Throughout the summer, Gov. JB Pritzker has continued signing legislation approved during the 2026 regular session of the Illinois General Assembly. Below is a summary of several key measures signed into law since July 24.
Rideshare Labor (Effective Immediately). HB 5090 creates the Transportation Network Driver Labor Relations Act, establishing a collective bargaining framework for transportation network company drivers. The law requires covered rideshare companies to negotiate with an exclusive representative and contribute to the Rideshare Workers Support Fund. Children’s Online Safety (Effective January 1, 2028). HB 5511 creates the Children’s Online Safety Act, establishing age-verification requirements, default protections for minors, limits on nighttime notifications, and restrictions on addictive social media features. Illinois Commerce Commission Energy Changes (Effective Immediately). SB 3272 authorizes the Illinois Commerce Commission to retain technical and policy experts to assist with Renewable Energy Access Plan updates. Environmental Justice (Effective Immediately). SB 3772 codifies air permitting requirements for major facilities in environmental justice areas, requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to evaluate environmental justice impacts, and creates an Office of Environmental Justice within the agency. Water Chemicals (Both Effective January 1, 2027). SB 3917 adds PFAS monitoring requirements to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for major facilities. Separately, HB 4418 directs the IEPA to establish stormwater pollution prevention requirements for plastic pellets and other preproduction plastic materials. Higher Education Student Bill of Rights (Effective January 1, 2027). HB 4304 creates the Higher Education Student Bill of Rights Act, establishing 18 rights for postsecondary students related to institutional accountability, financial transparency, fair lending practices, and access to advocates in proceedings affecting enrollment or reputation. TIF Extension Omnibus (Effective Immediately). HB 1441 extends completion dates for 15 tax increment financing (TIF) districts across 13 municipalities.
Bills passed by the General Assembly must be presented to the governor within 30 calendar days of passage. Once received, the governor has 60 calendar days to sign, veto, or issue an amendatory veto. If the governor takes no action within that period, the bill automatically becomes law at the conclusion of the 60-day signing window. Because the regular session of the General Assembly adjourned on June 1, the latest possible action date would be August 30, assuming a bill was presented on the last day permitted. Bills sent to the governor earlier have correspondingly earlier deadlines.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
November 3 – Illinois General Election
November 17-19 – Veto Session Week 1
December 1-3 – Veto Session Week 2
In the News
DCFS: ‘Significant miscommunication’ within the agency led to missed court dates – Capitol News, August 13, 2026
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services blamed “significant miscommunication within the Department” for missing two court dates and its failure to respond to a lawsuit filed by Capitol News Illinois seeking the release of public records.
Eye On Illinois: With little surprise, drugmakers take new 340B law to court immediately – Shaw Local, August 13, 2026
Today’s subjects are the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and two bills Gov. JB Pritzker signed Friday: House Bills 2371 and 4327.
Pritzker speaks on supporting FFPA this legislative session – Farm Week Now, August 13, 2026
Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday morning he wants the Family Farm Preservation Act (FFPA) passed this legislative session, voicing his support at the opening day of the Illinois State Fair.
Gordon-Booth backed Voter Empowerment Act signed into law – WMBD, August 13, 2026
Starting now, Illinois’ public high schools are required to give students of voting age a real opportunity to register to vote right at school.
Illinois audit: State agency paid staffing firm $78.5M for contractors not actively working – Chicago Tribune, August 13, 2026
A state agency under Gov. JB Pritzker’s purview paid a Kansas-based staffing contractor $78.5 million for time its employees spent on standby rather than actually working, part of a broader failure to properly oversee contractor billing, according to a report issued by a state watchdog.
Bears’ Hammond stadium push could yield a deal by September: mayor – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 12, 2026
The Chicago Bears could have an update as soon as September on the team’s plans for a new stadium in Hammond, according to Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr.
