Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Springfield on Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Gov. JB Pritzker reiterated the state needs to share limited available funding resources among many priorities as the governor and legislature get inundated with several high-profile funding requests at the same time they try to finalize a tight budget. 

The House advanced a critical reform demanded by businesses, though they remain opposed to the change, believing it doesn’t go far enough. The House also voted to pass a bill reforming laws behind pay for Illinois college student-athletes.  

Members of the Chicago Teachers Union speak at a news conference in Springfield. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) sent members to Springfield on Wednesday to ask state lawmakers for $1 billion of funding for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), but time is ticking toward a final version of the budget being introduced in Springfield. 

The House took a bipartisan vote Tuesday to approve a program that will allow student teachers to receive a stipend for their classroom experience that currently goes unpaid. But when the program will actually get off the ground is up in the air.  

The Illinois Capitol   

The General Assembly is in their final weeks of the spring session with the budget the main focus for legislators ahead of their self-imposed May 24 deadline. 

This spring’s session has been on the quiet side, though several important discussions loom for the fall or next spring — after the November elections. But legislators are still looking to send several important bills to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk before the end of the month.

Stateville Prision [City of Crest Hill]

Leaders from the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) detailed their plans to close and rebuild the Stateville and Logan County prisons with changes set to be made as soon as this fall. 

IDOC is pushing an aggressive timeline to complete the entire project within three to five years, but in addition to concerns that IDOC is underestimating how long the project will take, IDOC employees and local officials are worried about the impacts of IDOC’s proposal to eliminate the Logan prison entirely.  

Sportsbooks from around Illinois wrote a letter to state lawmakers with concerns about Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed tax hike on sportsbooks. A new amendment to regulate hemp was filed. And Illinois State Police arrested a person involved in making bomb threats at the State Capitol. 

Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights) speaks on the House floor on Thursday. [Blue Room Stream]   

The House voted 93-18 on Thursday to pass a plan proposed by Gov. JB Pritzker last year to create the Department of Early Childhood and consolidate early childhood services under a single state agency. 

Four Broadway actors perform a song in the House Revenue and Finance Committee in Springfield on Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

The state budget picture has tightened this week, but state lawmakers are still exploring the possibility of adding new or expanded tax credits to the budget.  

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson walks through the Illinois Capitol on Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson made his first visit to Springfield as mayor to ask the General Assembly to fund several priorities for the city. His visit came on the same day a new report warned of tightening revenue sources and the governor’s office released a memo warning spending may not be as high as the governor had hoped.