Illinois Democrats introduced what a leading budgeteer described as a $55 billion budget Friday evening ahead of a Saturday deadline to pass the fiscal year 2026 spending plan. The 3,363-page spending proposal was unveiled after 6 p.m. At the time the Senate’s lead budget negotiator, Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, briefed reporters on the plan; an exact proposal for raising about $1 billion in

Under House Bill 3438 originating in the Senate, NITA and the state would impose new taxes in northern Illinois, higher tolls on highways, fees on rideshare services and a new tax on electric vehicle charging. Senate Bill 2111 originating in the House does not address funding.

The budget is the most expensive spending plan for taxpayers in state history and includes a $2.5 billion supplemental for the current fiscal year.

Local governments will be forced to fund these new benefits with no funding from the state. The bill even says as much. In fact, the last line reads: “no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.”