GOP candidate for Lt. Governor defends abortion comments: ‘I was expressing my personal feelings’ – WGN9, August 12, 2026
Republican candidate for Governor Darren Bailey and his running mate, Aaron Del Mar, are crisscrossing the state trying to energize Republicans. But Del Mar’s recent comments about abortion at one of those stops have caught the attention of Governor JB Pritzker’s campaign.
Illinois taxpayers provide nearly $190 million for state fair – The Center Square, August 12, 2026
The Illinois State Fair is expected to generate about $100 million of economic impact after taxpayers invested nearly $190 million for infrastructure and programming.
Illinois State Armory renamed to honor former Gov. Jim Edgar – The State Journal-Register, August 12, 2026
Nearly 1,000 Illinois state employees in coming years will take office in the storied Illinois State Armory, which has been renamed and dedicated to honor a former governor.
New Illinois law empowering sexual assault survivors runs into shortage of female officers – WGLT, August 11, 2026
A new bill Gov. JB Pritzker has signed into law better accommodates survivors of sexual assault during the reporting process, but police are struggling to find the numbers to make it happen.
Pritzker questions property tax caps – The Center Square, August 11, 2026
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says local taxing bodies should stop raising property taxes, because the state is putting more money into education.
Second House Democrat declines to participate in Welch’s harassment working group – Capitol News Illinois, August 11, 2026
Rep. Gregg Johnson told CNI he was ‘uncomfortable’ serving in the group.
Illinois law is the first in the Great Lakes region to designate industrial plastic pellets as pollution – Chicago Tribune, August 11, 2026
Illinois is requiring polluters to begin reporting spills of industrial plastic pellets known as nurdles, a growing source of contamination in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds.
‘This race is winnable’: Bailey calls on La Salle County Republicans for support in quest for governor’s chair – Shaw Local, August 10, 2026
Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey touched down in La Salle County Sunday to make his pitch to voters for the Governor’s Mansion at the Mendota Sweet Corn Fest parade.
Illinois governor’s race: JB Pritzker, Darren Bailey spar over Trump tariffs, farm economy at ag forum – Chicago Tribune, August 10, 2026
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and his Republican opponent in the governor’s race, Darren Bailey, sought to woo Illinois’ agriculture industry Monday, with Bailey, a veteran farmer, accusing the two-term Democrat of hating President Donald Trump “more than he loves Illinois” and Pritzker blaming the Trump administration for the economic strain on the state’s farmers.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on prison deaths, being a billionaire, and plans for a third term – Illinois Public Media, August 10, 2026
Democrat Governor JB Pritzker is seeking a third term. If the voters approve, he would join Jim Thompson as the only men ever to earn that privilege in the 21st state. Pritzker’s opponent is once again Republican Darren Bailey. He is a farmer from Southern Illinois, a former state senator, and a former Republican nominee for governor from just four years ago.
Illinois Environmental Council gives over half of Illinois legislators a perfect score on environmentally conscious votes this year – WNIJ, August 10, 2026
Every year, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) issues a voting scorecard that grades members of the Illinois General Assembly on how they voted for bills affecting the environment. The 2026 Environmental Scorecard gave 100% scores to 95 state legislators, all of whom are incumbent Democrats.
Joliet GOP candidate for secretary of state hopes to capitalize on Giannoulias’ run for Chicago mayor – Shaw Local, August 8, 2026
Diane Harris, the long-shot candidate from Joliet running for Illinois Secretary of State, hopes to see her odds improve now that Alexi Giannoulias is in the race for Chicago mayor.
Pritzker presses Welch for quick action on sexual-harassment reforms – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 7, 2026
Gov. JB Pritzker says Illinois legislators need to quickly come up with a new sexual-harassment policy.
Illinois House GOP Leader not swayed by Speaker Welch’s apology tour – WGN9, August 7, 2026
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s media tour in the wake of the Harry Benton scandal did little to restore top House Republican Tony McCombie’s confidence in the Illinois House leader.
