Illinois Lawmakers Rush Through $55.2 Billion Budget as Partisan Battle Continues

Illinois Budget Passage Marks Another Year of Record Spending

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois state lawmakers approved a record $55.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 on Saturday night, sending the spending plan to Gov. JB Pritzker after a contentious partisan fight that saw the House vote 75-41 and the Senate vote 34-23.

The 3,000-plus page appropriations bill includes over $2 billion in new spending compared to last year, with increases directed toward education, healthcare, and human services. The budget also features more than $800 million in revenue adjustments, including tax increases, fund sweeps, and temporary measures.

House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, defended the spending plan as fiscally and socially responsible despite the increases.

The decisions made in Washington are erratic. Erratic leadership in Washington has affected our economic outlook, our revenue projections, and even threatened federal funding for our most crucial services, Gabel said.

Republicans criticized the Democrats for using road fund money to pay for other state priorities.

We are robbing the road fund to pay for operating expenses of the state of Illinois, said Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria.

Democrats Stephanie Kifowit and Larry Walsh voted against the budget in the House. Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, was excused for that portion of the evening.

Senate Democrats also approved the budget around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, emphasized that the budget benefits all districts across the state.

Budget is spent in every district across the state of Illinois from Cairo to Chicago to Waukegan to the Quad Cities, Sims said. The budget spends everywhere. That means that includes Republican districts and Democratic districts.

The Senate vote included opposition from Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who criticized Democrats for using the Trump administration as an excuse to pass what he called a bad budget.

You guys have outdone yourself this time, Rose said. The folks back home, when they wake up and find out what happened tonight, you can blame whoever you want to try and blame.

Four Democrats voted against the budget in the Senate, including Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield.

The budget includes continued funding for economic opportunity and tourism. Public safety will receive $2.7 billion in funding. The plan also includes a property tax relief grant cut, resulting in an effective $43 million property tax increase.

The passage of the FY26 balanced budget is a testament to Illinois fiscal responsibility, Gov. JB Pritzker said. Even in the face of Trump and Congressional Republicans stalling the national economy, our state budget delivers for working families without raising their taxes while protecting the progress we are making for our long-term fiscal health.

The budget features several revenue measures including:

• $195 million to $228 million from a new tax amnesty program
• $171 million from delaying motor fuels tax revenue transfers to the Road Fund
• $237 million in fund sweeps
• $72 million in corporate tax hikes
• $45 million from shorting the state Budget Stabilization Fund
• $36 million from a new sports wagering tax
• $15 million from removing hotel tax exemptions from short term rental platforms

The budget also includes an additional tax on nicotine analogs.

The appropriations bill, budget implementation bill, revenue package, and bonding legislation now head to Gov. Pritzker's office for his decision on whether to sign the measures into law.