02/2026

Some reality from my legislative partner Dan Ugaste in the House regarding “the Bears bill.” Republican votes in the House could have finalized a path forward for the Bears.
Speaker Chris Welch will always fall back to his unconstitutional “60 vote rule” when it’s politically expedient to pacify his fractured caucus, and to protect his fragile leadership position;

UGASTE: “THERE IS A CLEAR WINNING PATH ON THE BEARS STADIUM. PUT IT ON THE BOARD.”
SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Dan Ugaste says lawmakers are overcomplicating what should be a straightforward agreement to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois while delivering meaningful long-term property tax reform for taxpayers statewide.
Ugaste said there is a simple path forward that would likely receive support from a majority of Republican legislators in the General Assembly.
“This does not need to become a massive, complicated legislative package filled with unrelated projects and gimmicks,” said Ugaste. “There is a practical, commonsense path that creates winners across the board.”
Under the framework outlined by Ugaste:
• The Bears receive the long-term property tax certainty needed to finance the project.
• The Bears would still pay what would likely remain the highest property tax bill for a stadium anywhere in Illinois — and likely the nation.
• Local taxpayers would be protected by eliminating the ability for unachieved projected tax revenue from the development to be shifted onto surrounding homeowners and businesses.
• The state would provide needed infrastructure improvements using existing transportation funds already intended for projects like this.
• Property taxpayers statewide would finally receive meaningful reforms by ending “back-door referendums” and requiring property tax referendum questions to appear only on November ballots where voter participation is highest.
Ugaste said the proposal creates a rare opportunity where every stakeholder benefits.
“The Bears win because they get certainty. The local school district wins because it gains additional tax revenue without adding students. Local taxpayers win because they are protected. Property taxpayers across Illinois win because they finally get long-overdue reforms. And the state wins with a privately funded $3 billion to $5 billion world-class stadium complex that will bring major events and economic activity to Chicagoland for decades,” Ugaste said.
“There are no losers in this scenario. Put it on the board. It passes.”