Caucus News

CHICAGO — Majority Caucus Appropriations Leader Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement Tuesday after the Fiscal Year 2027 budget was signed into law:

“Through our unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility, Illinois has engineered a remarkable financial turnaround over recent years. Our principled approach has kept our fiscal house in order, allowing us to invest in and uplift communities across the state despite the uncertainty looming from the Oval Office.

“We’re building on that foundation with investments we can be proud of as Illinoisans – educating our young people, enhancing good-paying job opportunities, keeping our communities safe and growing the economy. Illinois will continue to step up where the federal government has stepped away, investing in the whole person, no matter the color of their skin, their education level or their ZIP code.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law led by State Senator Omar Aquino aims to strengthen Illinois’ health care system by increasing government efficiency and transparency while maximizing state dollars to fund essential services vulnerable communities depend on.

“Impending federal cuts to Medicaid are a threat to the stability of our health care system, risking access to care for thousands of Illinoisans,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “Safeguarding local hospitals and community-based services is needed to ensure our most vulnerable communities are not left behind.”

Senate Bill 3365 creates the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which will provide interest-free cash flow loans to public and nonprofit hospitals in financial distress. The goal is to prevent hospital closures and maintain services while also instituting guardrails that will make sure distressed and safety net hospitals are on a path to financial sustainability.

SPRINGFIELD – After years of advocacy, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led a wide-ranging law that brings new rules to Illinois' hemp market and delivers long-overdue improvements to the state's cannabis laws for patients, small businesses and social equity licensees.

“I have fought for years to bring order and fairness to these markets, and working with our House colleagues, we finally got it done,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This is about protecting people, keeping our promises, and keeping Illinois at the forefront nationally.”

Senate Bill 3222 establishes mandatory licensing and uniform standards for CBD manufacturers while creating a responsible transition path for hemp businesses entering the licensed cannabis market, with at least 45 infuser licenses reserved for social equity applicants.

SPRINGFIELD — Under a new law led by State Senator Cristina Castro, unaccompanied immigrant children will have a path to Illinois’ legal system and access to comprehensive resources and social services following abuse, neglect or abandonment.

“All children deserve protection, no matter their immigration status or background,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “We have a moral obligation to uplift those in need, especially children.”

Under the federal administration, unaccompanied immigrant children are being held in federal detention, often for months with no end in sight – a practice that not only inflicts physical and psychological harm but also precludes youth from being able to seek legal protections such as a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status order. While the number of children and the network of shelters that house them have decreased in recent years, the average length of stay for young people has more than tripled between 2015 and 2025. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s measure to secure the rights of students, faculty and higher education institutions has passed the Senate.

“Speech, free expression and free assembly are fundamental rights guaranteed to all Americans,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “We need to stand by our higher education institutions and our students in the midst of pressure online and from the federal government to restrict these rights.”

SPRINGFIELD – Building on her strong support to bring economic development to Central Illinois, State Senator Doris Turner advanced a package through the Senate to revitalize downtown Springfield.

“I’ve been working with local leaders for four years to find a solution to spur economic development in downtown Springfield,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This plan would do just that. Expanding the Bank of Springfield Center and bringing a headquartered hotel to downtown would create jobs, support small businesses in the area, boost the local economy and breathe new life into downtown.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Willie Preston is leading efforts to strengthen protections for children online by requiring safer digital standards for apps, devices and online platforms operating in Illinois.

“Parents already have enough to worry about without wondering whether social media companies are targeting their children with addictive content and unsafe features,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Families in our communities deserve real protections, real transparency and real accountability from these tech companies.” 

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus passed the state’s eighth balanced budget in a row Monday – prioritizing affordability and food security, and continuing the commitment of making Illinois the best state to live, work and raise a family.

“This balanced budget reflects the kind of disciplined choices the people we represent expect: preparing for uncertainty, restoring property tax relief and continuing to fund the programs people rely on,” said Senate Majority Appropriations Leader Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). “Despite the unprecedented chaos of historic federal cuts nationwide, Illinois has pushed forward — crafting a budget that cements us as the best state in the nation to work with dignity, live with freedom and raise a family.”

The Fiscal Year 2027 budget represents a number of shared priorities of the caucus, including investing in educating children, protecting the state’s most vulnerable, keeping communities safe and enhancing health care.