Illinois General Assembly

An Illinois Senate committee hit pause on a bill to ban carbon sequestration injections near aquifers after more than an hour of debate Wednesday

Illinois lawmakers returned to Springfield Tuesday for the first time since May following news earlier this month that they’re facing a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1

Preliminary, unofficial election results show no seats in the state House or Senate have changed party hands, although a few races remained too close to call according to the Associated Press

Here are unofficial results for the November 2024 primary for the La Salle County Board and its chairperson, the La Salle County auditor, and the Bureau County state's attorney and coroner, as well as local judicial races and referendums.

Here are unofficial results for the 2024 November election for the Kendall County Board, circuit court clerk, state's attorney and local legislative races, as well as the Sandwich treasurer referendum.

Here are unofficial results for the November 2024 for the Kane County Board, countywide offices and local legislative races, as well as several referendum questions.

Here are unofficial results for the 2024 November election for the DeKalb County circuit clerk, coroner, state's attorney, as well as DeKalb County Board, local legislative races and referendums.

McHenry County-area icumbent Statehouse members, both Republican and Democrat, were leading their respective challengers.

State Rep. Suzanne Ness’ fourth annual diaper drive is underway and runs through Monday, Nov. 4, with dropoff spots throughout the 66th District she represents.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? Amy Briel: The repeal of the Illinois grocery tax was a good start to easing taxpayer burden and I believe we can do more by expanding the childcare tax credit

Peter Janko, the challenger in the Illinois House 69th District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Joe Sosnowski, incumbent Illinois House 69th District state representative, is seeking reelection and answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Liz Bishop: I support the general concept of Karina’s Bill to remove rearms from the possession of anyone having an order of protection against them, as well as from anyone who has had a FOID card revoked for any other reason.

Mary Mahady, the Democrat challenger in the Illinois House, 63rd District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Steve Reick, the incumbent Republican in the Illinois House, 63rd District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Four years after Speaker Michael Madigan's stunning political fall, he will spend the next two months in a Chicago federal courtroom watching as his long-awaited corruption trial unfolds to determine whether he picks up another moniker: convicted felon.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Suzanne Ness: The data shows that the new system is working as was intended: those most considered a threat are being held regardless of ability to pay, and those who are not a threat, are released until their trial

What policies would you support to ease the burden onIllinois taxpayers? Candidate Laurie Parman: I believe that a good start to easing the tax burden for Illinois retired citizens would be to make a no-tax policy on social security.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Maria Peterson: While it is too soon to make definitive pronouncements about the success SAFE-T Act, based on the data so far, we can be somewhat optimistic

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Maura Hirschauer: We have seen that the changes made in SAFE-T Act are working. Dangerous people are being held and kept off the streets.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? David Simpson: Equal education funding across the state will lower property tax.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? Gabby Shanahan: To provide real relief, we need to enact comprehensive spending reform to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Are there any changes/adjustments that you would like to see made? Candidate Jim Lanham: Some additional offenses need to be added to offenses not eligible for cashless bail.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Dan Ugaste: Overall it is not working well, but I do support some parts

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Are there any changes/adjustments that you would like to see made? Linda Robertson: I am committed to keeping citizens safe in our communities. The SAFE-T Act has reduced the adverse impacts on people who do not have the money to post bonds.

Should Illinois impose a state parks fee that is earmarked for maintenance of those facilities? If so, how should it be implemented? Randi Olson: At this point, there should not be a state park fee. At some point, there is a possibility we might need one.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? Jeff Keicher: Illinois needs to grow its way out of the property tax hole it finds itself in, we can’t tax our way out.

To combat an ongoing teacher shortage, Illinois has passed a bill which will allow for greater flexibility in when teaching candidates can take subject area certification exams.

One year after Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate the use of cash bail, the impact on the state’s criminal justice system appears to have been far less dramatic than people on either side of the debate had predicted

Democrats gathered in Springfield Wednesday for their annual rally at the Illinois State Fair amid a surge of enthusiasm and a renewed sense of optimism about their chances of retaining the White House in November.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday signed a measure designating the “giant puffball” as the state’s mushroom after signing hundreds of bills on Friday, completing action on legislation sent to him by lawmakers this spring.

Truth in sentencing? Proposed Illinois law would mean all people who are in prison would serve half their sentences, and it would apply retroactively.

Calls of “Justice for Sonya” rang through the sanctuary of a church on Chicago’s West Side on Tuesday at a rally hosted in response to the death of Sonya Massey on July 6. 

As the flow of billions of dollars in federal pandemic-related aid is about to end, many students in Illinois are still struggling to catch up academically from the learning loss that occurred when schools were forced to close.

State legislators resumed a series of hearings this week to scrutinize pharmacy benefit managers – a highly concentrated industry that critics say drives up the cost and limits availability of prescription drugs

An Illinois lawmaker from Glen Ellyn who heads a child welfare committee said the state must strengthen its laws and policies to protect homeschooled children facing inadequate education, abuse and neglect.

Illinois shoppers could have more money at the checkout lane in 2026 when the state eliminates its 1% grocery sales tax – if their local governments do not replace it. Dixon and Sterling are among those weighing their options.

The two largest privately owned water utilities in Illinois are seeking to raise rates for a combined 1.5 million customers around the state

Illinois entered a new fiscal year Monday with a bit of a financial cushion as the prior year’s revenues exceeded final projections by about $123 million.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is urging a Cook County judge to dismiss a lawsuit members of his staff filed against him last month seeking to force recognition of their union

A new program passed by state legislators offers all taxpayers a 25% state income tax credit for donations made to permanent endowments funds managed by community foundations.

Without a quorum, the 12-member panel was unable to take an official vote on the matter within the timeline specified under law for reviewing facility closures

Few places are immune to poverty, but rural counties in southern and central Illinois struggle the most. And perhaps nowhere experiences these challenges as deeply as Cairo.

The leader of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation says he believes Illinois lawmakers will eventually pass a bill granting the tribe title to a 1,500-acre park in DeKalb County, but it may take a few more months.

A campaign treasurer for a former Republican state lawmaker pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of harassment, obscenity and transmission of obscene messages.

A bill eliminating the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities failed to pass the General Assembly ahead of its May adjournment, although sponsors say they hope to pass it when lawmakers return in the fall. It was of several that stalled.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday signed the state’s $53.1 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, the largest in state history. Illinois’ largest-ever spending plan increases education, human services, and infrastructure funding.

A Sangamon County judge on Wednesday blocked the Illinois State Board of Elections from enforcing a new law that would have prevented certain General Assembly candidates who didn’t run in the March primary from getting on the November ballot.

In order to boost infrastructure spending and avoid a projected fiscal cliff facing the state in the next couple of years, Democrats who control state government are betting on two of its most rapidly growing revenue sources: sports wagering and video gambling

Thousands of qualifying suburban parents could receive an income tax break next year due to the state’s first child tax credit included in the upcoming state budget.