By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – With Illinois’ unfunded public sector pension liability hovering around $140 billion, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed an extension of the state’s pension buyout program.

In a statement from the governor’s office, Pritzker also suggested transferring unexpected surplus revenues after the payment of income tax refunds toward pension commitments.

The governor reaffirmed his statutory funded ratio goal of 100% funded by 2048.

Greg Bishop contributed to this story.

LAWMAKER PROPOSES RESTRICTING EMERGENCY ROOM AI

State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, has introduced legislation that would restrict the use of artificial intelligence when determining a patient’s priority in a hospital emergency room.

Briel said House Bill 4233 follows recently-announced plans by OSF Healthcare to integrate AI for predicting patient diagnoses and treatments. The measure would limit hospital emergency departments from using health care kiosks or digital check-ins for determining a patient’s medical state to select their place in line for emergency treatment.

INITIATIVE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS

The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence nonprofit group is collaborating with Ring, an Amazon company, to distribute Ring X Line devices and subscriptions to domestic violence survivors.

During fiscal year 2026, the Illinois Attorney General’s office has approved more than $5.5 million in grant funds for 78 agencies across the state that provide services to domestic violence survivors.

Those needing assistance can contact the attorney general’s violence prevention and crime victim services division online or by calling (800) 228-3368.