The Illinois General Assembly is preparing for one of the key events of the 2025 legislative session, the Budget Address by Gov. Pritzker that will be delivered on Wednesday, February 19. The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget has indicated that the State of Illinois will face a $3.2 billion deficit in fiscal year 2026 (FY26) unless taxes are increased, budget cuts are made, or both.
Last week in Springfield, House Republicans demanded that Pritzker look at services delivered by Illinois taxpayers to migrants and undocumented immigrants, particularly health care benefits, as one element of these budget cuts.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) has reported to a General Assembly committee that based on current patient counts and spending patterns, the programs that provide health care for undocumented immigrant adults are scheduled to cost $558 million in the current fiscal year (FY25). Other programs and spending lines cover housing, social work, counseling, and education for migrants and undocumented immigrants.
House Republicans are prepared to hold the majority party accountable to spending and look forward to seeing the roadmap Governor Pritzker presents in the coming weeks.