Your Daily Guide

Illinois Passes $55.9 Billion Budget

After a long process that went well into the early morning Monday, state lawmakers have passed a $55.9 billion budget...

So, what passed and what didn’t?

What’s in the budget:

• Illinoisans who have lost SNAP benefits may be eligible to receive a one-time $400 payment through the new Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program.
• Lawmakers also opted to maintain a health care program for undocumented immigrant seniors and welcoming centers for new arrivals.
• Property tax relief is coming for homeowners to catch up on missed payments and lessen risk of losing their homes.

Pause on gas hike: After gas surpassed $5 per gallon for the first time since 2022, lawmakers suspended the 1.3-cent gas tax increase that was supposed to go in effect July 1. It is now slated for January.

• Also: School supplies will be exempt from sales tax from Aug. 7-16.

New digital revenue: Starting Jan. 1, the state will begin taxing cryptocurrency, fantasy sports, prediction markets, and targeted ads. Social media companies will also have to pay a new fee based on the number of users on platforms. It's projected to generate $200 million in revenue.

• Meanwhile: A lawsuit in Chicago is trying to block a similar social media tax.

No movement on data centers: The POWER Act, a bill to regulate data centers, failed to make it. Lawmakers say negotiations with data center developers, local leaders, utility companies, energy advocacy groups, and labor unions will continue.

Bad news for Bears: Lawmakers didn’t reach a Bears stadium deal. At the last minute, the Senate passed an entirely different bill from the “megaprojects” tax incentives the House passed in April. The new proposal didn’t make it to the House floor. Gov. JB Pritzker could call a special session in the summer.

What policies were approved?

• Pritzker’s school cellphone ban, taking effect in 2027.
• Protecting abortion health records with the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act.
• New rules surrounding e-bike usage, including enforcing age requirements and sidewalk usage.

Oh, and lawmakers gave themselves a 3% raise.

Trump Tower on Obama Avenue?

A petition to rename part of Wabash Avenue after the 44th president is gaining traction online. It’s the part where there’s a tower named for the current president. [Block Club]

West Loop’s Smyth No. 1 in North America

The 10-year-old restaurant was named the best in North America. The farm-to-table spot is known for its wine pairings and tasting menus. It’s the city’s only three-star Michelin eatery. [50 Best]

New Transit Era is Here

Illinois’s overhauled transit legislation is officially in effect. It replaces the Regional Transportation Authority with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and reduces the mayor’s power over the CTA. As for how this affects Chicago riders, you can expect more frequent buses on multiple routes and increased service on Metra’s Rock Island line. [Tribune 🔒]

• Remember? The package was created to save CTA, Metra, and Pace from drastic cuts. [City Cast Chicago 💻]