Laura Hois: 2026 candidate for Illinois House District 81

Bio

Office sought: House District 81

Party: Republican

City: Downers Grove

Age: 68

Previous offices held: Town Clerk Downers Grove Township 2013-17

Q&A

What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing the state in the next four years, and how should they be addressed?

1. High Property Taxes, 2. Public Safety, 3. Quality Education. Too-High Property Taxes should be addressed starting with a thorough review of how taxpayer money is being spent and reducing or eliminating unnecessary or inappropriate line items (e.g. expenditures for “free everything” for illegals, and continuing with common-sense spending restraint, making necessary adjustments to allow the state to distribute 100% of the funds that should be going to municipalities. Public Safety must improve with amendments to the Safe-T Act, expanding detainable offenses to include burglary, organized retail theft, financial exploitation of the elderly, trespass to a resident, Class 2 or higher DUI, and mandatory detention for aggravated battery to a police officer or first responder. Reform standards to give judges greater ability to consider criminal history, recent violent conduct, and patterns of behavior. Quality Education free of politics, trans-influencing, pornography and social emotional learning (S.E.L.) should be required to restore high standards and allow students to achieve grade-level student proficiencies in math and reading before they can graduate.

How would you assess the General Assembly's handling, to date, of the various proposals surrounding a Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights? What proposals would you have been willing to support and in what ways, if any, might you have approached it differently?

My assessment: the General Assembly cannot proceed with any of the various proposals related to a Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights, due to poor planning, past fiscal mismanagement and the fact that Illinois has the highest taxes in the nation. Lawmakers cannot justify giving the Chicago Bears a break on property taxes when that would further increase the tax burden on local area property owners and on Illinoisans. The numbers simply do not work. The state of Illinois has been in fiscal decline for over 7 years and has lost massive revenue from the outmigration of 300,000 people, mostly high-income earners, and 1,200 businesses. Governor Pritzker is #1 in lowest fiscal transparency. Thus, there is uncertainty about our future when Illinois taxpayers do not know where the money is going.

Now roughly three years into the elimination of cash bail in Illinois as part of the SAFE-T Act, how would you assess the success or failure of the criminal justice reform measure? What changes, if any, would you support?

Illinois was the first state in the nation to implement a “no cash bail” policy as part of its Safe-T Act. Based on virtually unanimous input received from Chief's of Police and County Sheriff's across the state, “no cash bail” has made Illinois communities less safe. Allowing violent criminals, thieves, and trespassers to roam the streets after a citation issues or an arrest is made with no detainment results in repeat crimes and tragic deaths. The state has entered a world where there are no consequences for those who commit major crimes, such as organized retail theft, burglary, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Class 2 or higher DUI, and aggravated battery — even against police officers. It is well known that the Safe-T Act is UNSAFE. This cannot continue. I support amending the Safe-T Act to expand the list of detainable offenses and make detention mandatory for aggravated battery against police or first responders. I support allowing judges more discretion to detain criminals based on their criminal history, recent violent conduct, and/or disturbing patterns of behavior. To prevent harm, decisions must be made based upon documented risks and criminal history.

Illinois homeowners face one of the highest relative property tax burdens in the country. What specific proposals could you offer to ease the burden on state residents?

Tax relief must start in the Governor's office and Springfield lawmakers, with spending restraint and no new taxes. I specifically propose that we address the under-funded pensions in Illinois by seeking voter approval of an amendment to the Illinois Constitution allowing for forward-looking adjustments to 401(k) style plans for public employees that are the same or similar to those offered in the private sector. I propose reducing the size of government by eliminating or scaling back some of the public services that do not serve the hard-working people and thriving private sector businesses in Illinois. I propose a major change toward incentivising private sector business growth to spur productivity and create private sector job opportunities. I propose reducing regulations to strengthen private sector business growth and restore American spirit, allowing young entrepreneurs to start and maintain successful businesses in Illinois. I would support ICE deportations, eliminate all spending on illegal aliens and vastly reduce subsidies granted to powerful special interests. I would amend the 2021 CEJA law to delete provisions giving preference to minority groups.

