Bill
HB 3948
Illinois DES gets $524,321,800 in FY2026 to run operations, modernize the benefit system, pay unemployment benefits (including for former state workers), and fund workforce programs.
Status: Referred to Rules Committee; placed on General State Calendar (last action: 2025-05-13)
Introduced: 02/25/2025 (filed 03/06/2025) by Rep. Robyn Gabel
Effective date: July 1, 2025
Purpose
- Provides fiscal year 2026 appropriations to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES) to fund operations, workforce development, benefit payment programs, systems modernization, grants, and targeted initiatives.
Overall appropriation (as shown in bill header)
- General Funds: $19,055,000
- Other State Funds: $5,000,000
- Federal Funds: $500,266,800
- Total: $524,321,800
Key provisions and line items
- Title III Social Security and Employment Fund: $399,657,500 (for operational expenses, awards, grants, permanent improvements, including prior years’ costs).
- Workforce Development (payable from Title III) — $26,100,000 total, including:
- Development of Training Programs: $200,000
- Employment Security Automation: $3,700,000
- Benefit Information System Redefinition (including prior years): $20,200,000
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Hub: $2,000,000
- Unemployment Compensation Special Administration Fund — $2,100,000 total:
- Legal Assistance (as required by law): $2,000,000
- Interest on refunds for erroneously paid contributions, penalties and interest: $100,000
- Grants-in-Aid (Title III): Tort Claims — $675,000
- Unemployment benefits for former state employees (Trust Fund Unit) — $24,734,300 total:
- Road Fund (DOT-related insured wages): $5,000,000
- Title III Social Security and Employment Fund: $1,734,300
- General Revenue Fund: $18,000,000
- Automatic Voter Registration implementation: $200,000 (General Revenue Fund)
- Reappropriation: up to $70,000,000 (Title III) — reappropriated for returning federal funds to FEMA per 44 C.F.R. § 206.120(f) if unexpended as of 6/30/2025.
- Homelessness prevention data pilot (administrative/data analysis): $700,000 (General Revenue Fund)
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility initiatives: $155,000 (General Revenue Fund)
Who is affected / likely impacts
- Department of Employment Security: operational and systems modernization funding (notably benefit system redefinition and automation).
- Unemployed and former state employees: funding for benefit payments and trust-fund-related benefits (including DOT-related claims).
- Workforce programs and training providers: funding for training program development and a WIOA hub.
- Legal services contracted/required under unemployment law: specified reimbursement/appropriation.
- Voters and election administrators: funds to implement Automatic Voter Registration.
- Homelessness prevention planners and analysts: funding for a data pilot to inform prevention strategies.
- Internal DES initiatives: small allocations for DEIA work.
Procedural / timeline notes
- Introduced Feb 25/Mar 6, 2025; committee activity in April 2025 (public hearing, substitute considered, reported favorably as substituted 04/28/2025). Placed on General State Calendar 05/13/2025. If enacted, becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Limitations / observances
- Many appropriations are fund-specific (Title III, Road Fund, General Revenue, Unemployment Compensation Special Administration Fund) and include language allowing “or so much thereof as may be necessary.”
- The bill includes reappropriation language for a prior FEMA repayment item contingent on unexpended balances as of 6/30/2025.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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