Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his seventh State of the State and budget address Wednesday in Springfield. The proposed FY26 budget includes new initiatives in education, economic development, healthcare, township consolidation, homeless assistance and renter’s aid. Pritzker also condemned cost-cutting efforts by the Trump administration that will impact programs in Illinois.

READ MORE: Gov JB Pritzker’s prepared State of the State address – Feb 19 2025

“I know it’s in fashion at the federal level right now to just indiscriminately slash school funding, healthcare coverage, support for farmers, and veterans’ services. They say they’re doing it to eliminate inefficiencies. But only an idiot would think we should eliminate emergency response in a natural disaster, education and healthcare for disabled children, gang crime investigations, clean air and water programs, monitoring of nursing home abuse, nuclear reactor regulation, and cancer research,” said Pritzker.

“We have to live within our means.” Pritzker said FY26 revenue will grow at a slower rate than recent years and therefore, “spending must reflect reality.”

Education

The new initiatives for education include offering four-year degrees at some community colleges. The governor said it would help bring baccalaureate degree programs to underserved communities and meet regional workforce needs.

Pritzker also pushed for establishing a direct admission program for public universities in the state. Students would be able to determine which universities they qualify for before paying fees to apply.

“Improving the classroom environment and limiting distractions is vital to student achievement,” said Pritzker in advocating a statewide cellphone ban for all districts during classroom instruction.

Healthcare

The budget contains healthcare programs that aim to lower the cost of prescriptions. The legislation is designed to put oversight mechanisms in place by allowing the Illinois Department of Insurance to examine the books and records of Pharmacy Benefits Managers and require them to submit to annual reporting and auditing. The goal, he said, is to also help independent pharmacies.

Reducing medical debt for Illinoisans is also a priority for Pritzker, as he talked about a second batch of medical debt cancellations.

He is also pushing for a ban on prior authorizations for all behavioral healthcare.

“The days of unchecked health insurance greed are coming to an end here in Illinois,” said Pritzker.

Economic Development

Pritzker pointed to a state economy of $1.1 trillion and growing – the fifth largest in the United States and the 18th largest in the world.

“We’re now ranked number two in the nation for corporate expansions and relocation destinations. You can see that progress, from Du Quoin to Decatur to Manteno to Belvidere.”

Pritzker’s Warning

The governor took considerable time during his speech to address the impact of federal cuts on Illinoisans. “Let me be clear, this is going to affect your daily lives. Our state budget can’t make up for the damage that is done to people across our state if they succeed.”

He spoke about his “foreboding dread of what is happening” in the United States, referencing his Jewish heritage, the Holocaust, and the role the Nazis played.

“It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic. All I’m saying is when the five-alarm fire starts to burn, every good person better be ready to man a post with a bucket of water if you want to stop it from raging out of control,” said Pritzker.

The governor also called out President Trump for suggesting a diversity hire was responsible for a plane crash in the Potomac.

“The authoritarian playbook is laid bare here,” said Pritzker. “They point to a group of people who don’t look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems.”

DON’T MISS A STORY: Sign up for the free Capitol City Now email newsletter