News Under the Dome for the Week of Feb 24th
This Week in the Senate and House
Legislators returned to Springfield this week for a busy week of behind the scenes bill negotiations. This week represents the second of eight straight weeks of session until the legislature breaks in mid-April. Members of the House and Senate have until March 21st to pass their bills out of committees and until April 11th to pass their bills out of their respective chamber.
There were two pieces of legislation that were scheduled for the House Environment committee on Tuesday but were not called for a vote. HB1645 would ban the sale and use of 2,4-D ester formulations. IFCA is communicating with the bill sponsor on how troublesome this legislation is. If IFCA observes this piece of legislation moving, we will inform our members to reach out to their senators and repsentatives.
IFCA is also watching HB1596. This bill would require certified pesticide applicators to provide written or email notice 72 hours prior to a pesticide application within half a mile to schools or parks. IFCA is having conversations with the bill sponsor informing them the level of difficulty for every applicator to this provide this notification.
If you would like to see all legislation IFCA is watching this spring session in Springfield, please click here.
State of the State Address
Last week, Governor Pritzker delivered his constitutionally required State of the State Address to a joint gathering of members of the Illinois House and Senate. As part of his State of the State address, the Governor also outlined his FY 26 budget proposal.
Despite previous warnings from the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) that the state was facing a multibillion dollar deficit spurred by flat revenue and increased spending, a revised estimate just days ahead of the Governors address shows more signs of revenue growth. According to the budget proposed by the Governor, current FY25 revenue is expected to increase by an additional $500 million with another $1.5 billion increase in the coming FY26 fiscal year. This is in addition to several revenue enhancements being proposed by the Governor that are estimated to generate another half billion dollars.
All told, the Governor’s FY26 budget proposal totals $55.4 billion in revenue and $55.2 billion in spending for a small $200 million surplus, $64 million of which will be deposited into the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
State of the State Address
Last week, Governor Pritzker delivered his constitutionally required State of the State Address to a joint gathering of members of the Illinois House and Senate. As part of his State of the State address, the Governor also outlined his FY 26 budget proposal.
Despite previous warnings from the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) that the state was facing a multibillion dollar deficit spurred by flat revenue and increased spending, a revised estimate just days ahead of the Governors address shows more signs of revenue growth. According to the budget proposed by the Governor, current FY25 revenue is expected to increase by an additional $500 million with another $1.5 billion increase in the coming FY26 fiscal year. This is in addition to several revenue enhancements being proposed by the Governor that are estimated to generate another half billion dollars.
All told, the Governor’s FY26 budget proposal totals $55.4 billion in revenue and $55.2 billion in spending for a small $200 million surplus, $64 million of which will be deposited into the state’s Rainy Day Fund.