Bill Signing Update
The 2025 regular session of the Illinois General Assembly adjourned on June 1 after passing a total of 436 bills. Many major initiatives including the Fiscal Year 2026 budget package and other measures with July 1 effective dates were signed into law earlier in the summer. Since then, the Gov. JB Pritzker has acted on all remaining legislation. Of the 436 bills passed, four were vetoed: two full vetoes, one amendatory veto, and one line-item veto.
Total Vetoes
- HB 2682 (Jiménez/Edly-Alen): This bill would have streamlined Family Violence Option screening into the standard TANF application process and increased Crisis Assistance benefits. The bill was vetoed because its language duplicated provisions already enacted in the FY 2026 Budget Implementation Act.
- SB 246 (Johnson/Mayfield): This measure would have allowed the State Treasurer to establish a nonprofit investment pool and electronic payment program for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(5) organizations. Gov. Pritzker vetoed the bill, citing concerns that it could allow “Illinois’ financial investments to be used to benefit fringe and extremist groups.”
Amendatory Veto
- HB 2568 (Katz Muhl/Harmon): The Equality for Every Family Act modernizes Illinois’ parentage laws. Gov. Pritzker issued an amendatory veto to correct technical formatting errors.
Line-Item Veto
- SB 2510 (Sims/Welch): In the FY 2026 budget, the governor reduced approximately $161M in Build Illinois Bond Fund appropriations. These reductions addressed drafting errors that would have exceeded authorized bonding limits set in the Bond Authorization Act of 2025.
When legislators return for the fall veto session in October, they will consider how to act on these measures. The General Assembly may vote to override a full or line-item veto with a three fifths majority in both chambers. For amendatory vetoes, legislators can either accept the governor’s recommended changes with a simple majority vote, override them with three fifths vote to enact the original bill, or take no action, causing the bill to fail. A complete list of all bills passed, along with their Public Act numbers and veto messages, is available here.
RTA Transfers Funding to CTA to Delay Fiscal Cliff
On August 21, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) voted to authorize a transfer of $74M in discretionary funding from Metra and Pace to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) if state legislators fail to pass a transit funding solution during the October veto session. The RTA, consisting of the CTA, Metra, and Pace, is reportedly facing a $771M deficit in calendar year 2026. While this deficit is likely lower due to higher-than-expected RTA sales tax revenue, the calendar year 2026 deficit is still estimated to be around $546M.
The optimal and most likely scenario would be that legislators agree on a Chicago area transit funding and governance reform solution in October. However, since veto session is only two weeks and occurs in the middle of the state’s fiscal cycle, it is not a guarantee that they can get it done. Authorizing the discretionary $74M transfer to CTA provides a backup plan in case of emergency. Rather than a fiscal cliff occurring at the beginning of 2026, the deficit is now expected to hit in the middle of the year. The exact date is not clear and depends on a variety of factors that influence CTA’s revenue and spending. Each RTA service provider faces its own fiscal cliff date, with CTA’s occurring first, even after the transfer, then Metra towards the end of 2026, and finally Pace at the beginning of 2027.
With this change, the General Assembly could realistically wait until they return to Springfield in January without sending the RTA into funding chaos. If the funding can last through the end of May 2026, transit reform could even be considered along with other new revenue lines as a part of the state’s FY 2027 budget process.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
October 14-16 – Veto Session Week 1
October 28-30 – Veto Session Week 2
In the News
Pritzker says office has discussed downstate violation of TRUST act with attorney general – The Daily Line, August 29, 2025.
Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday his office has spoken with Attorney General Kwame Raoul about an alleged violation of the Illinois TRUST Act by a downstate sheriff.
GOP’s Tracy drops $2 million into race to fill Durbin’s Senate seat – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 27, 2025.
In a sign that the Illinois Republican Party at least has a pulse, the party’s likely candidate for the U.S. Senate seat now held by retiring Democrat Dick Durbin has put $2 million into his campaign.
