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Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced that investment earnings on the state portfolio are up more than 11% as state government faces tough budgeting decisions this spring. Investment earnings stand at $803.8 billion for the first six months of Fiscal Year 2025, up from $723.2 billion the first six months of Fiscal Year 2024. That’s an increase of $80.65 million. “This is money that doesn’t have to be raised in taxes or cut from things like our schools and our roads and our bridges,” Frerichs said after Gov. JB Pritzker’s annual budget speech at the Capitol. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s monthly report showed how important this extra income the Treasurer’s Office is earning is for state finances.

Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed growing spending by about $2 billion without new income or service taxes in the upcoming fiscal year – though his administration acknowledged policy changes by the Trump administration could drastically alter the fiscal landscape. Spending and revenues would each grow by about 3% under the proposal laid out Wednesday during the governor’s annual budget address, with total general revenue fund spending growing to $55.2 billion.

On February 19, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker delivered his seventh State Fiscal Year (SFY) Budget Address to a joint session of the General Assembly. This update provides highlights from the address and links to key budget documents.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to commemorate Black History Month and honor leaders in the African American community. The event, held at the Marine Bank Building at 1 E. Old State Capitol Plaza, was an opportunity to reflect on the great achievements of Black leaders. The eight honorees included a businessman and director of vocational services at a Springfield nonprofit, a former Illinois secretary of state, a former Metro East mayor, a retired Edwardsville school superintendent and college basketball referee, a state senator, a Marion community leader, a Peoria school administrator and former professional basketball player, and a sculptor and art educator.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that it has posted the 2024 Fourth Quarter Report of Nursing Home Violations. Details on the 305 violation reports completed in the fourth quarter of 2024 may be found HERE on the IDPH website. The six facilities listed below were cited with type “AA” violations of the Nursing Home Care Act during the fourth quarter of 2024, the most severe type of violation. An “AA” violation is cited when there is a condition or occurrence at the facility that proximately caused a resident’s death. Click on the links below to view the completed “AA” violation reports.

More than $40,000 in grants for 26 Illinois schoolyard habitat action projects have been awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2025 application period. The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program supports the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on school grounds or other public places. Funding is provided through donations to the ICF. “The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program provides students and educators with opportunities to create native habitat in their schoolyards and increase the use of native plants in Illinois landscapes while benefitting wildlife species,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “By participating in these projects, students learn that their efforts can make a positive difference in the world, and they gain experience in problem-based learning by planning, developing, and maintaining the habitat.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is issuing a 30-day suspension, effective today, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu. The move is intended to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease, which has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks in Illinois. “Prevention is our most effective tool to mitigate the spread of avian flu. By being proactive in biosecurity and limiting poultry movement and exposure, we are protecting the public as well as the poultry industry,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock.

As the State of Illinois celebrates the fifth anniversary of the legalization of adult use cannabis in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year of record-setting sales. Overall, dispensaries report that more than $2 billion of cannabis product was sold in 2024, a 2.5% increase from last year. The $2 billion of product includes a record-setting $1.722 billion in adult use cannabis sales in 2024, with medical cannabis sales exceeding $285 million. Sales taxes collected at Illinois cannabis dispensaries totaled more than $490 million in 2024, per the Illinois Department of Revenue.

At the Illinois Gaming Board’s (IGB’s) first meeting of the year, it reported that the State and local governments earned more than $1.7 billion in tax revenue (excluding December sports wagering numbers) from Illinois’ 16 licensed casinos, approximately 8,700 video gaming terminals, and 14 operating sportsbooks in 2024.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced it is accepting applications from eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations to participate in the state’s Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP). Through HRAP, IHDA will provide funding to approved agencies who will then provide grants to low- and extremely low-income homeowners to make health and safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency repairs to their homes.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) secured a $7 million USDA grant to launch I-COVER, the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience Program, which offers cost-share/financial incentives to producers and landowners who are new adopters of cover crops or who utilize new techniques for earlier establishment of cover crops. The multi-state USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant between Illinois, Indiana and Iowa establishes a three-year program for cover crops planted in 2025, 2026 and 2027. "Research shows that cover crops improve soil health, reduce erosion, increase drought resistance, and reduce pests, weeds and diseases," said Jerry Costello II, Illinois Director of Agriculture. “Illinois is home to some of the most fertile soil in the world, and I encourage farmers to participate in this important new program to conserve and protect it.” Pre-enrollment and applications are available online. Visit the IDOA website at agr.illinois.gov/ and select the I-COVER Program link on the home page.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association is reacting after President Trump levied a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico this weekend, as well as a 10% tariff on China. Illinois Corn Growers Association President and Waterloo, IL farmer Garrett Hawkins said each of these countries is an important market for U.S. corn farmers, especially Canada and Mexico, who are the largest market for ethanol and corn.

