While most of Pritzker’s legislative housing package failed to make it out of the General Assembly, lawmakers did pass the governor’s proposal for about $250 million in capital funding related to housing, which will go to a mix of local infrastructure, middle and affordable housing financing and down payment assistance programs, some of it through programs previously on the books.

Banking associations have sued the state to fight the law. A federal judge upheld parts of the law in February, but the plaintiffs appealed. Plaintiffs include the Illinois Bankers Association, American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions and the Illinois Credit Union League. Last month, the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals sent the case back to a lower court.

Under the bill, massage therapists convicted of crimes including prostitution, rape, sexual misconduct, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, battery of a patient, and any crime that subjects the a licensee to comply with the Sexual Offender Registration Act will have their massage therapy license revoked immediately. In the past, it has taken months to get licenses revoked.

“I warned that there would be truly unprecedented challenges because Donald Trump and the Republican Congress are costing the state over $8 billion,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “It’s hurting families and businesses alike and that puts a greater burden on our state budget.”

State lawmakers failed to reform the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion this legislative session despite bipartisan criticism of its performance and calls to disband it. Moreover, the seven highly paid commissioners who lead it are getting raises of about $5,000 apiece, and their requested $5.6 million budget was approved.

As for the megaprojects tool nixed by the Senate: “We still need that, by the way,” Gov. JB Pritzker said, reiterating his charge that Illinois is “behind the curve” given how 38 other states have a statewide mechanism for large developers to negotiate property taxes. “It’s just in Illinois where we have had a disorganized, dysfunctional endeavor forever, and now we’re trying to organize it and make it work, so that businesses will want to come.”

The first act of the board was to buoy CTA, Metra and Pace with a quarter-percent sales tax increase.

According to the governor’s office, a “back-to-school sales tax holiday” will return to Illinois Aug. 7-16 During that time, families shopping for school supplies, clothing, computers and other necessities “will not pay sales tax,” at all the release said. Also included in Illinois’ FY2027 budget was a six-month pause on the state’s gas tax, starting July 1.

Rep. Bill Hauter, a physician, called the bill “unworkable and unnecessary” during final House floor debate on Sunday. “This bill fundamentally misinterprets and mischaracterizes what the medical record is for — a private, protected communication between healthcare professionals to take care of patients,” he said.

Rideshare drivers say a union is necessary because under federal law, they’re defined as independent contractors, despite having little control over work practices while working for companies like Uber and Lyft. That makes a statewide union their only option to collectively bargain and form a labor agreement, they say.

In addition to the increase in EBF money, the budget includes increases in certain categories of transportation costs and other kinds of “mandated categorical” spending. It also nearly triples funding, to $26 million, to help fund free breakfast and lunch programs.

“Illinois lawmakers will say they gave drivers a break, but the planned suspension of an increase in the gas tax is far outweighed by a plan to use $150 million in additional sales tax revenue from high gas prices to cover the state’s budget shortfall.”