Attorney General Kwame Raoul presented the budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026 to a Senate legislative committee. Raoul noted that since he took office in 2019, his office has generated an average of $23.47 for every dollar received from taxpayers.
“The Attorney General’s office serves Illinois as the people’s law firm, protecting seniors from scammers, supporting victims of violent crime and advocating for the state’s interests,” Raoul said. “We are committed to maintaining vital programs and services to the people of Illinois, even as our responsibilities continue to expand under new statutory requirements and greater enforcement authority of existing state laws, as well as our critical work to protect Illinoisans’ rights from attack by the federal government.”
Raoul addressed the increased workload due to actions from the Trump administration. Since January, his office filed 11 lawsuits and 14 amicus briefs against the administration's policies. The office is also handling two additional state defense cases and responding to federal decisions affecting agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Raoul asserted that state attorneys general must fill the protection gap left by the CFPB.
Raoul elaborated on the expanded state responsibilities assigned to his office. In 2024, over 65 child support enforcement attorneys joined from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. In 2023, the office took charge of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) from the Illinois State Police, focusing on fraud prevention within the state’s Medicaid system.
Besides increased statutory duties, the office's Consumer Fraud Bureau managed over 18,900 complaints in 2024, saving consumers above $12 million through mediation and securing over $48 million via enforcement actions. Additionally, the office obtained more than $1.4 billion in settlements from opioid distributors and manufacturers after thorough investigations into their roles in the opioid crisis.