In Review: In Illinois, the General Assembly is set to reconvene this week, with sessions scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday. Despite expectations of limited committee action, the agendas are set, showcasing the Assembly’s readiness to delve back into some limited legislative activity before the March primary. We passed the introduction deadline with a significant number of new bills on the table: 1,565 in the House and 1,222 in the Senate since last spring. Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) will deliver his FY25 Budget Request and State of the State Address this Wednesday at noon. This address, which will be broadcast live at ilga.gov, is particularly noteworthy given the financial backdrop—an anticipated $1 billion deficit for FY25. The Governor’s speech is expected to emphasize fiscal restraint, particularly in new spending initiatives, as a response to this challenging financial forecast.
Turning to committee activities, the Senate Public Health Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 20, at 1:30 P.M. One of the highlighted items on their agenda is Senate Bill 2893, sponsored by Villa-D, which aims to create a prescription drug importation program. However, not all committees are moving forward with their agendas this week; the House Insurance Committee has canceled its meeting. Meanwhile, the Senate Insurance Committee is also meeting on Tuesday, February 20, at 4:30 P.M., although there are no items flagged as priorities for PCMA on their agenda. PCMA and our members are working on SB 3179, the point-of-sale rebate bill. Following recent discussions, there’s a concerted effort to propose new language that could overhaul the current bill, offering a point-of-sale rebate option instead. This initiative underscores PCMA’s commitment to constructive engagement on legislative matters, especially in collaboration with Senator Napolean Harris (D). Members are encouraged to review the proposed changes and provide their feedback as soon as possible.
As Illinois gears up for a week of legislative activities and Gov. Pritzker’s address, PCMA will be keeping a close watch.
If you have any questions, please contact Melodie Shrader at mshrader@pcmanet.org.
