On Monday, June 16, Governor JB Pritzker signed Illinois’s $55 billion fiscal year 2026 budget into law. The budget introduces $876 billion in new revenue sources through a comprehensive revenue omnibus package, including new taxes on corporations, sports wagering, and nicotine products. It includes approximately $523 million in spending reductions and is funded by $578 million in one-time revenue sources or spending pauses. The FY 2026 fully funds the state’s $11.03 billion statutorily required pension contribution, a $401 million increase over FY 2025, and allocates $75 million to address the Tier 2 Social Security safe harbor issue, as outlined in the Budget Implementation (BIMP) bill. Additionally, the Governor issued a $161 million line-item reduction as a corrective measure, citing errors in the original appropriations.
In other news, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to 7½ years in prison after being convicted earlier this year on charges of bribery, conspiracy, and fraud. Madigan also faces a $2.5 million fine on top of three years of supervised release once out from prison.
On June 12, Governor JB Pritzker publicly defended Illinois’ status as a sanctuary state amid growing national scrutiny over immigration policies. Speaking alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Pritzker emphasized the positive contributions of immigrants, stating, “The vast majority of immigrants contribute to our communities, pay taxes, and abide by the law. We should value their entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and hard work.” This was part of a broader push by Democratic governors to counter calls for stricter immigration enforcement and to reaffirm support for policies that limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
October 14-16 – Veto Session Week 1
October 28-30 – Veto Session Week 2
In the News
David Greising: Where does transit funding and oversight stand in Chicago? Should we panic? – Chicago Tribune, June 20, 2025.
For the past 18 months, Illinois legislators dutifully held committee hearings with an eye toward a major restructuring of the transit systems in northeastern Illinois. This yielded broad agreement about restructuring the governance of the Regional Transit Authority, CTA, Metra and Pace — but little consensus about how to solve a $771 million “fiscal cliff.”
Welch defends what Republicans call ‘pork’ in Illinois budget – The Center Square, June 19, 2025.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch continues to defend a $40 million line item in the state budget for a school district in his jurisdiction.
Opinion: Illinois budget protects those most impacted in midst of ‘federal uncertainty’ – Crain’s Chicago Business, June 19, 2025.
Illinois and many other states are in a battle with the federal government about the role data plays in determining investment in communities to address public challenges. The newly passed 2026 state budget attempts to minimize the impacts of federal funding cuts that are designed to reduce means-tested and data-driven budget allocations that address needs across Illinois, particularly in Black communities.
Who Pritzker could pick for his No. 2 – Politico, June 20, 2025.
With the state budget signed and the D.C. immigration hearing behind him, Gov. JB Pritzker is focusing on a few big decisions.
Two budgets for Metra? One business as usual, the other a doomsday scenario – Daily Herald, June 18, 2025.
With no funding fix yet from the General Assembly, Metra leaders are wrapping their heads around a grim 2026 that could involve major cuts in service.
House Dems’ transit point man says special session is possible – Crain’s Chicago Business, June 17, 2025.
A key legislative leader says he’s open to the idea of a special session in Springfield to work out a fix on mass transit.
Evanston’s Bethany Johnson joins crowded race for Illinois’ 9th District seat – Evanston Round Table, June 17, 2025.
Evanston resident Bethany Johnson announced Monday her plans to join the race for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District in 2026.
Two female Illinois politicians say their names were listed in alleged Minnesota shooter’s notes – Chicago Tribune, June 17, 2025.
A downstate congresswoman and a north suburban state senator are the first Illinois elected officials to publicly acknowledge being named in notes kept by the 57-year-old alleged shooter charged with assassinating the Democratic leader of the Minnesota House and her husband.
Illinois is leaving money on the table with structurally unsound tax policy – Chicago Sun Times, June 18, 2025.
The Illinois General Assembly just enacted a $55.2 billion General Fund budget for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year. A sizable chunk of that budget, $16 billion, covers mandatory spending obligations Illinois is required to pay either by law, such as debt service owed to bond holders, or contract, like health insurance for state workers. That leaves around $39 billion for services, over 94% of which goes to education, health care, social services and public safety, the core services families rely on across Illinois.
Pritzker: State not responsible for fixing transit crisis alone – Daily Herald, June 17, 2025.
Bailing out public transit from a $771 million hole should not fall entirely on state government, Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday.
Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700M of new taxes – Capitol News Illinois, June 16, 2025.
Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget into law Monday, taking shots at President Donald Trump’s budget management to defend hard choices state lawmakers were forced to make this year.
Changes coming to Illinois after Pritzker signs multiple bills – WCIA, June 16, 2025.
The Governor’s office announced Monday that JB Pritzker signed a variety of bills, ranging from an expedited FOID card process, changes to the Illinois Medicaid program and the approval of the FY26 Budget.
RTA plans for uncertain future after General Assembly fails to pass transit reform, revenue package – The Daily Line, June 16, 2025.