New IL law restricts ICE detention center locations – WAND, August 7, 2026
A new Illinois law restricts where the federal government can put ICE detention centers. The law states detention and processing facilities cannot be located within 1,500 feet of any home, apartment complex, school, daycare center, public park, or church.
OIG advisory alleges ineffective administration of Chicago Community Catalyst Fund – The Daily Line, August 14, 2026
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released an investigation that concluded the Chicago Community Catalyst Fund has been insufficiently utilized and failed to regularly report its activities just days after Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin said she intended to dissolve it.
Wilson launches fourth bid for Chicago mayor – The Daily Line, August 14, 2026
Businessman and philanthropist Willie Wilson officially announced his fourth bid for Chicago mayor this week.
Mike Quigley says he’s ‘willing to risk the job to save the city’ if elected mayor – Chicago Sun-Times, August 14, 2026
Chicago needs a mayor who is willing to “risk the job to save the city,” U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley said Thursday, portraying himself as the only candidate in the crowded field willing to “risk it all.”
Republican Darren Bailey on his second run for governor – Illinois Public Media, August 13, 2026
Democratic Governor JB Pritzker is seeking a third term in the state’s highest office. He was on the program earlier this week. Republican Darren Bailey is a farmer from Southern Illinois. He started his political career on the North Clay Board of Education in Louisville, Illinois. He served 17 years there, including a dozen as its president. From 2019 -2023, he served one term in the Illinois House and one in the Illinois Senate.
Illinois sues Trump admin over its demands for CDL database information – Chicago Sun-Times, August 13, 2026
The Trump administration has threatened to cut more than $10 million in federal funding to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators in retaliation for not handing over the last five years of data from the Commercial Driver’s License Information System.
CTA deploying violence interrupters, mental health clinicians on trains this fall – Chicago Sun-Times, August 12, 2026
The Chicago Transit Authority board on Wednesday approved a $10 million, yearlong Crisis Intervention Safe Ride Specialist Pilot program designed to complement the recent boost in security and police on trains and buses.
Mayor hires former Fitch Ratings director as next chief financial officer – The Daily Line, August 12, 2026
On Monday evening, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that he had hired Ashlee Gabrysch as the city’s next permanent CFO. Late last month, Steven Mahr left the acting CFO position after nearly six months in the job.
Nonprofit CEO appealed to Mayor Brandon Johnson over city anti-violence grant, records show – Chicago Tribune, August 12, 2026
A politically connected nonprofit at the center of a dispute with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s health department appealed to the mayor while competitively bidding for millions in city anti-violence funding, records show.
Laura Washington Opinion: Illinois and Chicago campaigns defy conventional monied wisdom – Chicago Tribune, August 12, 2026
Laura Washington’s opinion on recent elections in Illinois and Chicago
Willie Wilson announces 4th run for Chicago mayor – Chicago Sun-Times, August 10, 2026
Wilson joins a field of seven other mayoral candidates, including Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and Cook County Board Commissioner George Cardenas. Mayor Brandon Johnson has not announced whether he’s running for a second term.
City treasurer proposes abolishing $57M Catalyst Fund to avert midyear layoffs – Chicago Sun-Times, August 10, 2026
The fund was included in then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2017 budget as a way to bridge the funding gap between Downtown and the rest of the city. But the fund never generated a penny of outside investments.
Opinion: Chicago needs a governing budget, not a campaign budget – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 10, 2026
Chicago is about to begin one of its most consequential budget seasons in years. The challenge isn’t simply the size of the deficit. It’s that the people making the decisions are entering budget season with very different incentives.
Chicago companies get an $857 million tariff windfall. The relief won’t last. – Crain’s Chicago Business, August 10, 2026
Companies are reporting windfalls of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds of tariffs that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Caterpillar received $392 million; Medline got $332 million; Zebra Technologies got $73 million; and Motorola Solutions reported $60 million.
Johnson waits as mayoral field grows – The Center Square, August 7, 2026
The field for Chicago’s mayoral election in 2027 includes more than 10 candidates, but the incumbent has yet to toss his hat in the ring