by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 8, 2025 Article summary The domestic policy law signed by President Donald Trump last week creates new work requirements that could jeopardize food assistance benefits for 360,000 Illinoisans. Illinois will be required to cover a greater portion of the administrative costs and benefits […]
State of Illinois
Housing funding cut in Illinois budget as homelessness increases
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 4, 2025 Article Summary Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget reduced funding for programs serving homeless people by more than $14 million from the previous year. JB Pritzker’s “Home Illinois” initiative aimed at reaching “functional zero” homelessness saw a $26.6 million cut. That program […]
Pritzker warns 330,000 Illinoisans could lose Medicaid under Trump’s budget plan
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois July 3, 2025 Article Summary The U.S. House gave final passage Thursday to a bill that will cut federal Medicaid spending in Illinois by an estimated 20%, or $48 billion, over 10 years. Medicaid pays for about 40% of all childbirths in Illinois as […]
State ends fiscal year with record revenue
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 2, 2025 Article Summary: Illinois closed fiscal year 2025 with record $54 billion in revenue. While that marked a surplus from the enacted budget, the extra revenue was anticipated when lawmakers approved the current-year budget in May. It doesn’t give lawmakers any extra […]
Illinois to roll out direct admissions program for most state universities
by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois June 30, 2025 CHICAGO — Illinois students won’t need to fill out applications for most state universities to be admitted — if they have high enough grades. With his signature, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday approved a bill creating the direct admissions program. Along […]
‘I have work to do,’ Pritzker says in launching third-term reelection bid
by Ben Szalinski and Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois June 26, 2025 CHICAGO — In a hot gymnasium on Chicago’s South Side, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday morning he’s running for a potentially historic third term as governor. In his announcement speech, Pritzker said he is running to “protect” the […]
Attorney General Raoul joins lawsuit challenging Trump’s termination of federal grants
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 25, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced this week he has joined another multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to withhold billions of dollars in federal funds that had previously been approved for states and other grantees. The complaint, filed […]
Advocates await action on bill protecting rights of immigrant students in Illinois
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 20, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Immigration rights advocates in Illinois are anxiously awaiting the governor’s signature on legislation aimed at protecting K-12 students who may be in the country without legal authorization from being denied access to a free public education. House Bill 3247, […]
Governor Pritzker Signs Bill Delaying Illinois Interchange Fee Ban
Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a measure that delays the implementation of Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) by one year into law, pushing its effective date to July 1, 2026. The bill aims to provide additional time for legal challenges and industry adjustments before the law takes effect. The […]
Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700M of new taxes
by Ben Szalinski, 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. The $55.1 billion spending plan set to take effect […]