Dan Ugaste: 2026 candidate for Illinois House District 65

Bio

Office sought: House District 65

Party: Republican

City: Geneva

Age: 62

Previous offices held: House District 65

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?

High taxes — Illinois is one of the highest taxed states in the nation, with the highest property taxes. They must be lowered. I filed a number of bills to lower taxes both directly and indirectly; including HB0009, which was estimated to lower property taxes by $82.4 billion over 21 years, as well as bills involving litigation reform that would lower taxes indirectly.

Economic growth — Moody's, who we hire to perform an economic analysis of the state every year, said the last few years that Illinois is lagging the rest of the nation in economic growth. We must create a better business climate. In addition to lowering taxes, we must reduce over-regulation and lower litigation costs. We can do this and still protect workers and the public and have a judicial system where the injured can recover fair compensation.

Improving education — We have too many students who do not perform at grade level; thus, we are failing our kids. In order to improve our kids education we should sign up for the national tax credit, we should reinstate Invest in Kids tax credit and similar to Mississippi use literacy coaches and address accountability.

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?

I believe the General Assembly has handled the owners of the Bears wanting to invest between $3 -$5 billion in Illinois very poorly. The legislature should have passed a bill before the end of Spring Session codifying property tax certainty so construction could begin. The bill passed by the House had to many items in it and was poorly drafted. There was nothing to protect local property tax payers in the PILOT/Megaproject portion. The problem with the Senate's version is it denied any local unit of government that has to provide services for the stadium the ability to collect property taxes from it in order to pay for those services. This is why I filed HB5802. It is a statewide PILOT/Megaproject bill with protections for local property tax payers and no other projects. If Democrats would work with Republicans on this issue, a deal could have been completed and legislation passed. Finally, I believe any legislation passed should contain property tax reform for every taxpayer.

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?

While there are some things I support in the SAFE-T Act, such as body cameras for police officers, there are many things I would change. One of these is the elimination of cash bail. Upon entering the House, I was appointed to the Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practice and worked on the Commission for 1.5 years. A report was generated concerning how to reform cash bail and detainable offenses, as well as a number of other issues. Some of these ideas were passed into law, but others concerning cash bail and detainable offenses were not. I filed HB1404 using the report as a basis for modifications needed to existing law. If adopted, I believe many issues regarding the lack of cash bail would be eliminated. Yet, the bill contains a revised system of determining the amount of bail from prior to the SAFE-T Act, which addresses the concerns expressed by those who advocated for the elimination of cash bail. Other items I would change, include enhancing penalties for unlawful use of a firearm, changes in the Sex Offender Registration Act, enhancement of the penalties for aggravated domestic battery and changes to penalties for aggravated fleeing of a police officer.

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?

One bill I filed, and which has been my primary way to address the situation is HB009. If this bill had been enacted, in the last fiscal year alone, it would have saved property taxpayers in Illinois approximately $3 billion. In 2024, it was estimated to save $82.4 billion over the next 21 years. I have also filed legislation to end bond rollovers, which occurs when a local unit of government reissues bonds rather than returning to the voters with a new referendum for the money, HB1323. I support placing referendums that would increase taxes only on the General Election ballot, HB5736, and returning excessive tax reserves to taxpayers, HB1321. Furthermore, I would promote economic growth, which would expand the tax base — further lowering property taxes. This would require repealing some of our over-regulation and lowering the costs of litigation.

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?

We should leave many of the decisions on placement of data centers to local government. However, the state should regulate if and where these facilities should be built and located in regards to electricity and water availability. Regarding electricity, the facility should have to prove their is either sufficient amounts of electricity in the area currently and their usage will not cause rates to increase or that they can supply their own. If they will supply their own, preference should be given to those who will locate the generation in Illinois and put any extra ability to generate power on the grid. Finally, the state should pass a law concerning the ability of a facility to locate in the state based on water usage by the center and the availability of water in the area how it would impact the local community. Environmental concerns could be handled by existing law.

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 would repeal the Trust Act, which makes Illinois a sanctuary state. I do not believe that one unit of government can claim sanctuary status to the laws of a larger unit of government (i.e. city to state, state to federal). This applies to any issue whether it is immigration or another issue. If the citizens do not like a law at a higher level, the way to handle it is to work to change the law. This is the system we had in place for over 200 years and it worked well. If we are to continue to make this system of government work, we must work within the structures in our Constitution. As Ben Franklin said, “A republic. If you can keep it.” We must keep it.

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?

I have not personally witnessed it. In order to address it, the most important thing we can do is strengthen our ethics laws. I would start with a truly independent Legislative Inspector General (LIG). One who can initiate their own investigation. Next, the LIG needs to have subpoena power that is independent of any approval process. Finally, I believe it should be the LIG, and not members of the General Assembly, who decides if a report from an investigation is made public. Also, if the legislators were more accountable to the voters it would help greatly as well. This would require an end to gerrymandering of districts and putting in place an independent group to draw our maps. Also, we need a constitutional amendment that would allow any elected official to be recalled. But it must have strong safeguards to prevent it being used as a political tool. I filed HJRCA004 to provide voters with the ability to recall elected officials. Lastly, all legislators must lead by example and treat each other with respect.

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?

I am not satisfied with the existing ethics policies. Many things should be changed, including all of the policies changes outlined in the question listed directly above. Furthermore, we should prohibit legislators from becoming lobbyists for a period of three years. Finally, we should ensure that members of government are not lobbying other units of local government.

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

Throughout my careers, both as an attorney and a legislator, I have led by example. Striving to act both ethically and in the best interest of those I am serving.

In the legislature, I have proposed real solutions to the problems that confront our state, even when I know the solution I propose will likely face backlash from various groups. Also, I have not only shown my willingness, but my ability to work across the aisle with members of the other party. I will support anything that is good policy and is in the best interests of the people of Illinois, no matter who proposes it. In fact, earlier this year I received an award from a national group for my willingness to work in a bipartisan manner.