Gov. JB Pritzker recently paused a state initiative granting incentives to data center developers, and residents statewide have concerns about how such developments are affecting their access to water, utility rates, and the environment. How should the state approach data centers going forward?

I support local control over the location and development of data centers. Federal and state guidlines should be implemented to require data center operators to: pay for their own power plants and related costs, guarantee the efficient use of water so as not to deplete water supply or increase resident utility costs for electricity and water, and ensure any potential public safety threats related to environmental are elminated. I support the pause allowing residents to obtain the facts they need to provide meaningful input regarding the proposed development and operation of data centers in their municipalities or regions. The state should impose the protections needed, but defer to local residents regarding location.

Illinois’ “sanctuary” policies concerning immigration have made it a target for the Trump administration and critics who say they encourage criminal behavior. How do you feel about those policies, and how, if at all, would you change them?

I oppose Illinois sanctuary policies. I oppose state and local resistance to ICE federal immigration enforcement. The state, through Governor Pritzker, should respect rather than fight federal spending cuts. Pritzker should change course to acknowledge that President Trump is right not to allow Illinois to continue its theft of taxpayer money by diverting federal or state funds to pay for illegal alien housing, food, medical care, and stipends. None of the spending on illegals, who do not belong here, should have ever happened in the first place. To turn this state around and restore trust in government, Illinois must end this corrupt government overreach, support ICE deportations, expose fraud by DOGE-ing Illinois, and reimburse the feds and taxpayers for with money that is recovered from the fraudsters.

Many women in the legislature complain about a culture of sexual harassment in Springfield. Do you see evidence of this and, if so, what should be done about it?

Yes. My opponent and many Illinois Democrat lawmakers stayed silent on Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch, even as questions mounted over his handling of sexual harassment allegations. A change to the culture of hiding malfeasance is sorely needed to restore trust in Illinois leaders. There is an obvious need for transparency and immediate action taken in response to complaints received by women in the legislature. Remaining silent and allowing the sexual harassment issues to continue only exacerbates the problem.

Are you satisfied with the state's existing ethics policies for senators and representatives? If so, what about the policies should reassure Illinoisans that elected leaders abide by high standards? If not, what changes need to be made?

The existing ethics policies for senators and representatives may be fine as written, but super-majority Democrats violate them all the time. They work behind closed doors and shut Republicans out of the lawmaking process. They may avoid hearing the people who have filed witness slips objecting to proposed legislation by later changing the bill number, or otherwise ignoring opposition and proceeding forward in spite of it. Often, they know vast numbers of people do not want the law to pass, but they will approve the bill and Governor Pritzker will sign it anyway. They bundle issues together into one bill that is named for something else, to prevent fellow lawmakers and the public from knowing what is in the bill. This must change. The state should engage in civil discourse, and comply with, rather than ignore, the 2nd and 3rd reading rules (laws are sometimes approved after only one reading, which is a rule violation). State lawmakers may refuse to allow deliberation before a bill is brought to a vote, often, in the middle of the night. These unfair practices should end now.

What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective legislator?

I have a heart for public service. I've walked more than 30,000 doors in Lisle and Downers Grove Townships, listening to people, and finding out what is important to them. Since COVID, I've been a strong advocate for parents and children against indoctrination, sexual influencing and gender ideology. I am a fiscal conservative. I advocate for traditional values and constitutional rights, especially free speech. I was the elected Town Clerk for Downers Grove Township 2013-17. II became a freedom of information act (FOIA) and open meetings act (OMA) expert. I served as community volunteer and elected Republican Committeeman for 15 years. I know many elected officials in DuPage County, including State's Attorney Bob Berlin and Sheriff Jim Mendrick. I am a problem solver, with over 30 years experience as a transactional lawyer, 19 of those as senior counsel for McDonald's Corporation. I served as McDonald's legal department training manager (120 lawyers). After 2 years at a Wheaton Firm I started my law practice in Downers Grove, where I served clients for 9 years. I have good character. I'm a fighter. I don't quit. People know that I am honest, and trustworthy.