(SPRINGFIELD) Lawmakers have only a handful of days remaining before the end of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session and this Saturday, May 31st, is the deadline to pass the newly proposed state budget for the next fiscal year. However, taxpayers, along with Republican lawmakers, still have not yet seen the full details of how the state’s money will be spent by state government for the new fiscal year that begins July 1st. Many say the majority party is doing what it’s done for the past seven years, talking about the numbers behind closed doors. Both the State House and Senate are back in Springfield today.
(SPRINGFIELD) Proposals to expand gambling further to allow internet casinos may be stalling out in Illinois, especially with the end of the spring legislative session now less than a week away. Many lawmakers say since Illinois has already expanded gambling to include sports betting at brick and mortar casinos that turned into mobile phone betting, more expansion to allow online casino gambling would threaten revenue for local establishments with video gaming terminals. Look for plenty of debate this week.
(SPRINGFIELD) School buses in Illinois could be equipped with seat belts in the near future. A measure to require the addition of three-point seat belts on school buses by the year 2031 has passed in the State Senate and last week, Senate Bill 191 passed in the State House on an 83 to 27 vote. The bill now heads to the Governor for his consideration.