Illinois Democratic leaders reach 2024 state budget agreement with pension reform overdue.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Democratic leaders of the Illinois General Assembly have announced a balanced budget deal featuring "mid-50-plus billion dollars" in spending. The budget includes additional pension payments, early childhood funding, K-12 school funding, MAP grant funding, and public university funding. It does not include funding for Invest in Kids, a tax credit program for private school scholarships, that is largely supported by Republicans. The budget must still pass both chambers, but is expected to do so.