Gov. Pritzker Establishes Illinois Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cabinet
As policymakers across the country consider new regulations and safeguards for artificial intelligence (AI), Gov. J.B. Pritzker has established a panel of experts to examine the technology’s potential risks and develop regulatory recommendations for Illinois. On September 22, 2026, Gov. Pritzker signedExecutive Order 2026-07, establishing the Illinois Artificial Intelligence Cabinet. The Cabinet will bring together professionals from a range of industries and fields to assess the risks AI may pose to the safety of Illinois residents and develop policy recommendations.
Gov. Pritzker is expected to appoint Cabinet members “in the coming weeks,” who will work alongside leaders from several state agencies, including the Department of Innovation and Technology, Department of Public Health, and Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The Cabinet is expected to develop policy proposals through 2027. In announcing the initiative, Gov. Pritzker said, “Artificial Intelligence has enormous potential to transform our everyday lives, but when experts and industry leaders sound the alarm bell, urge us to slow down, and ask for guardrails, we should listen.”
The AI Cabinet’s creation follows a legislative session in which the Illinois General Assembly extensively debated and passed a range of measures regulating AI. Despite extensive debate over the POWER Act supported by environmental advocates, the General Assembly did not pass comprehensive data center regulation, and that issue will continue to be debated heading into the fall veto session and a potential January lame-duck session. In the meantime, Gov. Pritzker unilaterally directed the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to suspend the processing of new state data center tax exemptions, effective July 1, 2026, while lawmakers work toward a legislative solution.
Mayor Johnson Proposes Chicago Data Center Moratorium
Gov. Pritzker’s establishment of the AI Cabinet comes as the City of Chicago is also examining the broader impacts of AI infrastructure and data center development. On August 11, 2026, Mayor Brandon Johnson signedExecutive Order 2026-5, directing City departments to strengthen oversight of data center development and calling on the Chicago City Council to enact a temporary moratorium on new data centers and the material expansion of existing facilities.
The executive order itself does not impose a moratorium. Instead, it expressly recognizes that the Chicago City Council holds the legislative authority to establish one. The order took immediate effect and directed enhanced review of air pollution permits, noise control, and planned developments as the city works toward a more comprehensive regulatory framework for data center development. The executive order also establishes the Interdepartmental Data Center Environment and Community Protection Task Force, which will evaluate data center impacts and develop policy recommendations for the city. The task force will bring together relevant City departments to assess environmental and community concerns associated with data center development.
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
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What to know about the Illinois comptroller race between Bryan Drew and state Rep. Margaret Croke–Chicago Sun Times, October 1, 2026
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What to know about the Illinois secretary of state race between Alexi Giannoulias and Diane Harris–Chicago Sun Times, October 1, 2026
In recent years, Illinois’ statewide races have often been decided in the primaries.
What to know about Illinois legislative races ahead of the Nov. 3 election–Chicago Sun Times, October 1, 2026
The primary elections in March featured several challenges to Democratic incumbents in the General Assembly, but now that the general election Nov. 3 is almost here many politicians are running unopposed.
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Facing a projected $9 million to $10 million deficit in Aurora’s general fund for 2027, city officials expect tough decisions ahead, according to a town hall budget presentation Saturday.
Illinois GOP aims to support entire ballot, stray from national party–The Center Square, September 30, 2026
With five weeks remaining until election day, spending has ramped up in races across Illinois on both sides of the aisle.
Illinois governor’s race: Candidates talk data center costs, infrastructure–Shaw Local,September 30, 2026
Data center developments have boomed across northern Illinois and the country in recent years, with mixed reactions from the public.
Wirepoints: ‘Gush’ of taxpayer money fueled credit upgrades–The Central Square Illinois, September 29, 2026
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says credit rating upgrades have saved Illinois taxpayers millions of dollars, but Wirepoints founder Mark Glennon says the upgrades were fueled by tax hikes that cost taxpayers billions more.
Illinois Quick Hits: Pesticide manufacturer settles with FTC, states–The Central Square Illinois, September 29, 2026
The Federal Trade Commission, Illinois and 11 other states have reached a $35 million settlement with pesticide manufacturer Corteva.
Illinois Quick Hits: State revenue department wants feedback on digital tax rules–The Central Illinois, September 29, 2026
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7 key points from our interviews with the candidates for Illinois comptroller–Capitol News Illinois, September 29, 2026
Brenden Moore shares his thoughts on our interviews with the candidates for comptroller.
Replacing Mendoza: Candidates vie to be state’s first new comptroller in a decade–Capitol News Illinois,September 29, 2026.
In January, there will be a new person writing the state’s checks.
Pritzker campaign responds after Trump visit–The Central Square Illinois, September 28, 2026
After President Donald Trump said inflation is going down following his visit to Illinois over the weekend, Democrats in the state expressed their disagreement.
State legislators stand with Choate employees against cuts–The Southern Illinoisan,September 28, 2026.
Southern Illinois legislators gathered with employees of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center to once again call for the reversal of cuts to the state-run facility.
