Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $123,805,089; Other State Funds $131,666,257; Federal Funds $2,691,400; Total $258,162,746.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Human Rights for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $16,707,700; Other State Funds $7,002,560; Federal Funds $4,794,800; Total $28,505,060.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Central Management Services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $2,875,624,700; Other State Funds $5,761,439,800; Total $8,637,064,500.

Creates the Legal Deserts Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may establish a program to provide grants or reimbursements to compensate an individual lawyer or law firms that relocate or open an office within a geographic area for the purpose of providing legal services to individuals residing within a legal desert. Provides that the grants or reimbursements may cover marketing expenses, compensation for an attorney or up to 2 attorneys per firm, or other eligible expenses identified by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Appropriates moneys from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the State Appellate Defender for its ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2026.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Children and Family Services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $1,668,497,400; Other State Funds $826,507,600; Federal Funds $15,816,600; Total $2,510,821,600.

Amends the School Code. Provides that all mandated categorical programs under the Code and the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act shall be funded at 100% of their required levels as calculated by the State Board of Education, without proration. Provides that, beginning with Fiscal Year 2027, the General Assembly shall appropriate funds for each fiscal year sufficient to fully reimburse school districts for all services and costs under mandated categorical programs, as required under the Code. Requires the State Board to annually provide to the General Assembly, no later than May 1 of each year, the appropriation levels needed to fully fund mandated categorical grant funding for the upcoming fiscal year. With respect to the evidence-based funding formula, provides that the State shall increase annual new State funds to ensure full funding of the formula beginning with Fiscal Year 2027. Requires the State Board to annually determine and report the amount necessary to bring all Tier 1 and Tier 2 organizational units to 100% of their adequacy targets, and requires the General Assembly to appropriate sufficient funds to meet this requirement no later than Fiscal Year 2027. Provides that no organizational unit may receive less than the amount determined under the formula in any fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Labor for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $14,822,800; Other State Funds $6,250,000; Federal Funds $6,400,000; Total $27,472,800.

Appropriates $36,365,100 to the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor for its ordinary and contingent expenses for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2027. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Catch Heart Disease Early Act. Provides that all Illinois residents, 20 years of age or older, are entitled to heart disease screenings at no cost according to the following schedule: one screening every 6 years for individuals aged 20 through 39 years; and one screening every 2 years for individuals aged 40 years and older. Provides that no individual shall be charged any co-payment, co-insurance, deductible, out-of-pocket fee, or other cost-sharing amount or required to enter into any cost-sharing agreement in order to access heart disease screenings. Provides that the State of Illinois shall be the payer of last resort and only cover any outstanding screening costs for eligible uninsured or underinsured individuals whose public or private insurance, including Medicaid or Medicare, does not cover the full cost of heart disease screenings. Provides that service providers of heart disease screenings for eligible uninsured or underinsured Illinois residents shall be reimbursed through a voucher program. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to perform certain functions to implement the Act, including, but not limited to: (i) establishing a confidential registry to track screening dates and prevent duplicate heart disease screenings outside the authorized frequency; and (ii) provide a mechanism for individuals and providers to verify screening eligibility. Requires health care providers to verify an individual's age, residency, date of last heart disease screening, and other matters prior to administering a screening and recording it in the individual's medical record. Contains provisions on Department rules. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department shall implement the voucher program by July 1, 2027. Adds conforming language to the State Employees Group Insurance Act, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, and the Illinois Insurance Code. Effective immediately.