Illinois Legislative News

Third Reading Report: June 8, 2026

The 2026 regular session of the Illinois General Assembly adjourned in the early morning hours on Sunday, June 1. The General Assembly passed an FY 2027 budget package, a transit trailer bill, an energy trailer bill, a cannabis omnibus, AI regulation legislation, a Medicaid omnibus, and a variety of other key pieces of legislation but adjourned without passing a Bears stadium bill, a labor omnibus, or an elections omnibus. Click here for a summary of the state’s FY 2027 budget package and other important legislation from the end of session.

 

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

Bill on governor’s desk would allow homeowners to recoup excess equity after property tax debt saleThe Daily Line,June 5, 2026

Three years after a U.S. Supreme Court decision uprooted property tax sales across the country, the Illinois General Assembly approved a bill that would bring the state into compliance.

 

Bears blame game spreads far and wide if team leaves Illinois for IndianaChicago Sun-Times,June 5, 2026

Springfield’s inaction on incentives to keep the team in-state is just the latest in a long-running political comedy of errors.

 

The details of Illinois’ budget raising social media, crypto and fantasy sports taxes and pausing gas tax hikeChicago Tribune, June 5, 2026

A nearly $56 billion state spending plan is headed to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk after the Democratic-controlled Illinois legislature approved it in the early-morning hours of another overtime spring session.

 

Man running for Illinois governor includes Nazi salute in ballot namePeoria Journal Star, June 4, 2026

A candidate who previously included the Nazi salute in his ballot name in Indiana is now running for governor in Illinois.

 

Illinois GOP governor nominee Darren Bailey seeks to block independent from Nov. 3 ballotChicago Tribune, June 3, 2026

Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey’s political campaign, fearing an independent candidacy from a former GOP operative might siphon away votes in a general election, is challenging the petitions of Collin Corbett, alleging they lack the minimum 25,000 legally valid signatures needed to make the Nov. 3 ballot.

 

Illinois OKs immigration detention limits and e-bike rules while prescriptions board and police bill stallChicago Tribune, June 3, 2026

As the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its spring session early Monday morning in overtime, Democratic lawmakers sent Gov. JB Pritzker a slate of bills targeting immigration enforcement, electric vehicles and voting rights, while a proposed prescription drug affordability board and a police quota ban joined the Chicago Bears stadium tax break package in dying without final votes.

 

Speaker Welch explains how his 60-vote rule affects his decisionsCapitol News Illinois, June 2, 2026

House Speaker Emanuel “Chis” Welch, D-Hillside, uses an unofficial rule in his caucus that requires 60 Democrats to commit to supporting a bill before it is called for a vote on the floor. Welch told Capitol News Illinois Tuesday the rule fosters trust between members and makes legislation more effective.

 

Pritzker gets his insurance regulation bill out of both chambersCentral Illinois Proud, June 2, 2026

Last summer, State Farm increased its home insurance rate by 27%, much to the outrage of Gov. JB Pritzker.

 

Pritzker says all options still being considered for Chicago Bears after Senate deal not taken up by HouseThe Daily Line,June 2, 2026

Gov. JB Pritzker said a measure intended to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois that was approved by the Illinois Senate early Monday is not the “final bill,” saying conversations continue between the legislature and the team.

 

Bill expanding BoS Center, medical district in Springfield stallsState Journal-Register, June 1, 2026

A bill that would expand the Bank of Springfield Center along with expanding and renaming the Mid-Illinois Medical District in Springfield ultimately stalled before Illinois’ spring session ended.

 

Gov. JB Pritzker touts wins in $56B Illinois budget, but some work in election-year plan went unfinishedChicago Tribune,June 1, 2026

Speaking in his ceremonial office at the Illinois State Capitol hours after lawmakers voted early Monday morning to approve a nearly $56 billion election-year state spending plan, Gov. JB Pritzker made his case that eight years of his financial stewardship have put a once-struggling state on sounder footing.

 

Illinois rideshare drivers could soon collectively bargain while Waymo self-driving car plan stallsChicago Tribune, June 1, 2026

Illinois rideshare drivers could soon collectively bargain with Uber and Lyft after the state General Assembly passed legislation early Monday outlining a path toward unionization.

 

Illinois Legislature bans new immigration detention centers near homes and schoolsChicago Sun-Times, June 1, 2026

A bill awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature would bar new immigration detention centers from being built within 1,500 feet of certain community buildings.

