As the Illinois General Assembly approaches its May 31 spring session adjournment date, legislative activity has begun to accelerate significantly. With the May 22 opposite chamber third reading deadline passed, several notable bills cleared both the House of Representatives and Senate and are heading to the governor’s desk.
Departing from its usual practice of working through Memorial Day weekend, the General Assembly recessed over the weekend and reconvened in Springfield on Monday afternoon to begin the final week of session. Legislators have a strong incentive to pass the budget before the end of May or else face a 60% supermajority vote threshold for the passage of bills with an immediate effective date. Expect an extremely busy final seven days of session that will likely not adjourn until the early morning hours on June 1.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
May 31– Adjournment
November 3– Illinois General Election
In the News
Springfield’s year-long push to clamp down on insurance rates nears end–Chicago Sun-Times,May 22, 2026
Following a 27% rate hike by State Farm last summer, Gov. JB Pritzker and the state legislature have taken multiple stabs at regulating insurance rates.
Bill requiring businesses to pay employees during jury duty sent to Pritzker’s desk–WAND News, May 22, 2026
A plan heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk could require employers to pay people while they serve on jury duty.
Illinois lawmakers considering ban on guns like Glocks–Capitol News Illinois,May 21, 2026
Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that a major gun rights organization says would effectively ban one of the nation’s most popular types of firearms.
House narrowly advances measure aiming to control prescription drug prices– Capitol News Illinois, May 21, 2026
A bill seeking to regulate the maximum price of certain prescription drugs narrowly passed the House Thursday on a vote of 62-39 and now heads to the Senate.
Growing financial strain–Illinois Times, May 21, 2026
As prices for gas and necessities keep climbing, the Illinois General Assembly is considering closing corporate tax loopholes and taxing offshore accounts or Illinois billionaires’ net worths while the state continues to rely on a growing share of personal income tax to fill the state’s general revenue fund.
‘Junk fee’ ban heads to Pritzker as Senate OKs bill allowing minors to consent to birth control–Capitol News Illinois, May 20, 2026
The Illinois Senate advanced 40 bills on Wednesday, including a ban on “junk fees” and a bill allowing minors to consent to receiving birth control services without the need for a parent or other person’s consent.
Pritzker wants ‘fairer’ tax system, though voters rejected graduated proposal–Capitol City Now, May 20, 2026
Lawmakers and the governor have a week and a half to get a budget together before the scheduled May 31 adjournment of the Illinois General Assembly.
Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures–The Center Square, May 20, 2026
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ruled out the passage of many new tax proposals from progressive lawmakers before the end of the legislative session next week in Springfield.
LeVar Burton gives maximum donation to Juliana Stratton Senate campaign–The Telegraph, May 20, 2026
LeVar Burton’s first candidate donation since Kamala Harris lands in Illinois Senate race.
State senators pass bill requiring diaper ingredients transparency for consumers–WAND News, May 19, 2026
A plan heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk could help protect adults, parents and small children who are allergic to diaper ingredients.
Backpacker, accountant, ‘civil right’ member: New GOP chair steps up to lead fractious team–Daily Herald, May 19, 2026
CPA Bob Grogan’s resume includes walking precincts, serving on the powerful Republican State Central Committee and three terms as DuPage County auditor.
New Illinois GOP chair elected as voting data shows record-low primary turnout and suburban voter collapse–Chicago Tribune,May 18, 2026
Former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan was elected Monday as the new chair of Illinois’ Republican Party, taking over what has become a moribund political organization that new election data shows has hemorrhaged voters from what was once its key suburban base and a March primary turnout that is the lowest non-presidential-year balloting in four decades.
Johnson office gives rebuttal after Pritzker criticism over Bears stadium talks–NBC Chicago,May 18, 2026
Two cities are on the table for the next Chicago Bears stadium, and Chicago isn’t one of them. Still, Mayor Brandon Johnson hasn’t given up, and he’s defending himself after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he had “no plan” to keep the team in the city.
Gov. JB Pritzker dismisses questions about urology procedure complication: ‘I’ve given you the information’–Chicago Tribune, May 18, 2026
Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday dismissed questions about a complication from a urology procedure last week, declining to provide any significant details beyond what his office had already disclosed.
Gov. JB Pritzker optimistic of Bears deal but knocks Mayor Johnson for ‘no plan’ on keeping team in Chicago–Chicago Tribune, May 18, 2026
Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he expects the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation incentivizing a Chicago Bears stadium and other major development projects before the end of the spring legislative session, while also repeatedly dinging Mayor Brandon Johnson for having “no plan” to keep the team in Chicago.
