Following the conclusion of the 2026 regular session on June 1, a complete End of Session Report can be found here. The report provides a comprehensive overview of priority legislation from the spring session, including the final budget package and other key issues considered this year.
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
Springfield fire chief explains why sirens didn’t sound during storm–State Journal-Register, June 12, 2026
Springfield did not set off its outdoor warning system late Wednesday night, although a severe storm caused significant damage to the north side of the city.
Illinois medical-aid-in-dying law faces federal lawsuit from disabled patients, doctors before September start–Chicago Tribune, June 11, 2026
A federal lawsuit filed Thursday challenges a new Illinois law set to go into effect in September that would allow doctors to prescribe medication to terminally ill people to end their own lives.
Illinois is one step closer to banning ‘junk fees’ and hidden charges on renters–Chicago Tribune, June 11, 2026
Sharon Gardner was paying her rent. But her Hanover Park apartment owner continued to pile up charges against her. With eviction threats mounting, Gardner was told she owed more than $3,300 in unexpected fees.
Affordable Care Act enrollment in Illinois continues to drop, new state data shows–Chicago Sun-Times, June 10, 2026
Enrollment through the state’s Obamacare insurance exchange, Get Covered Illinois, is down 15% compared to last year.
Pritzker’s spring wins come with caveats as BUILD, megaprojects bills stall–Capitol News Illinois, June 9, 2026
As he campaigns for a third term as Illinois’ chief executive and weighs a possible 2028 Democratic presidential bid, Gov. JB Pritzker emerged from the legislative session achieving many but not all the goals he laid out in his State of the State address.
Rideshare drivers in Illinois could soon unionize after bill clears General Assembly–The Daily Line, June 9, 2026
Rideshare drivers in Illinois may soon be able to unionize after the state legislature sent a bill to the governor authorizing them to do so.
Chicago Bears stadium saga: A timeline of key events, from Arlington Heights to Hammond–Chicago Tribune, June 9, 2026
The Chicago Bears announced last week that their board of directors voted to proceed with stadium plans in Hammond. The announcement came less than a week after the Illinois legislature adjourned its spring session without taking up a last-ditch Senate bill that could’ve given the Bears a path to a new stadium in Arlington Heights or Chicago.
Republican to offer Bears stadium bill, new property tax initiatives–The Center Square, June 8, 2026
Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-St. Charles, announced he’ll be introducing his own legislation Tuesday at 10 a.m. to keep the team in the state. The news comes just a week after lawmakers failed to send a bill to the governor’s desk on the matter.
Illinois ranks 20th in nation for child well-being, new report shows–Daily Herald,June 8, 2026
Illinois ranks 20th in overall child well-being, according to a new report that reveals concerning declines in education and health outcomes.
Lawmakers at the end of session try to appease both sides in drug pricing controversy–Capitol News Illinois,June 8, 2026
Illinois lawmakers gave hospitals and community health centers much of what they wanted this session by passing a bill that prohibits drug manufacturers from interfering with their access to discounted medications through a federal drug pricing program.
Illinois to ban automated ticket scalping, reselling ‘ghost tickets’–The Center Square, June 8, 2026
A bipartisan effort to protect eventgoers from fraudulent tickets and online ticket scams made its way through the Illinois General Assembly before the Spring legislative session concluded. A correlating bill that passed would also make online ticket scalping illegal in the state.
Chicago Bears’ stadium tactics over years of negotiations leave some Illinois leaders frustrated–Chicago Tribune,June 6, 2026
State Rep. Kam Buckner and state Sen. Bill Cunningham, both Chicago Democrats and lead negotiators on the Bears stadium issue, said they spoke on Friday with Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, who indicated that he looked forward to continuing discussions about a stadium, suggesting Illinois was still an option.
Chicago gets one more shot at fixing the parking-meter mess–Crain’s Chicago Business,June 11, 2026
Chicago aldermen are scrambling to determine whether the proposed sale of the city’s parking-meter lease offers a once-in-a-generation chance to improve one of the most reviled deals in city history — or a costly trap that could leave taxpayers on the hook for millions.
Mayoral challenger Susana Mendoza vows to use financial acumen to tackle Chicago’s $36B pension crisis– Chicago Sun-Times,June 11, 2026
The outgoing state comptroller said the next mayor of Chicago needs to have a “come to Jesus moment” with union leaders and demand the concessions needed to prevent city employee pension funds from going bankrupt and dragging the city under.
Housing committee advances Greyhound terminal acquisition, Low Affordability designations for new developments–The Daily Line,June 11, 2026
Alderpeople on Wednesday advanced the proposed purchase of a downtown bus terminal from a private equity firm in order to prevent the potential disruption of intercity bus service.
These are Chicago’s 50 fastest-growing companies– Crain’s Chicago Business,June 10, 2026
While some of the top companies in this year’s Fast 50 embraced new tech to outmaneuver the competition, they actually attribute much of their success to an old-school business fundamental.
Mayor Johnson’s campaign fund to return donation from IT consultant hammered by City Hall’s inspector general–Chicago Sun-Times, June 8, 2026
Mayor Brandon Johnson has repeatedly accepted campaign contributions from those doing business with City Hall since he took office — even though city ethics rules prohibit it.
For Chicago suburbs, Bears’ Indiana play presents a new kind of limbo– Crain’s Chicago Business,June 9, 2026
For public officials around Arlington Park, the Chicago Bears’ latest Indiana stadium flirtation is reason to start thinking about the site’s future without the team — while knowing that the saga has produced enough plot twists to make any final breakup feel premature.
License committee to consider changes to lakefront liquor license cap, extension of geographic bans on short-term rentals–The Daily Line, June 9, 2026
The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday will take up measures to amend the number of liquor licenses allowed along Chicago’s lakefront and to renew a location-based ban on short-term rental housing.
22 alderpersons say they’ll reject parking meters sale, accuse Johnson of holding back info about the deal–Chicago Sun-Times, June 8, 2026
In a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday, the Council members said their push to block the transfer of Chicago parking meters to New York investment firm Stonepeak Partners is based on Johnson’s decision to withhold information the Council needs to make an informed decision about the sale.
ComEd plans for Lincoln Park substation met with strong neighborhood pushback–Chicago Sun-Times,June 6, 2026
But the Diversey Community Coalition, a neighborhood group created in response to ComEd’s proposal, questions why the substation needs to be built, when it could instead be sold to a developer that would build homes.