 

After property insurers raise rates, a state cracks downPoliticoPro, June 1, 2026

For nearly a year, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has sought to empower the state to reject hikes in property-insurance rates, calling them “unexplained” and “unfair.” Now, as Pritzker eyes a run for president, he is about to sign his wish into law.

 

Springfield’s overtime slog ends in $59B budgetCrain’s Chicago Business,June 1, 2026

The budget totals $55.9 billion, supported by a similar amount of revenue. The spending plan included an $830 million supplemental current-year spending plan, meaning the upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget is essentially flat.

 

Lawmakers vote to phase out county tax-lien salesCrain’s Chicago Business,May 31, 2026

Illinois is poised to become the last state to overhaul its property tax sale system in response to a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, after lawmakers approved legislation that will phase out Cook County’s decades-old practice of selling tax liens to private investors.

 

The Bears said Chicago wasn’t in play. Records point to a different storyCrain’s Chicago Business, June 4, 2026

The Chicago Bears told key Springfield lawmakers they had only limited discussions with City Hall about a potential new stadium, but records obtained by Crain’s show team and city attorneys held at least six calls and virtual meetings in April while legislators were considering a package of incentives to facilitate a move to Arlington Heights.

 

Obama Presidential Center set to start welcoming up to 1 million visitors per yearChicago Sun-Times, June 4, 2026

The Obama Presidential Center has begun welcoming some of the first visitors of up to a million per year that are estimated to visit the Jackson Park museum, community center and park area, which will hold a grand opening on Juneteenth.

 

Opinion: The race for Chicago’s mayoral future is very much underwayChicago Tribune, June 4, 2026

If you thought the primary season was madness in March, be warned: That brief reprieve you enjoyed from election ads and campaign mailers will soon come to an end.

 

Chicago area transit oversight board approves sales tax hike as NITA law goes into effectThe Daily Line, June 3, 2026

With the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act going into effect June 1, the current board overseeing Chicago-area transit approved a sales tax raise for Cook County and the collar counties.

 

Susana Mendoza launches bid for Chicago mayorCrain’s Chicago Business, June 3, 2026

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza officially entered the 2027 Chicago mayoral race today, becoming the highest-profile candidate to declare a challenge to Mayor Brandon Johnson.

 

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Springfield wins put Chicago ‘in the mix’ for Bears stadiumChicago-Sun Times, June 2, 2026

Springfield’s stalled drive for Bears stadium legislation and lingering questions about the potential playing field in Hammond, Indiana, leave Chicago as the team’s best play for a new dome.

 

Landmark transit funding legislation takes effect today. Here’s what commuters can expect.Chicago Tribune,June 1, 2026

Landmark legislation intended to prevent service cuts on the CTA, Metra and Pace goes into effect today. The transit law is expected to raise about $1.5 billion for public transit annually.

 

City launches down payment, closing cost grant assistance program to increase attainability of homeownershipThe Daily Line, June 2, 2026

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city Department of Housing on Monday unveiled a new program to help some prospective homeowners with down payments and closing costs.

Special Reports

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Previous Reports

Third Reading Report: April 13, 2026

Data centers have become the backbone of the modern digital economy, powering growing demand for AI, cloud computing, e-commerce, and data storage. This rapid expansion has made the data center industry one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy, with Illinois positioned as a national leader alongside states such as Texas, Virginia, California, Wisconsin, and Indiana. While these facilities can bring transformative investment to surrounding communities, they also raise questions...

read more

Third Reading Report: March 30, 2026

Note: We will not publish a weekly report on April 6. The next weekly report will be published on April 13. Last week was a busy one at the State Capitol as the Illinois House of Representatives rushed to meet the March 27 deadline to pass House bills out of committee. The deadline is significant as it largely determines which bills will proceed further in the legislative process, although new language can be amended onto bills that have already advanced through the legislative process later...

read more

Third Reading Report: March 16, 2026

Illinois Primary Election The 2026 Illinois primary election on Tuesday, March 17 will feature many prominent retirements, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Jesús “Chuy” García, and Danny Davis, and other long-standing incumbents declining to seek reelection, triggering crowded contests across multiple levels of government. All of Illinois’ statewide elected officials are up for election in 2026, with all the incumbents except Comptroller Susana Mendoza choosing to...

read more