Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (5/14)

May 14, 2025

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Pritzker budget team slashes state’s revenue forecast by $536 million

“The governor’s budget office now expects about $500 million less in revenue for the coming fiscal year, which will make it more challenging for the General Assembly to come up with a budget,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Illinois Freedom Caucus suggests state should only spend $44 billion for Fiscal Year 2026 

“The Illinois Freedom Caucus argues Illinois needs to trim the fat of Democratic budgets and are proposing a spending plan of their own. Gov. JB Pritzker presented a $55 billion budget in February, but the Freedom Caucus told reporters in Springfield Tuesday that lawmakers only need to approve $44 billion,” by WAND.

Illinois seeks to prevent feds from tying funding for states to immigration enforcement 

“Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 19 other Democratic attorneys general filed a pair of lawsuits Tuesday against Trump administration policies designed to block federal funding to states that don’t carry out U.S. immigration enforcement,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Consumer advocates tell regulators to slash rate hike requests from Ameren, Nicor

“Natural gas customers in the Chicago suburbs and downstate Illinois are likely to see an increase in their monthly bills next year, but it’s up to state regulators to decide how big a hike, if any, to approve,” by NPR Illinois.

State on track to end health coverage program for immigrant adults

“State officials are on track to shut down a program at the end of June that provides publicly funded health care coverage to more than 30,000 non-U.S. citizens in Illinois, including many who are in the country without legal authorization,” by Capitol News Illinois.

 

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Chicago mayor commits $7 million to raises for early childhood education workers 

“Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Tuesday that Chicago will spend $7 million on increasing salaries for 3,000 early childhood workers, as part of an effort to pay them closer to what their counterparts at K-12 schools earn,” by Chalkbeat Chicago.

Mayor Brandon Johnson Says He Hasn’t Done Enough To Convince Chicago Of Job He’s Doing 

“Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to tell you that violent crime is down, more affordable housing is on the way and kids are getting summer jobs. But he also hears the noise from those left underwhelmed by his first two years in office,” by Block Club Chicago.

City commission approves $67 million in TIF funds for massive Central Loop renovation 

“The largest project envisioned so far for the LaSalle Street Reimagined program took a step closer to reality Tuesday when the Community Development Commission recommended that City Council approve it,” by the Chicago Tribune.

City Council committee OKs removal of college degree requirement for city jobs

“Citing the skyrocketing cost of a college education, a City Council committee agreed Tuesday to remove that ‘paper ceiling’ by allowing candidates for city jobs to substitute work experience for a diploma,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Chicago principals union blasts CPS CEO budget planning, calling it ‘magical’ and ‘false’ 

“In a letter to members, obtained by WBEZ, the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association says their understanding is that school-level budgets are based on the premise that CPS will get increased state funding, receive all promised federal funding and, the most unlikely, the city will liquidate all of its special taxing districts called TIFs,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents – The Shifting State(s) of Regulation 

Amid President Trump’s deregulatory agenda and congressional inaction on tech issues, states are stepping into the void.

States are moving quickly to fill the regulatory void left by the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but a number of regulatory gaps are poised to remain in place.

Both the Trump administration and the states are competing to open the floodgates for autonomous vehicles, colloquially known as self-driving cars, to hit the roads.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing – From DC to City Hall to the Vatican

The Public Strategies team breaks down New York’s response to the federal landscape—from congestion pricing and the SALT cap to the high-stakes mayoral race. Plus, a look at the global stage: what the appointment of the new American Pope means for U.S. influence in the Vatican and beyond. Featuring insights from Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Towner French, and Jamie Ansorge.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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