Illinois budget

Lawmakers were on track to blow their self-imposed deadline to pass a state spending plan, as Democratic leaders tangle over a proposed increase to the tax rate paid by sportsbooks, as well as a rollback of tax discounts for retailers.

With governor’s $1.1 billion plan in question, General Assembly considers its options

A five-year forecast from gov’s budget office indicates Illinois still facing structural budget hole.

Self-described ‘party pooper’ comptroller eyes socking away even more in coming years

Budget includes investments in education, violence prevention and business incentives

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has traveled the state this week to tout the budget’s funding of his Smart Start initiative, a focal point of his 2024 budget aimed at improving access to preschool, increasing funding for child care providers and investing in early childhood facilities.

MAP grant increase will make community college tuition-free for many

Illinois lawmakers and the governor reached agreement on a new spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1. Also, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a scathing report on clergy sex abuse within the Catholic church.

A day after Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic lawmakers announced a budget agreement, a revised version of the state spending plan moved a bit further along, passing the Illinois Senate late Thursday.

Cannabis regulation, elections, biometric privacy, ethics measures all filed Friday