SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget just hours after the proposal was approved by House Democrats.
Pritzker told reporters in Springfield Wednesday that the $53.1 billion spending plan includes $14 million to create the Department of Early Childhood. The budget also features an additional $75 million for the Early Childhood Block Grant to add 5,000 more seats in preschools across the state during the second year of the administration's Smart Start Illinois program.
"We also continued our march towards educational excellence with historic levels of funding for our K-12 public schools, another year of record reductions in teacher vacancies and expansion of career and technical education," Pritzker said.
The FY25 spending plan includes a $10 million increase in MAP grant funding to help more Illinoisans go to college. Pritzker noted that MAP grant funding has now hit $711 million, which is a 77% increase over six years.
Democrats approved $13 million for grants to address mental health on college campuses as well.
Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton also spent time Wednesday recognizing birth equity investments included in the budget. The Democrats said they are proud of the $4.4 million investment for the Illinois Department of Public Health to analyze the state's maternal mortality rate. IDPH will be required to create an action plan to best serve affected communities.
Stratton told WAND News that a $5 million boost in funding for the state's home visiting program is also critical.
"Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications," Stratton said. "But, it's not just about Black women. We think about women in rural communities and in so many ways where all women deserve access to affordable and accessible healthcare."
The largest budget in state history also includes $1 million for the Department of Human Services to start a low-income diaper program. DHS leaders previously said the diaper distribution program will help families with young children have one less essential item to worry about.
While Pritzker spent most of the Wednesday press conference celebrating the budget and victories during the spring session, he also faced tough questions about investments for migrants.
Democrats earmarked $160 million dollars for migrant welcome centers on top of a $440 million boost in spending on Medicaid benefits for people sent from Texas to Illinois.Â
Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville) was critical of Democrats for allowing less funding for the Department of Veterans' Affairs while costs for migrants continue to rise.
"That's not something that I think will be repeated in any way," Pritzker told WAND News. "But, it is something we needed to address because we're human beings in Illinois especially. We care when people are suffering and that's why there was funding available for us to give basic care for people who happen to be shipped here by a Republican who wants to cause chaos around the United State."
Pritzker is expected to sign the budget in the coming weeks.
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