Ahead of State Budget Address, Latino Policy Forum Charts Path for Latino Equity in Illinois

CHICAGO – Ahead of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s FY26 proposed budget and State of the State address, today, the Latino Policy Forum published its 2025 Springfield Agenda, outlining budgetary, policy, and administrative priorities on issues critical to addressing equity in education, immigration, and housing for Latinos.

“Our agenda calls for increased and level investments in programs that help everyone because when Latino families have access to quality education, stable housing, and can live without fear, all of Illinois thrives,” said Latino Policy Forum Vice President for Education Policy & Research, Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro, PhD. “We are fully aware of the state’s anticipated deficit and know that difficult decisions will need to be made, so our agenda balances the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community and the organizations that serve them and our fiscal reality.”

“The Forum also recognizes and thanks Governor Pritzker’s unwavering support for critical education funding, immigrant families, and social service agencies and organizations that support those most in need. Right now, our communities, the institutions that protect us, and even our democracy are under attack, but it is heartening to know that our governor has our back. We look forward to working together with his office, members of the Illinois General Assembly, and our partners to protect our state and everything that makes it the best state to raise a family for everyone.”

The Forum’s 2025 Springfield Agenda details investments and policies that would not only benefit Latino communities throughout the state but would benefit everyone that calls Illinois home:

• To support the foundation for future academic success, in early childhood, the Forum calls for increased funding for preschool, home visiting, childcare, and early intervention programs.
• To empower school districts serving K-12 students, increased investment in the Evidence-Based Funding formula, and level funding for Teacher Vacancy Grants.
• To make a college degree more accessible for our young people, greater and level allocations for programs that make a college degree more affordable and that prepare our young people for careers where they are needed most, including in our public schools.  
• To integrate and protect our immigrant families and community members, increased and level funding for programs that facilitate access to legal services and help immigrant families get critical services.
• To address the homelessness crisis in our state, increased investments for programs that get unhoused community members off the streets and into shelters or transition into long-term housing, and programs that reach families at-risk of losing their homes.

On Wednesday, February 19, Governor Pritzker will deliver the State of the State address outlining his administration’s policy and budgetary priorities. The proposed state budget is expected that same day, and in the months that follow, advocates, the legislature, and Governor’s office will work together to finalize, build support for, and pass the budget.  

To read the Latino Policy Forum 2025 Springfield Agenda, go HERE.

Correction: This press release previously gave February 17 as the date Governor Pritzker’s State of the State address and proposed budget were expected. That was an error. The State of the State and proposed FY26 budget are expected on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.