Relating to the security of state assets.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Darcey Edwards and 1 co-sponsor

HB 3936 appropriates $3.29B from the State Lottery Fund for IDL operations, prize payments, game development, IT, and staff for FY2025-26.

Chapter 396, (2025 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2026.

Summary — HB 3936 (104th General Assembly, 2025)

Short title / topic: Appropriations for the Department of the Lottery (payable from the State Lottery Fund).
Introduced: Feb 25, 2025 (Rep. Robyn Gabel).
Enacted: Chapter 396 (2025 Laws); Governor signed June 24, 2025.
Effective date: January 1, 2026 (the bill text included a July 1, 2025 effective clause, but the enacted chapter is effective Jan. 1, 2026).

Main purpose / intent

HB 3936 appropriates funds from the State Lottery Fund to cover the ordinary and contingent operating expenses of the Illinois Department of the Lottery for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It funds agency operations, prize payments (including multi‑state lottery prizes), game development and promotion, IT and telecommunications, employee compensation and benefits, and related costs.

Key provisions (line‑item highlights)

All amounts are payable from the State Lottery Fund. Total appropriation: $3,291,277,000.

Major line items:
- Payment of prizes (including Multi‑State Lottery games and promotional/incentive prizes): $3,000,000,000
- Expenses of developing and promoting lottery games: $265,000,000
- Personal services (salaries): $7,300,000
- State retirement contributions (SERS): $3,720,000
- Group insurance: $2,525,000
- Electronic data processing (IT): $5,000,000
- Contractual services: $6,000,000
- Telecommunications services: $350,000
- Operation of auto equipment: $540,000
- Refunds: $100,000
- Miscellaneous (travel, commodities, printing, equipment, Lottery Board expenses): small appropriations totaling the remainder

The bill explicitly covers operating expenses related to Multi‑State Lottery games pursuant to the Illinois Lottery Law.

Who is affected / likely impacts

Department of the Lottery: receives funding to operate, develop games, maintain IT/telecom systems, pay staff benefits, and administer prize payouts.

Lottery ticket purchasers and winners: appropriated funds ensure prize payments and promotional/incentive prize availability.

Vendors and contractors: providers of game development, promotion, IT and other services funded through contractual services and promotional budgets.

State financial management: the appropriation is funded from the State Lottery Fund (not General Revenue), so it affects the use of lottery receipts for payouts and operations.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced Feb 25, 2025; referred to committees including Elections and Information Management & Technology; public hearings and work sessions were held in April–May 2025.

Passed both chambers in June 2025; signed by legislative leaders and the Governor in mid‑June 2025.

Enacted as Chapter 396, 2025 Laws; effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Additional notes

The vast majority of the appropriation (about 91% — $3.0 billion of $3.291 billion) is allocated for prize payments. Large allocations for game development and promotion ($265 million) and IT ($5 million) indicate emphasis on product marketing and technological operations for lottery activities.

Funding is limited to the State Lottery Fund, consistent with lottery statutes that dedicate lottery receipts to lottery operations and prize obligations rather than to the State’s General Revenue Fund.