After the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget Saturday, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement:

“In Illinois, we invest in what lifts families up — good schools, job opportunities, housing, financial aid for college students and more. As a proud community college graduate and first in my family to earn a master’s degree, I know the value of investing in the higher education hubs that fuel our economy and help residents thrive.

“Our budget increases funding for universities and invests an additional $10 million in need-based financial aid through the Monetary Award Program. Together, these will help our college systems better serve and attract students while easing the burden on families across the Northwest Suburbs who are saving for their child’s future by making college more affordable.

“Ensuring stability and predictability, especially for students and working families, is a top priority. We have a federal government that is intent on stripping funding from Illinoisans in every way possible as punishment for standing firm in our progressive values.

“The budget we delivered today rises above those threats and rhetoric to do the real, hard work of funding essential services Illinois families rely on.”