Illinois in Focus

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against an executive order by President Donald Trump Tuesday, which sought to ban birthright citizenship nationwide. A number of political heavyweights in Illinois have weighed in on the judgement. The court heard arguments and ultimately struck down the president’s February 2025 order stripping birthright citizenship protections from children born after Feb. 19, 2025, whose parents are either illegally present in or temporary residents of the United States. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says higher proposed Illinois Tollway rates are for many users that travel to and from other states. Illinois Tollway officials are proposing a toll increase of about 45 cents per toll for IPASS users and a 30% rate hike for commercial IPASS users. At a ribbon cutting for building solutions company Amrize in Chicago on Tuesday, a reporter from The Center Square asked the governor about the potential burden on companies that move materials in Illinois. “I want to be clear that many of the trucks, many of the cars that are traveling on our tollways are actually from out of state and going to other states, so they're actually not Illinois companies and not Illinois individuals,” Pritzker said. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a $55.9 billion state budget for fiscal year 2027, with tens of millions of dollars included for non-governmental organizations. The governor placed his signature on the new spending plan in Chicago on Tuesday, calling it his eighth straight balanced budget. “This budget lowers costs for everyday Illinoisans and protects our state’s fiscal health and continues the economic progress we have worked so hard to build over the last seven-and-a-half years,” Pritzker said. The revenue plan imposes new taxes on digital advertising, digital assets, fantasy sports and prediction contests, places new limits on income tax carryover deductions, creates a social media platform fee and raises environmental filing fees and the retail tire tax. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says there could be a special legislative session in Illinois this summer, but he won’t raise people’s taxes to pay for a new Chicago Bears stadium. Pritzker spoke in Chicago on Tuesday afternoon and said there could be a special session if the General Assembly can get together on one piece of Bears legislation. “The first priority for me is we're not raising people's taxes to pay for a privately owned stadium, that’s number one, or any stadium for a billionaire-owned family,” Pritzker said. The governor also said the legislature would be meeting again in few months. Fall veto session is scheduled Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois’ new budget for fiscal year 2027 protects working families from new taxes, but Republican state Rep. Blaine Wilhour says the governor can’t stop asking for more. The governor touted investments in housing, education and health care in the $55.9 billion spending plan approved by the General Assembly on Monday. “We made all of those people-first investments while maintaining our positive fiscal trajectory and protecting working families from paying new taxes,” Pritzker said. The state’s latest revenue package includes Pritzker’s social media platform fee, which the governor suggested could generate $200 million for public education. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Illinois may soon have a prescription affordability board to impose price caps on drugs, but questions are being raised over the proposed board’s potential effectiveness and lack of budget appropriations. Senate Bill 3496 was filed in February to ensure proper licensing of nurses, but the bill text was gutted and replaced by House Amendment 1 to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. State Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, told the House Executive Committee on Wednesday the board would be independent of any other state agency and would set maximum prices for drugs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Illinois is projected to see less tax income than state agencies previously expected due to a variety of economic factors. With revised estimates, some lawmakers worry there may be a shortfall, which could prevent a balanced budget from being passed this month. Both the Illinois Department of Revenue – which oversees the collection of state funds – and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability – which makes forecasts of expected tax revenue – have lowered estimates of how much money they expect the state to bring in next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Compared to earlier projections, which guided Governor JB Pritzker’s recommended spending plan released in January, officials said reasons for the downward shift included the economic impact of tariffs, rising living costs, and flattening excise‑tax revenue – such as from marijuana. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – New tax proposals being considered in Springfield could bring nearly $7 billion in revenue to the state, according to advocates. Critics say the proposals – which would change corporate tax rules, among other impactful tax changes – could drive capital and jobs out of the state. The Illinois Revenue Alliance and Democrat lawmakers on Wednesday discussed initiatives they want passed to increase revenue, which they say would address gaps in the state budget created in-part by federal funding cuts. Backers said new revenue could be raised without increasing taxes for everyday Illinoisans. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Gas prices have surged in Illinois, and an American Automobile Association spokesperson says several factors are to blame. AAA listed the average price for regular unleaded at $4.53 a gallon on Wednesday, up from $3.41 a year ago and $3.98 one month ago. Molly Hart, spokesperson for AAA, said the conflict with Iran is playing a role. “What a lot of people don't understand is about 60% of what we pay at the pump has to do with the price of a barrel of crude oil. So when that price keeps going up, we see the pain at the pump,” Hart told The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.