Darren Bailey ‘considering’ another run for Illinois governor in 2026 – The Pantagraph, August 27, 2025.
2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey told Lee Enterprises he’s interested in a rematch with Gov. JB Pritzker and will make a final decision in the next few weeks.
More than 70 organizations urge lawmakers to pass transit funding & reform in veto session – Active Transportation Alliance, August 27, 2025.
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and Labor Alliance for Public Transportation issued an urgent joint appeal today to members of the Illinois General Assembly: please take action in the upcoming October veto session to deliver critical funding and reforms for the state’s public transit system.
Legislator says Illinois’ child welfare agency uses interns, has legal exposure – The Center Square, August 27, 2025.
An Illinois state legislator insists the state’s child welfare agency is violating the law by using interns to investigate families, opening the state to potential legal exposure.
Trump says he won’t fund invasive carp barrier unless Pritzker ‘asks.’ But the money has already been set aside – Chicago Tribune, August 27, 2025.
As tensions rise between Illinois politicians and President Donald Trump over his plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, the latter contrasted Democratic governors’ resistance to their desire for federal assistance on an issue that has plagued the Great Lakes for decades: invasive carp.
Frank Lesko to take on Doris Turner – Illinois Times, August 27, 2025.
Sangamon County Recorder announces plans to run for state Senate seat.
Listen: Police Officer, Legislator–Seize opportunity to reform Illinois’ cashless bail – Vandalia Radio, August 27, 2025.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end federal funds for jurisdictions with no-cash bail laws. Illinois was the first state to implement the law statewide in September 2023.
Experts say there’s ‘no actual good reason to send the Guard into Illinois’ as Trump mulls troop deployment – Chicago Sun Times, August 27, 2025.
Illinois officials say they’re studying a California legal battle over the National Guard while awaiting Trump’s next move.
Illinois sees record-breaking tourism in 2024 – WIFR, August 27, 2025.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism announces record-breaking tourism achievements for the state in 2024.
Wyndham owner faces allegations of intentionally vandalizing hotel – WAND TV, August 26, 2025.
New court filings accuse the owner of the Wyndham in Springfield of intentionally vandalizing his own hotel, causing serious water damage to the property.
Trump threatens Illinois’ federal funding for eliminating cash bail – Capitol News Illinois, August 26, 2025.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday aimed at pushing Illinois to reverse its law that eliminated cash bail.
Eye On Illinois: Lawmakers should consider addressing self-funding loophole dogging Harmon – Shaw Local News, August 26, 2025.
On Thursday, Capitol News Illinois covered the ongoing dispute between Senate President Don Harmon and the State Board of Elections.
Trump signs order targeting no-cash bail, but advocates say he can’t force Illinois to reverse its policy – Chicago Sun Times, August 25, 2025.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday threatening to suspend or terminate federal funding for cities and states, like Illinois, that have eliminated cash bail.
IL Treasurer to work with lawmakers after Pritzker’s veto of nonprofit bill – The Center Square, August 25, 2025.
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is promising to discuss next steps with lawmakers after Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed legislation which would have allowed Frerich’s office to set up an investment pool for nonprofit organizations.
DOJ demands all Illinois voter data by Labor Day – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 25, 2025.
Federal officials are continuing to press their demand for Illinois’ unredacted voter registration database, which includes sensitive personal information, and are now giving state officials until Monday, Sept. 1, to comply.
License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies among investigation concerns – Chicago Tribune, August 25, 2025.
One of the nation’s leading operators of automated license-plate reading systems announced Monday it has paused its operations with federal agencies because of confusion and concern — including in Illinois — about the purpose of their investigations.
How federal changes to SNAP will put pressure on Illinois’ food system – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 25, 2025.
15% of Illinois’ population uses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase food. Substantive changes to those benefits and related farm subsidies in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to ripple through Illinois’ economy.
DOJ demands Illinois voter data as officials debate compliance – Chicago Tribune, August 24, 2025.
