Kane County Reporter

More than $100,000 in unclaimed property was returned to residents at a recent ICASH event hosted by Senator Don DeWitte in South Elgin. Among the claims, one individual discovered $50,000, another found $32,000, and two others each claimed $27,000. The Illinois Treasurer’s office mobile team also assisted several attendees in recovering smaller amounts.

Senator DeWitte announced upcoming outreach events aimed at seniors in his district. These include senior expos and free document shredding events across Carpentersville, St. Charles, Pingree Grove, Elburn, and Crystal Lake over the next two months. Nearly 50 agencies and organizations will participate in the first Senior Expo in Carpentersville. Residents are encouraged to check his website for updates on future events.

Four communities within the 33rd District have received grants from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) as part of its annual technical assistance program. The funding supports projects such as ADA compliance upgrades, bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, capital projects, and transportation initiatives. CMAP selected this year’s grant recipients from more than 80 applications submitted by 72 communities across northeastern Illinois. More information about these projects is available online.

In state political developments, former Obama administration officials Bill Daley and Ray LaHood have launched “Fair Maps Illinois,” a coalition advocating for an independent commission to redraw legislative districts. The proposed amendment would prohibit the use of political or voting data in redistricting and focus on creating compact districts that protect minority representation. Supporters must collect at least 320,000 signatures to place the measure on the 2026 ballot.

Senator DeWitte commented on his long-standing support for fair map initiatives: “I have always been a supporter of fair maps, and have co-sponsored legislation that would take map-drawing out of the hands of politicians. These include SJRCA 04 from the 101st General Assembly and SJRCA 13 from the 102nd General Assembly.”

Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed House Bill 460 into law. The measure expands eligibility for state-funded college scholarships and grants to non-citizens who do not qualify for federal aid—a move that has drawn criticism from some lawmakers including Senator DeWitte.

“The new law directs limited financial resources away from Illinois families and funnels them to individuals who are not in the country legally,” said DeWitte. “Every dollar given to a non-citizen under HB 460 comes at the expense of a citizen Illinois student who is desperate for college financial aid.” He added: “With Illinois families already burdened by some of the highest taxes in the nation, they will now be forced to subsidize college aid for individuals who are not citizens.”

DeWitte noted federal law prohibits student aid for non-citizens and stated: “HB 460 sidesteps those protections, using taxpayers to cover the costs instead. I voted against this measure when it was brought before the Senate because I believe that since college financial aid is hard to come by, it should be reserved for Illinois citizens.”

DeWitte has represented Illinois’ 33rd Senate District since being elected in 2018 after replacing Karen McConnaughay.

https://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2749