Delivered via email: May 18, 2023
Illinois General Assembly to Miss Adjournment Deadline, Full-Day Kindergarten Moves Forward
May 19 was a date that many involved with the Illinois General Assembly had circled on their calendars. The Illinois House and Senate were both scheduled to adjourn the spring session tomorrow, on May 19. However, it looks like that deadline will be missed either by a few hours, or a few days, or even a few weeks. The revenue picture has been revised downward over the last several weeks as April receipts for the state were not as strong as previously predicted. While both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly are controlled by a supermajority of Democrats, there is still disagreement among the respective caucuses of each chamber about spending and budget priorities. IASB will provide further updates as the budget picture becomes clearer.
Full-Day Kindergarten in Position to Head to Governor’s Desk
One bill IASB has monitored throughout session is House Bill 2396 (Canty, D-Arlington Heights) which would require full-day kindergarten starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The bill has now passed the Senate and is waiting on a concurrence vote in the House before heading to the Governor’s desk. IASB understands the potential benefits of full-day kindergarten, but unfortunately HB 2396 mandates schools comply without providing funding. Before the mandate goes into effect, a task force will meet to examine the costs associated with HB 2396. IASB believes it would be a better course to convene the task force and await the outcome of that process before imposing the mandate. We will continue to monitor and update you on this latest mandate as things develop.