Illinois lawmakers are set to meet every day through May 31st when the session is scheduled to adjourn. Plans for the next state budget are expected to begin surfacing this week.
Other major issues before legislators include the state's pensions, same-sex marriage, and new casinos.
The House and Senate are working on dueling versions - the Senate, for example, is expected to fight against cuts to education.
Another complicating factor is finding money to pay union employees' raises they were supposed to get two years ago, but that lawmakers never approved funding to pay for.
This year's budget may also be on the public back burner because there so many other big issues commanding lawmakers' attention - like pensions, gambling, same sex marriage and gun control.
Illinois Public Radio's Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.