Illinois Legislative News: March 3, 2025
Third Reading Consulting Group
On February 25, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Democratic Congress members sent a joint letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding answers as to why the Trump administration has yet to release $1.88B of federal funding previously allocated to the state.
On January 28, an OMB memo froze federal grants, causing chaos amongst state governments, local governments, aid programs, and federal grant recipients. Two days later, after a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, President Donald Trump’s OMB rescinded the memo. Earlier on February 25, a federal judge extended the original block on President Trump’s federal funding freeze. Despite this, the funds intended for Illinois have not yet been disbursed, prompting the letter from Gov. Pritzker and the Democratic Congress members.
The letter highlights that 14 Illinois state agencies, boards, and commissions are awaiting a total of $1.88B in federal funds. Of that, $692M has been obligated but not received by nine state entities, while $1.19B has been awarded but not obligated by 10 other state agencies. As a result, critical state programs are in limbo as they await federal funds. The 14 impacted agencies are:
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Illinois Community College Board
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Illinois Finance Authority
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Power Agency
Illinois Department of Transportation
Illinois State Board of Education
Illinois Commerce Commission
Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
Illinois Department of Labor
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
March 21 – Initial Chamber Committee Deadline
April 11 – Initial Chamber Third Reading Deadline
May 9 – Opposite Chamber Committee Deadline
May 23 – Opposite Chamber Third Reading Deadline
May 31 – Adjournment