As Chicago-area transit agencies enter an uncertain budget year, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is preparing for potential service cuts.
Governor Pritzker set to sign $55.2B Illinois budget – ABC Chicago, June 16, 2025.
Governor JB Pritzker is set to sign the 2026 budget into law Monday morning. State lawmakers passed the record-setting $55 billion plan two weeks ago.
Mike Madigan sentenced to 7½ years in federal corruption case – The Daily Herald, June 13, 2025.
The stunning downward spiral of Michael Madigan’s political career ended Friday with a 7 1/2-year prison sentence and a $2.5 million fine for the former Illinois House speaker and the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history after he was convicted of trading legislation for the enrichment of his friends and allies.
‘Illinois has always been kind of a transactional state’: Political science professor weighs in on Madigan sentencing – WCIA, June 13, 2025.
Michael Madigan, the longest-serving state Speaker of the House in American history, will serve seven and a half years in prison.
Republicans, some Democrats and even ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich weigh in on ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s sentence – Chicago Tribune, June 13, 2025.
House Republican leader Tony McCombie of Savanna and Senate Republican leader John Curran of Downers Grove called for bipartisan ethics reforms in the wake of the sentencing, with Curran specifically requesting committee hearings and votes on potential changes — something that didn’t happen this session.
Alderman pledges to fight Mayor Brandon Johnson’s vowed curfew veto, won’t ‘twist arms’ – Chicago Tribune, June 20, 2025.
As Mayor Brandon Johnson promises to veto the teen curfew ordinance passed by aldermen, the measure’s lead sponsor says he will keep fighting to make it law.
https://www.chicagotribune.
Mayor Brandon Johnson faced stiff criticism from a City Council opponent Wednesday as he introduced an ordinance to implement a grocery tax at the city level.
Cook County preparing for $211M budget deficit for 2026 – Chicago Tribune, June 18, 2025.
Cook County is predicting a $211.4 million budget shortfall for 2026, a relatively modest gap that officials said was more of an estimate than usual thanks to extraordinary uncertainty coming out of Washington.
Mayor pushes back against ICE threat – Politico, June 18, 2025.
Mayor Brandon Johnson is criticizing the Trump administration’s threat to bring its aggressive deportation efforts to Chicago, saying the city will rely on the court system, education and the Constitution to stand its ground.
‘Snap’ curfew ordinance could come to a vote in Chicago City Council – Chicago Sun Times, June 17, 2025.
Downtown Chicago Ald. Brian Hopkins plans to call for a vote Wednesday on his proposal that would give the city’s top cop the power to implement a curfew in the city anytime, anywhere, with a 30-minute notice.
Trump calls Pritzker ‘worst in the country,’ claims Chicago is ‘overrun by criminals’ – The State Journal-Register, June 16, 2025.
President Donald Trump slammed Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during a press conference in Alberta, Canada, today, labeling the Illinois official one of “the worst in the country.”
Maps show neighborhoods where environmental justice zoning ordinance would benefit residents most – Chicago Tribune, June 17, 2025.
As communities are urging their representatives to support an environmental ordinance introduced in April to the City Council, a neighborhood group released maps showing large swaths of land across the city are currently zoned for commercial warehouses and industrial manufacturing that don’t require public notice or city approval to be developed.
City pulls plug on rideshare pay vote as Uber backs statewide union push – Crain’s Chicago Business, June 16, 2025.
A heated push to boost pay for Chicago’s rideshare drivers has been shelved — but in its place, Uber has agreed to support a statewide effort allowing drivers to unionize in Illinois, a major shift in the gig economy labor fight.
Large protests in Chicago area feature participants trained to protest peacefully – The Center Square, June 14, 2025.
Tens of thousands of people rallied across Illinois Saturday in organized protests against the Trump administration.
Pope Leo XIV delivers message of peace, unity at Rate Field in first address to his hometown – Chicago Sun Times, June 14, 2025.
The Chicago-born pope addressed a crowd of 30,000 in a live-streamed message from the Vatican: “Build up community [and] friendship as brothers and sisters.”
Uber and the road construction lobby just killed Illinois’ transit funding bill, and your lawmakers let them – Street Blog Chicago, June 13, 2025.
After months of negotiations, hearings, and community organizing, the most ambitious transit funding and reform bill Illinois has seen in decades was quietly killed. Not by voters, not by public outcry, but by notifications from Uber and Lyft.
Public transit agencies begin planning for ‘doomsday’ funding scenario – Capitol News Illinois, June 13, 2025.
Transit agency officials in Chicagoland met this week and formally began the process of planning for next year’s budget, including drawing up plans for major service cuts and potential layoffs.
How would public transit cuts affect riders? Here’s what you told us – Chicago Sun Times, June 13, 2025.
Young people, people with disabilities and others reliant on public transit would suffer if Chicago’s regional transportation services sustain big cuts, say listeners to WBEZ’s Reset podcast.
