Illinois lawmakers zoom in on budget ahead of governor’s address

[February 14, 2025]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have differing budget ideas as the state faces a projected $3.2 billion deficit.

Republicans say Illinoisans have been taxed enough, but Democrats are talking about new revenue ahead of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s scheduled budget address next Tuesday.

State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, proposed several fee increases. One involved quadrupling the cost of judicial transcripts.

"Right now it’s at 70 cents per page and it hasn’t been changed since 1980, so we’re just adjusting that because of inflation to maybe $3 a page,” Hernandez told The Center Square.

Hernandez introduced House Bill HB 2771 to amend the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The measure would provide that the Illinois Department of Public Health be authorized, upon request, to issue certificates of free sale, health certificates, or an equivalent, to Illinois food, dairy, drug, cosmetic, or medical device manufacturers, processors, packers, or warehousers for a fee of $65 rather than $10.

The Aurora Democrat also filed HB 2773, which would raise nursing home transcript fees.

Hernandez said lawmakers could revisit legislation to regulate and tax hemp as a means of creating revenue. She also suggested additional taxes on cigarettes.

Hernandez said her main priority is to make sure lawmakers don’t increase property taxes or income taxes.

“I want to make sure that, if we do have to raise certain taxes, it might be on certain services that maybe not everybody can have. I’m not a smoker. I know in the last few years we’ve increased the cigarette tax, so that’s something that is optional. If you’re a smoker, that’s an option that you have, but if you’re not, you won’t be impacted by that tax,” Hernandez told The Center Square.

Illinois state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado - BlueRoomStream

State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, said no new revenue would come without reform.

“I can’t come to the public and say, ‘We need additional funding’ for something if we don’t think that that funding is going to go towards something that is useful and efficient and effective. We will continue to work on that in the General Assembly and make sure that the government of the state of Illinois is working in the most efficient and effective way for the people of the state of Illinois,” Delgado told The Center Square.

Illinois state Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, said the new spending plan must not include more taxes or fee increases, but it must include more transparency.

State Sen. Jill Tracy, R-Quincy, said Illinois taxpayers don’t know how much of their money is used for non-citizens.

“It’s more important than ever to understand how much is being spent on migrant services and which essential programs or agencies have their funds redirected to cover these costs,” Tracy said.

Last year’s budget included a record $53.1 billion in state funds, including about $970 million on non-citizen migrants.

The state budget has risen 32% since J.B. Pritzker became governor in 2019.

Greg Bishop contributed to this story.