Concluding a frenzied last day of the 2026 spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers passed a record $56 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget (HB111) in the early morning hours of Monday, June 1st.  

Amid the harmful cuts to Medicaid in President Trump’s harmful budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1, expiration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, and proposed federal HIV funding cuts, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) introduced a comprehensive 2026 advocacy agenda in February aimed to protect healthcare access, strengthen HIV prevention and care funding, and advance equity and justice for the Black, Latiné, and LGBTQ+ communities impacted by HIV and homelessness.  

“While the final state budget includes a slight increase to the HIV Lump Sum, it doesn’t fully reflect the additional investments necessary to address the urgent need for sustained HIV prevention, treatment, and supportive services. With timely investments, Illinois can help alleviate the harmful impact of the ongoing implementation of H.R.1,” said AFC President & CEO John Peller. “Over the coming months, we will continue working alongside lawmakers, advocates, and people living with HIV to stabilize our HIV care system and prevent new transmissions. Illinois can neither sustain a high-performing public health infrastructure, nor achieve its goal of ending the HIV epidemic, without adequate and sustainable funding.” 

AFC is proud to work with state lawmakers, coalitions, and workgroups to advance legislation that helps the people and communities we serve. Along with many of you, AFC was proud to have championed the following measures during the 2026 Spring legislative session:    

Strengthening Funding for HIV Care and Prevention (HB4410/SB2814) 

AFC was proud to advocate for a $6.5 million increase in state funding for HIV education, prevention, testing, and treatment in the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget, as well as the restoration of nearly $1 million in state funding for PrEP Medication Assistance and STI screenings.  This additional funding would have allowed the State to weather the estimated 5,000-7,500 Illinoisans living with HIV who will need Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (Illinois ADAP) coverage when they lose Medicaid coverage due to work requirements and other harmful changes mandated by the federal government. This legislation also included the protection of funding for the Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL) initiative and support of $15 million for the African American HIV/AIDS Response Fund (AAHARF) as outlined in HB4807/SB3615.  

END OF SESSION STATUS: For the first time in the last five fiscal years, state legislators increased the HIV Lump Sum by $1 million. However, state lawmakers also cancelled funding for STI testing, treatment, and prevention and cut funding for PrEP medication assistance.  

 Here’s a breakdown of the HIV-specific line items in the state’s FY27 budget:  

  • $1 Million increase in funding for HIV treatment and prevention services, also known as the HIV Lump Sum ($26.5 million) 
  • $1.25 Million decrease in funding for grants and administrative expenses for the distribution of PrEP medication access ($242,861) 
  • Zero funding for grants and administrative expenses for STI testing, treatment, and prevention ($0) 
  • Level funding for the African American HIV/AIDS Response Act (AAHARA) that funds grants to Black-led community-based organizations ($7.8 million)  
  • Level funding for the GTZ Illinois Omnibus line item ($5.5 million) 
  • Level funding for the Quality-of-Life Endowment Fund for grants related to HIV/AIDS prevention and education ($1 million)

AFC is especially grateful for State Senators Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) and Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) and State Representatives Norma Hernandez (D-Melrose Park), Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago), Nicolle Grasse (D-Arlington Heights), Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park) and Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), and the various legislative caucuses for their steadfast work in the General Assembly to champion increased funding for HIV prevention and treatment services. The state’s FY27 budget passed the Illinois General Assembly on June 1, 2026, and now awaits Governor Pritzker’s signature.  

Addressing the Impact of Illinois’ Opioid Crisis (HB2929) 

The HIV epidemic and overdose crisis across Illinois are inextricably linked. People who use drugs are vulnerable to acquiring HIV—both related directly to sharing equipment for injection drug use and to the complex role drug use can play in sexual transmission. AFC was proud to support legislation that would establish an education program for community stakeholders on the benefits of overdose prevention sites (OPS), promulgate rules to authorize the establishment and maintenance of a pilot OPS, and require the Department of Human Services to prepare a report detailing its data collection regarding OPS within 12 months after the starting operation date of the OPS. 

END OF SESSION STATUS: Although HB2929 passed out the House Mental Health & Addiction Committee on a bipartisan 15-7 vote, this legislation did not advance further in the state legislative process this session. As a member of the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition (IHRRC), AFC will continue to work alongside harm reduction advocates and people with lived experience to advance this critical legislation in subsequent sessions of the Illinois General Assembly.  

Removing Barriers to HIV Treatment and Prevention Medications (HB2584)  

Prior authorization is a requirement by health insurance plans for patients to obtain approval of a health care service or medication before the care is provided. However, these requirements often cause delays for patients, including those with chronic conditions like HIV, and in turn, result in negative clinical outcomes. AFC was proud to support legislation that would ban prior authorization in health insurance plans for HIV treatment and prevention. 

END OF SESSION STATUS: Although HB2584 was heard in a subject matter hearing in the Senate Insurance Committee in April, this legislation did not advance further in the state legislative process this session. AFC will continue to work alongside industry partners and our legislative champions State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) to advance this needed legislation in subsequent sessions of the Illinois General Assembly.  

Enshrining Protections for LGBTQ+ Older Adults and People Aging with HIV (HB4359/SB2805) 

As Illinois’ population of LGBTQ+ elders and people aging with HIV continues to grow, AFC and Pride Action Tank were proud to support legislation that would establish an LGBTQ+/HIV Bill of Rights to ensure affirming, safe, and dignified care in long-term and home-based settings. 

END OF SESSION STATUS: In March 2026, HB4359 passed out of the House Judiciary-Civil Committee in March on a 13-7 vote and SB2805 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 6-3 vote. Unfortunately, neither piece of legislation advanced further in the state legislative process this session. AFC will continue to work alongside coalition partners and our legislative champions State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) and State Representative Nicolle Grasse (D-Arlington Heights) to advance this needed legislation in subsequent sessions of the Illinois General Assembly.  

Conclusion 

Later this week, we will commemorate the 45th anniversary since what would become known as the HIV epidemic first graced the pages of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Since that date, the HIV epidemic has been rooted in resilience, advocacy, mutual care, and community. To the advocates, activists, and allies that have done the work to move the HIV response forward, we say thank you. Your collective advocacy resulted in over 2,700 emails to state lawmakers in support of AFC’s 2026 state legislative priorities and our Save Illinois ADAP Instagram & Facebook social media campaign content racked up more than 39,000 views! The stories and voices of advocates like you made the difference. For that and much more, we are grateful always. THANK YOU. 

Although this state legislative session has ended, I encourage you to stay engaged in our advocacy work over the summer and fall by signing up for AFC’s Mobile Action Network or visiting our Policy & Advocacy Action Center to participate in various local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns!  

Many things have changed over the course of the last 45 years. But there’s one thing that has remained the same—the resolute advocacy of community. With your help, we can continue moving forward in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois by 2030–together.