About 9,300 immigrants in Illinois to lose Medicaid this week because of One Big Beautiful Bill–Chicago Tribune,September 28, 2026.
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Illinois passed the nation’s first climate migration law. The effort has languished since–Chicago Sun Times,September 28, 2026.
More than a year after the law was signed, the state has made little progress and appears poised to miss a December deadline for a required report.
Exclusive: Stratton talks Trump, filibuster, the far-left as early voting begins–The Central Square Illinois, September 27, 2026
With early voting in Illinois underway in most jurisdictions, Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton – the Democrat hopeful to replace Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., in Congress – sat down with The Center Square to discuss politics, policies and goals for the seat if she wins the race.
Eye On Illinois: With election cycle started, why are any rules still unsettled?–Shaw Local,September 26, 2026
Voting began Thursday in Illinois, 40 days ahead of the Nov. 3 general election
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With early in-person and mail-in voting now underway in Illinois, state and local election officials insisted Friday that the state’s voting system is being run fairly and accurately.
Welch urged to do more than apologize for Benton harassment case–Chicago Sun Times, September 25, 2026
Last month, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch told WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley during an interview, “I’m going to apologize for making her feel uncomfortable.”
Gov. JB Pritzker names new Illinois Prisoner Review Board executive director–Chicago Tribune, September 25, 2026
Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday named the chief of staff of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board as its next executive director, a position created two years ago after the board faced a firestorm of criticism.
World Business Chicago ducks ethics committee hearing on videos criticized as mayoral campaign ads–The Daily Line, October 2, 2026
The City Council ethics committee was denied the opportunity to question the leaders of World Business Chicago (WBC) about the public-private partnership organization’s recent videos that have been criticized as crossing the line into taxpayer-funded political advertising for Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Mayoral candidate John Kelly vows to use lobbyist clout to block Amtrak move to Bridgeport–Chicago Sun Times, October 1, 2026
Mayoral challenger John Kelly on Thursday promised Bridgeport politicians and their constituents to use the clout he has built as White Sox lobbyist and Jerry Reinsdorf’s business partner to “stop Amtrak from coming into your neighborhood.”
Ethics committee to hold hearing on World Business Chicago marketing videos featuring mayor–The Daily Line, October 1, 2026
The City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight on Thursday will hold a hearing on the advertising and communications practices of World Business Chicago (WBC) amid criticism that some of its recently published videos have resembled campaign-style messaging for the mayor.
Chicago-area election officials gear up for potential ICE, FBI presence at the polls after Trump threats–Chicago Tribune, October 1, 2026
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At City Club, Mayor Brandon Johnson asks why rich put profits over ‘the lives of my neighbors’– Chicago Tribune, September 30, 2026
Mayor Brandon Johnson accused the city’s corporate class of ignoring Black and brown lives Wednesday in a wide-ranging speech to a crowd of business leaders who cheered his ideas but greeted with silence his promise to pay for them by taxing the rich.
Arts Alliance Illinois calls on Mayor Brandon Johnson to boost arts by $15 million in FY27–Chicago Sun Times, September 30, 2026
The statewide arts advocacy group Arts Alliance Illinois is calling on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to boost cultural funding in the next budget.
Alderpeople overwhelmingly approve transfer of parking meter rights under renegotiated concession agreement–The Daily Line, September 30, 2026
Alderpeople on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a deal to transfer the rights to the city’s parking meters to a new firm after months of delays and negotiations that yielded some more favorable terms for the city under the concession agreement leasing the meters.
Council approves measure to bump approval threshold for new debt to three-fifths margin–The Daily Line, September 30, 2026
The City Council on Tuesday voted 32-15 to approve a higher threshold by which the City Council could approve the issuance of new debt and borrowing by the city.
OpenAI Alerted Chicago It Accessed City Database Amid Reports Of Its Agents Going Rogue–Block Club Chicago, September 29, 2026
As concerns mount over artificial intelligence agents “going rogue” and accessing unauthorized websites, AI behemoth OpenAI recently alerted the city of Chicago that its technology probed an online city database, a city spokesperson confirmed.
Johnson open to budget hard lines, rules out property tax increase–The Central Square Illinois, September 29, 2026
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City Council majority warns Mayor Brandon Johnson against proposing head tax again–Chicago Tribune, September 28, 2026
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Inside the last-minute push to squeeze more from Stonepeak’s $2.53B parking meter deal–Crain’s Chicago Business, September 28, 2026
The night before the scheduled vote on the $2.53 billion private transfer of Chicago’s parking meter system, a prominent businessman who previously explored the deal was urging aldermen to push for further financial concessions.
Council delays final vote on renegotiated parking meter deal, rights transfer–The Daily Line, September 28, 2026
The City Council on Friday delayed a final vote on the proposed transfer of the rights to the city’s parking meters that’s accompanied by a renegotiated concession agreement with several sweeteners for the city as the members that pushed for the amended agreement said they are still working on whipping enough votes to pass the measure.