1,179 bills became law last session – just 5% had a price tag

02/19/2019

Fiscal notes serve as price tags on bills in the General Assembly. Lawmakers’ habit of omitting them limits their ability to make well-informed decisions.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Dale Righter, Fiscal Notes, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois lawmakers pass legislation requiring financial impact statements on executive orders, ignore cost of bills they pass

06/08/2017

House Bill 2379 would require fiscal impact statements on every executive order. However, less than 3 percent of bills enacted into law in the 99th General Assembly had fiscal notes.

TAGS: budget, Fiscal Notes

Illinois lawmakers passed 938 bills that became law from 2015 to 2017 – just 3% had a price tag

By Brendan Bakala

04/24/2017

Despite Illinois’ severe financial problems, less than 3 percent of bills passed by the 99th General Assembly and enacted into law have fiscal notes.

TAGS: budget, Fiscal Notes, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, National Conference of State Legislatures

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

View Report

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Report Archive

Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students