Dear neighbor,
Continuing our commitment to making Illinois the best place to live, work and raise a family, my colleagues and I recently passed our eighth consecutive balanced budget. The Fiscal Year 2027 budget prioritizes affordability for working families, funding education, supporting violence prevention programs and reducing food insecurity for those in need.
As I return home for the summer months, I want to give you an update on important funding in this year’s budget, legislation I worked on the spring and things happening around the 36th District. To read my full statement on the Senate’s passage of the FY 27 spending plan, click here.
If you need assistance with state services or have feedback about legislation, please reach out to my office by phone at 309-558-3612, by text at 309-297-4483 or check out my website and Facebook.
All the best,
Mike Halpin
State Senator | 36th District
Fiscal Year 2027 spending plan
Working across the aisle to address the downstate teacher shortage
There are key initiatives in this package that combat food insecurity and provide tax relief to working families. I am supportive of policies that make sure that we’re holding big multinational corporations and big tech companies financially accountable. Even so, there is still much work to do to bring costs down for everyday Illinoisans, and our higher education institutions need more support. I look forward to time back home in the district to hear people’s ideas, questions and concerns as we move deeper into an uncertain time. My team is always ready to assist constituents the best we can.
Highlights
Food Security
- $50 million to hire 450 additional staff and update eligibility determination systems for SNAP and Medicaid to comply with federal changes regarding eligibility and work requirements
- A one-time EBT payment to help mitigate the immediate risk of hunger for individuals who were already SNAP recipients but lost benefits due to changes in federal requirements
- $2 million for the Illinois Grocery Initiative
K-12 Education
- Continues the state’s commitment to the evidence-based funding model and restores the property tax relief grants – bringing the total to an additional $350 million for K-12 education
- Continues funding for career and technical education programs
- $1.5 million for computer science education to promote equitable access to coursework
- $1.5 million for the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan
- $15 million to school districts for the fourth year of the Teacher Vacancy Grant Program
- $35 million for after-school programs
Higher Education
- $721 million for Monetary Award Program (MAP) funding
- MAP is expected to serve more than 21,000 additional students this year than it did in 2019
- $3 million for PELL grants
- $300 million for universities and $100 million for community colleges for renovations and deferred maintenance
- $2 million for the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) program
- Continues funding to support dual credit and non-credit workforce community college programs
Legislative update
Legislation I sponsored this session is headed to the governor for final consideration. If signed, these bills will become laws that help not just our communities but also the state as a whole.
House Bill 4304: Protecting student free speech on college campuses
Speech, free expression and free assembly are fundamental rights guaranteed to all Americans. We need to stand by our higher education institutions and our students in the midst of pressure online and from the federal government to restrict these rights.
I got legislation passed to protect the constitutional rights of students in higher education institutions and spell out additional academic rights. These rights would include an inclusive and safe learning environment, accessibility, free expression and academic access, freedom of association and organization, peaceful protest, academic transparency, fair evaluation, educational records, protection of academic programs from political interference, career preparation, educational quality, due process, institutional accountability, financial transparency, refunds and withdrawals, and right to transfer.
Read more about the bill here.
House Bill 3811: Preventing exploitation of those needing guardianship
To ensure folks who require a guardian are not taken advantage of, I sponsored legislation to put rules around who can be a private professional guardian so we ensure only qualified people are performing this important role.
This bill would provide multiple guardrails to ensure private professional guardians are qualified. These include having a personal meeting with the respondent prior to appointment, background checks, certifications, fee disclosures and financial management standards.
The legislation would impose reporting obligations and allow for court removal due to noncompliance. I am proud to say this legislation passed both houses and now heads to the governor’s desk.
Read more here.
In the District
To keep students' minds engaged and foster creativity, I am continuing my annual Summer Book Club this year. At a time when the future looks uncertain and our young people have to navigate all the modern pressures of life in the 21st Century, we have a responsibility to teach the value of reading to our students. With AI tools, misinformation and short form content running rampant, I believe reading is necessary to prepare our next generation not for what to learn, but how to learn. Books foster new ideas, expand a child’s outlook and reinforce the values of education.
The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form, and return the form to our Rock Island, Galesburg or Springfield office by Aug. 14. Every child who completes the Summer Book Club will receive a gift card. Information forms are available at these local, Western Illinois libraries:
- Rock Island Downtown Library
- Rock Island Library Southwest Branch
- Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch
- Macomb Public Library
- New Windsor Public Library
- Clover Public Library
- Galesburg Public Library
- Knoxville Public Library
- Alexis Library
- Warren County Public Library District
- Moline Public Library
- East Moline Public Library
- Silvis Public Library
- Robert R. Jones Public Library
- Colona Public Library
- Roseville Branch Library
- Village of Avon Public Library
- Bushnell Public Library
- Western District Library
- Sherrard Public Library District
Summer Book Club forms are available to download at on our website. People can also fill out the form online here. People with questions can reach out to my office at 309 558-3612.
Resources and grant opportunities
Important SNAP changes
The federal administration’s changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program took place May 1. This means some customers may have already lost benefits if they are not meeting new work or volunteer requirements.
It’s not too late to protect your SNAP benefits! First, complete the screener to see if you are impacted.
If you need to find a way to qualify, through work, volunteering or training programs, the Illinois Department of Human Services has resources available.
If you have any questions, please reach out to my district office at 309-558-3612. Additionally, there is a list of food pantries across the 36th District on my website.
Summer grocery help
If you have school-aged children, you may be eligible for grocery assistance this summer. Summer EBT offers families $120 for each eligible child to purchase groceries. You can receive this benefit even if your child is getting free meals at summer school or camp. Learn more and apply.
Know your rights
No matter your status — you have rights in Illinois. From asking questions to when to stay silent, knowing your rights can protect you if approached by ICE. Find resource toolkits, free and low-cost immigration legal services and family emergency plans at illinoisimmigrationinfo.org.
Check you Medicaid status
Are you or a family member using Medicaid? Make sure you stay covered by checking your mail for annual Medicaid renewal notices and completing your renewal right away. Click “Manage My Case” at abe.illinois.gov or call 1-800-843-6154.
Remember: Illinois will never ask you for money to renew or apply for Medicaid. You can report scams to the Medicaid fraud hotline at 1-844-453-7283.
LIHEAP applications open
Eligibility for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program has opened for non-senior applicants! LIHEAP helps eligible households pay for home energy services, including help with heating gas, electricity and propane. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until Aug. 15, 2026, or until funds run out. Go to Find my Local Agency to locate your LIHEAP Local Administering Agency.
