Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois residents in the 81st District are still unsure what they can expect from first-term state representative Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville).

After the freshman lawmaker made a name for herself by taking a stand against longtime, powerful House Speaker Mike Madigan earlier this year, a growing number of her constituents are now starting to scratch their heads over some of the issues she has supported in her first 100 days in Springfield. Among the most controversial, Stava-Murray supported House Bill 2691, legislation that would make noncitizen students and transgender individuals able to obtain benefits even if they lack the requirements for federal student loan aid due to failure to register for selective service.

In addition, she has sponsored House Bill 217, which would ban colleges from asking about an individual’s criminal history on their entrance application, potentially opening the door for convicted sex offenders to live on college campuses. Meanwhile, Stava-Murray has been conspicuously quiet about still rising property taxes across the state that are now among the highest in the country, including her areas of Naperville and Downers Grove where they average over $6,700 annually.