103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2969
 
Introduced 2/16/2023, by Rep. Christopher "C.D" Davidsmeyer
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
New Act

     Creates the Taxpayers' Fiscal Charter Act. Provides for a discretionary spending freeze for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Sets forth requirements to increase discretionary spending beginning in fiscal year 2026. Requires any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations to be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending. Prohibits unfunded mandates. Requires the publishing of certain information before voting on or enacting an appropriations bill. Effective immediately.
  


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A BILL FOR
 

  
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1    AN ACT concerning finance.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Taxpayers' Fiscal Charter Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Backlog payment cycle" means the time between a 
8submission of a proper bill or invoice to the State 
9Comptroller for payment and the issuing of that payment.
10    "Discretionary spending" means any spending not mandated 
11by federal or State law or court order.
12    "Unfunded mandate" means a law requiring a unit of local 
13government or school district to expend money without 
14accompanying money from the State.
 
15    Section 10. Discretionary spending freeze.
16    (a) The General Assembly shall freeze all discretionary 
17spending during fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The General 
18Assembly shall not expand any existing programs or create new 
19programs requiring the expenditure of additional money.
20    (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the General Assembly 
21may create new programs or expand existing programs requiring 
22the expenditure of additional money only if the State's 
 
 
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1backlog payment cycle is 30 days or less and the State has made 
2its full pension payment for the fiscal year, as actuarially 
3determined.
 
4    Section 15. Pay as you go. If the provisions of Section 10 
5of this Act are satisfied, any new spending proposed by the 
6General Assembly in addition to existing obligations shall be 
7accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the 
8proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the 
9proposed spending.
 
10    Section 20. Unfunded mandates; prohibition. 
11Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, 
12the State shall not impose any unfunded mandates on a school 
13district or other unit of local government. No school district 
14or other unit of local government shall be required to comply 
15with an unfunded mandate until the mandate is no longer 
16unfunded.
 
17    Section 25. Appropriations requirements.
18    (a) Before the General Assembly passes and the Governor 
19signs any appropriations law, the State Comptroller shall 
20publish the State's estimated income, balance sheet, cash 
21flow, and surplus or deficit.
22    (b) No appropriations bill shall be voted on for third 
23reading unless the bill, as amended, has been available for 72 
 
 
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1hours on the General Assembly's website.
 
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
3becoming law.