State Representative Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville questioned administrators from the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion during an April 15th Appropriations-General Services Committee hearing, raising concerns about the agency’s mission and spending.

Halbrook pointed to the commission’s stated goal of expanding access to state contracts for minority-owned, women-owned, and disabled-owned businesses, as well as promoting equity and inclusion within state government workforce practices.

The Republican lawmaker also cited the commission’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget request of about 5.6 million dollars, while questioning what he described as a decline in participating businesses, from roughly 5,400 to about 2,782.

Halbrook criticized the effectiveness of the program during the hearing, saying the commission has not produced positive results and arguing that taxpayer dollars are being spent inefficiently. He also referenced what he said was approximately 28 million dollars in spending over the past five years, not including commissioner salaries.

Halbrook told the committee, “Since the inception of this commission, results have deteriorated dramatically,” and said the agency was requesting additional funding despite what he described as poor outcomes.

He added that, in his view, the commission is not meeting its stated goals and is instead making the situation worse.

The Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion was created to oversee equity initiatives in state contracting and hiring practices. More information is available through the state’s official website.