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Illinois Lawmakers Pass $56 Billion State Budget Amid Rising Gas Prices

Illinois Lawmakers Pass $56 Billion State Budget Amid Rising Gas Prices

Illinois lawmakers have approved a $56 billion state budget, which was passed in the early hours of the morning after extended legislative sessions. The budget is balanced partly through anticipated sales tax revenue increases due to rising gas prices. Governor JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders are focusing their election campaigns on affordability, attributing economic challenges to President Trump and his policies. The budget includes measures to address social program funding and infrastructure needs, reflecting the state's priorities amid economic pressures.
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Illinois Lawmakers Approve Gov. Pritzker's $55.9 Billion Budget with Education and Family Support Increases

Illinois Lawmakers Approve Gov. Pritzker's $55.9 Billion Budget with Education and Family Support Increases

Illinois lawmakers have passed a $55.9 billion budget proposed by Governor Pritzker. The budget notably does not increase state income or sales taxes. It allocates over $300 million in new funding for public education and nearly $100 million to assist families struggling with food insecurity. This budget reflects a focus on enhancing educational resources and providing support to vulnerable families without imposing additional tax burdens on residents.
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Illinois Lawmakers Propose Publicly Owned Stadium to Retain Chicago Bears

Illinois Lawmakers Propose Publicly Owned Stadium to Retain Chicago Bears

Illinois Lawmakers Propose Publicly Owned Stadium to Retain Chicago Bears
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Illinois Legislature Approves Rideshare Unionization Bill, Stalls on Autonomous Vehicle Legislation

Illinois Legislature Approves Rideshare Unionization Bill, Stalls on Autonomous Vehicle Legislation

The Illinois General Assembly has passed a significant piece of legislation that allows rideshare drivers to collectively bargain with companies like Uber and Lyft. This bill, which still requires the signature of Governor JB Pritzker, outlines a path for over 100,000 rideshare drivers in Illinois to form a union. The legislation has garnered support from SEIU Local 1, IAM machinists union Local 701, and Uber. However, it has faced opposition from some Republicans who question the feasibility of organizing independent contractors. Meanwhile, a separate bill aimed at authorizing autonomous vehicle pilot programs in Illinois did not advance. This bill, proposed by Democratic state Sen. Michael Hastings, would have initiated pilot programs in select counties, including Cook County, with the potential for statewide expansion in three years. Concerns about public safety and job impacts were raised by labor organizations, contributing to the bill's stagnation.
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Illinois Lawmakers Adjourn Without Bears Stadium Deal, Pritzker Defends Decision

Illinois Lawmakers Adjourn Without Bears Stadium Deal, Pritzker Defends Decision

Illinois lawmakers adjourned without approving a stadium incentives structure aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker and legislative leaders defended their decision, citing the late emergence of bill language and a reluctance to allocate taxpayer dollars to a wealthy football team. The proposed bill would have allowed the Bears to avoid property taxes on a new stadium, but it was not taken up by the House. Pritzker expressed willingness to work on a stadium package over the summer, though a special session is not currently planned.
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Illinois Lawmakers Adjourn Without Passing Bill to Retain Chicago Bears

Illinois Lawmakers Adjourn Without Passing Bill to Retain Chicago Bears

Illinois Lawmakers Adjourn Without Passing Bill to Retain Chicago Bears
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Illinois Legislature Fails to Resolve Chicago Bears Stadium Deal Amid Tax Plan Collapse

Illinois Legislature Fails to Resolve Chicago Bears Stadium Deal Amid Tax Plan Collapse

Illinois Legislature Fails to Resolve Chicago Bears Stadium Deal Amid Tax Plan Collapse
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Illinois lawmakers adjourn without Bears' stadium vote

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without Bears' stadium vote

Lawmakers in Illinois adjourned the 2026 spring legislative session Monday but didn't pass a bill that could keep the Chicago Bears from building a new home in Indiana. State Sen.
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Illinois General Assembly Faces Deadline for Bill to Retain Chicago Bears

Illinois General Assembly Faces Deadline for Bill to Retain Chicago Bears

Illinois General Assembly Faces Deadline for Bill to Retain Chicago Bears
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Chicago Bears' Stadium Bill Stalls in Illinois Legislature, Future Uncertain

Chicago Bears' Stadium Bill Stalls in Illinois Legislature, Future Uncertain

Chicago Bears' Stadium Bill Stalls in Illinois Legislature, Future Uncertain
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Illinois Legislative Session Delays Bears Stadium Deal

Illinois Legislative Session Delays Bears Stadium Deal

Illinois Legislative Session Delays Bears Stadium Deal
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Illinois Enacts Law to Combat Plastic Pellet Pollution, Protecting Great Lakes

Illinois Enacts Law to Combat Plastic Pellet Pollution, Protecting Great Lakes

Illinois has become the first Great Lakes state to pass legislation aimed at reducing plastic pellet pollution. The state legislature approved HB4418, which classifies pre-production plastic pellets, also known as nurdles, as pollutants. This law empowers the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to create policies to prevent these pellets from entering the environment. Plastic pellets are small, lightweight, and often spill during manufacturing and transportation, making them difficult to clean up. They pose a significant threat to wildlife, as animals can mistake them for food, leading to ingestion of toxins. The legislation is a response to the growing concern over plastic pollution in the Great Lakes, where an estimated 22 million pounds of plastic waste are deposited annually.