Eye On Illinois: Junk fee ban, speed control device bills advance while plug-in solar stalls–Shaw Local,May 16, 2026
State legislation is moving forward on consumer protections like a “junk fee” ban and a program requiring speed-control devices for repeat speeders, while a proposal to expand access to plug-in balcony solar systems is losing momentum amid regulatory and utility concerns.
Bills for AI, data centers, energy and gaming are circling the drain in Springfield–Chicago Sun-Times,May 15, 2026
State legislative negotiations in Illinois are stalling on major proposals involving tax breaks for AI data centers, energy and gaming policies, housing rules, and a Bears-related megaproject bill, reflecting broader gridlock as session deadlines approach.
Bears’ Chicago talks complicate Arlington Heights stadium push–Crain’s Chicago Business, May 21, 2026
As the Chicago Bears ask state lawmakers to take a hard vote on legislation aiding their move to Arlington Heights, team representatives are dismissing the importance of recent conversations with Chicago officials.
Chicago Tribune strikes 11th-hour deal to buy Daily Herald, outbidding suburban suitor–Chicago Tribune,May 21, 2026
It took several full-page ads, an 11th-hour bid and ostensibly a premium price, but Tribune Publishing has swooped in and struck a deal to buy the employee-owned Daily Herald suburban newspaper.
From O’Hare to the hospital, here’s how Chicago is preparing for Ebola–WBEZ Chicago, May 21, 2026
The risk of Ebola arriving in Chicago is low, but local leaders are using lessons from a decade-old playbook they created during another Ebola outbreak just in case.
Darren Bailey apologizes to Chicago residents for calling city ‘hellhole’–NBC 5 Chicago, May 20, 2026
Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey has made it a point to change his rhetoric toward Chicago in his campaign, and he took another step in that direction Wednesday.
City Council measure bans Chicago police with ties to Proud Boys, other extremist groups–Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2026
Aldermen passed a measure Wednesday banning officers with ties to extremist and hate groups from working in the Chicago Police Department.
Raises for Chicago tipped wage workers frozen by City Council vote–Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2026
Aldermen voted to freeze Chicago’s “One Fair Wage” ordinance Wednesday, halting required raises for tipped workers like waiters who now get paid below the city minimum.
Pritzker returns swinging at City Hall–Politico, May 19, 2026
Gov. JB Pritzker stepped back into public view Monday after a few weeks recovering from a medical procedure — and wasted little time reopening a simmering feud with Mayor Brandon Johnson over the future of the Chicago Bears and Chicago’s standing in Springfield.
Aldermen advance Chicago voting access ordinance honoring Rev. Jesse Jackson–Chicago Tribune, May 19, 2026
After abandoning the centerpiece idea in his voting legislation honoring the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Mayor Brandon Johnson moved ahead Tuesday on a plan to celebrate the late civil rights icon with toned-down measures.
Mayor Brandon Johnson makes last-minute push to name permanent CTA leader–Chicago Tribune, May 19, 2026
Mayor Brandon Johnson asked the Chicago Transit Authority board to select a permanent leader just weeks before a new state law limits his control over the executive appointment process at the mass transit agency.
Northwestern University bets on a tech-minded fixer–Crain’s Chicago Business, May 19, 2026
Mung Chiang, the president of Purdue University who helped turn the school into a magnet for semiconductor and artificial intelligence investment, takes over Northwestern University this summer at a pivotal moment for both the school and the Chicago region.
The parking meter deal Chicagoans love to hate is poised for another sale–Crain’s Chicago Business,May 18, 2026
The revenue from Chicago’s parking meters could soon be flowing into new private pockets. Chicago Parking Meters LLC, a consortium including majority owner Morgan Stanley, Allianz Capital Partners and the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Abu Dhabi, has reached a deal to transfer ownership of the 75-year concession contract to New York-based Stonepeak Partners.
State’s attorney launches transit crime prosecution task force–Chicago Tribune, May 18, 2026
The Cook County state’s attorney’s office Monday announced a new task force made up of local and federal law enforcement agencies that it says will strengthen efforts to prosecute crime on public transit.
OPINION: The latest Bears maneuver proves the mayor still doesn’t get governing–Crain’s Chicago Business,May 15, 2026
The push by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to restructure the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority in an effort to retain the Bears is portrayed as a political strategy with limited practical impact, as the team continues evaluating suburban and other stadium options that may be more financially viable.
Spirit Airlines shutdown costs Chicago hundreds of jobs–Crain’s Chicago Business,May 15, 2026
Spirit Airlines’ financial collapse and ongoing restructuring are reshaping operations at Chicago O’Hare, including layoffs and the loss or transfer of airport gates, with competitors like United stepping in to expand service as Spirit scales back.