Illinois election officials are weighing whether to comply with a demand from Republican President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice to turn over by Sept. 1 the state’s full voter registration list, including voters’ birth dates, driver’s license numbers, signatures and partial Social Security numbers.
WATCH: IL Department of Human Services’ adverse audit draws legislators’ ire – The Center Square, August 22, 2025.
A recent adverse audit of the Illinois Department of Human Services is the worst audit seen by the cochairman of the Legislative Audit Commission.
Pritzker announces ‘first of its kind’ legal hotline for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans – Chicago Sun Times, August 22, 2025.
Illinois Pride Connect will come online Monday, offering advice on health care access, identifying documents, housing, government benefits and safety concerns.
Pritzker signs law expanding lawsuit protections for Illinois news media – Capitol News Illinois, August 22, 2025.
A state law designed to prevent lawsuits that curtail public participation in government now explicitly protects the news media.
New details of Trump’s Chicago plans reveal a large-scale immigration blitz – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 28, 2025.
The Trump administration is preparing to launch a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Chicago as early as next week, CNN reports, in what would mark a major escalation in the president’s confrontations with the city’s Democratic leadership.
Former Chicago lawyer gets 2.5 years in prison in tax fraud case – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 28, 2025.
A former Chicago lawyer was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness and violating a court order.
Chicago Amtrak routes see fastest ridership growth in the nation – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 28, 2025.
Amtrak ridership on regional routes to and from Chicago is on the rise, helped by new train service to Minneapolis-St. Paul, outpacing its peers.
Gun rights groups ask U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Cook County assault weapons ban – Capitol News Illinois, August 28, 2025.
Case seeks to overturn recent ruling by 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Opinion: The federal help Chicago really needs – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 27, 2025.
In Chicago, public safety is always a concern, but this year, the spotlight on crime has gone national. President Donald Trump has suggested deploying the Illinois National Guard to Chicago’s streets, framing the city as “out of control.”
Trump’s planned Chicago blitz would use naval base to house ICE agents, possibly National Guard – Chicago Sun Times, August 27, 2025.
Agents with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement would operate out of Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago throughout September, according to an email from a Navy captain who said there were “a lot of concerns and questions” about the plan.
Civil rights attorney with history of suing CPD to serve as Mayor Johnson’s strategy chief – Chicago Sun Times, August 26, 2025.
Sheila Bedi drew the attention of a congressional committee for representing a pro-Palestinian group that shut down the road leading to O’Hare Airport to protest Israel’s role in the war in Gaza.
Lawmakers call for federal relief after repeated flooding on Chicago’s West Side – CBS News, August 26, 2025.
The City of Chicago on Tuesday issued a disaster proclamation for flooding that hit the city earlier this month. Also Tuesday, leaders on the city’s West Side called for flood relief from the federal government. The West Side has been hit hard by flooding in recent years.
Former Transportation Secretary urges state taxpayer funding for Chicago transit – The Center Square, August 25, 2025.
A former U.S. transportation secretary says Downstate Illinois residents should help fund Chicago transit, but a Metro East lawmaker disagrees.
Pritzker and Johnson tell Trump to keep troops out of Chicago – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 25, 2025.
Flanked by dozens of elected officials, community and business leaders with the Chicago River as backdrop, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson today told President Donald Trump to keep the National Guard out of Chicago.
President takes aim at Safe-T Act, calls Chicago “a killing field” – WBBM, August 25, 2025.
Executive order would withhold federal aid to Illinois, other “bail reform” states
Illinois leaders speak out on report Trump preparing to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago – ABC 7 Chicago, August 23, 2025.
Illinois leaders spoke out Saturday after a report claimed President Donald Trump is preparing to deploy federal troops to Chicago soon.
Trump signals Chicago’s next up for D.C.-style National Guard deployment – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 22, 2025.
President Donald Trump said today he’s preparing to expand federal deployments of the National Guard beyond Washington, DC, with Chicago and New York among the cities under review.