This event will bring together policymakers, educators, researchers, and individuals with lived experiences of incarceration to spotlight how access to education can transform the lives of people in custody, advance equity, and enhance public safety.

Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and local leaders to announce Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $31 million to support site readiness activities at 24 sites across the state. The program includes two competitive funding opportunities: Planning grants to support due diligence activities, studies and site plans, and Capital Ready grants to support capital infrastructure improvements. Through this funding, 13 Planning grantees and 11 Capital Ready grantees will undertake due diligence and development projects to better prepared sites to attract future investment and new job opportunities in the industrial sector across Illinois' Economic Development Regions.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced it has awarded $4.5 million to 12 groups across the state funded through Governor JB Pritzker's 2024 Birth Equity Initiative. The grants, ranging from $100,000 to $700,000, were awarded through a competitive process and are designed to support innovative, community-based efforts that have the potential to reduce inequities in populations historically at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes

Illinois lawmakers kicked off their spring legislative session roughly three weeks ago, but lawmakers in the House have already filed more than 1,800 bills that could be acted on before the General Assembly adjourns in May. The vast majority of the ideas won’t make it to the desk of Gov. JB Pritzker or become law—last General Assembly, House lawmakers filed 5,929 bills and only passed 564—but the list of proposals offers some insights into the issues members of the lower chamber are concerned about as they kick off their new terms in office.

Illinois students who just started school during the COVID pandemic scored lower in reading and math on a test known as the “nation’s report card” compared to Illinois students who took the exam in previous years.

More than three years after the state’s legislative map became law and after two election cycles during which it was in effect, Illinois House Republicans on Tuesday asked the state Supreme Court to declare the Democratic mapping effort an unconstitutional political gerrymandering that unfairly limits the choices of voters.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) announced the participants selected for the 2025 cohort of the Governor’s Office Academy of Leadership (G.O.A.L.) program. The highly competitive program serves as a professional development opportunity for mid-level leaders across State government, reaffirming Illinois’ commitment to long-term operational success. Governor Pritzker joined the cohort virtually and shared words of support.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) announced $6.5 million is available in competitive funding for the Officer Recruitment and Retention Grant. This grant aims to increase the quantity and quality of police officer recruitment programs across the State while also offering incentives to support officer retention. Units of local government, public institutions of higher education, and qualified nonprofit entities may apply for this funding.

National Unclaimed Property Day is coming up and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is urging people to check the I-CASH missing money website to see if they have money or other unclaimed property waiting for them to claim.

On Friday, January 24, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $7 million in funding for the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants Program (TIEG) to support entrepreneurship and innovation in key growth industries through startup incubators. This grant funding will strengthen Illinois' technology network by increasing the resilience of existing technology incubators. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that nonfarm payrolls increased +8,800 while the unemployment rate fell -0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent in December, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The November monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -3,400 to -5,400, while the revised unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, unchanged from the preliminary November unemployment rate. The December payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

CHICAGO – Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) announced today that disaster tax relief will be available for individuals and businesses in southern California affected by the wildfires and straight-line winds that began on Jan 7, 2025. Affected taxpayers now have until October 15, 2025, to file various state individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. "My administration is committed to supporting those communities across southern California as they recover from the extensive damage caused by the wildfires,” said Governor JB Pritzker. "Residents who live or have businesses in the affected areas won't need to worry about incurring penalties and interest on their tax deadlines until October. This additional time will allow them to gather essential paperwork without added stress." IDOR is offering relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Currently, individuals and households that reside or have a business in Los Angeles County qualify for tax relief. The same relief will be available to any other counties added later to the disaster area.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has launched a new dashboard detailing information about all violent deaths and firearm-related injuries in the state. The new dashboard is presented in two parts: Illinois Firearm Injury Rates and Illinois Violent Deaths. It is intended to provide detailed information at the county level about these incidents, including the types of incidents (e.g., homicide, suicide, etc.), weapon type and where victims reside, broken down by county. The goal of the dashboard is to inform data-driven prevention and intervention efforts to reduce violent deaths and firearm injuries in Illinois.