From Capitol News Illinois: A new funding plan for public transportation surfaced Thursday evening without new taxes on entertainment or package deliveries that were part of previous plans

From Capitol News Illinois: Some of the key elements involve lowering the minimum retirement age for people in the Tier 2 plan, raising the maximum salary on which a person’s pension benefits are calculated, and changing the way future cost-of-living adjustments are calculated

From Capitol News Illinois: One facet of the bill that received broad, bipartisan support would lift a state-level ban on constructing new nuclear power plants. But this provision also charges new fees up to $3.9 million for existing nuclear plant operators

From Capitol News Illinois: Speaking at an event Wednesday morning in Taylorville where he met with Illinois farmers, Pritzker declared an amendment to Senate Bill 2111 dead before it could even be called for a hearing in a House committee

March 17 marks the 2026 primary, where voters can pull a Democratic or Republican ballot to pick who appears on the ballot come November. All voters, partisan or not, can weigh in on referendum questions.

From Capitol News Illinois: Two key negotiators on public transit reform in the Illinois House filed a bill Tuesday to raise up to $2 billion for public transit by taxing entertainment and the unrealized investment gains of billionaires

From Capitol News Illinois: While candidates filed petitions Monday to run under Illinois’ existing congressional district lines, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries brought his redistricting campaign to Illinois, pitching top state Democrats on a new map

From Capitol News Illinois: As state officials continue seeking ways to counter aggressive immigration enforcement activity under President Donald Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” state Rep. Margaret Croke has drawn ire online for an email sharing details about ICE vehicles

From Capitol News Illinois: At the state level, Gov. JB Pritzker filed petitions Monday to seek a third term, while the Republican primary to take him on remains in flux

The son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren of Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey died in a helicopter crash Wednesday evening in Montana

From Capitol News Illinois: U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ push for Illinois Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional map as a counter to President Donald Trump’s mid-decade redistricting project in GOP-led states has met a cool reception with state lawmakers

Gov. JB Pritzker ruled out a property tax break for a Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights while keeping the door open on infrastructure aid at an Economic Club of Chicago forum Tuesday

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois State Board of Elections deadlocked Tuesday on whether Senate President Don Harmon broke state election laws by accepting millions of dollars for his campaign after the 2024 primary

From Capitol News Illinois: A bill, filed by state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, would require school districts to notify parents, students and staff when immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus

Opinion from Scott Holland: If the veto session conversation involves sales tax reform, this issue absolutely must be incorporated. Modernizing the tax structure is overdue, including for the opportunity to resolve unintended consequences

In much the same way local governments (especially schools) must dance with the state as its dominant yet clumsy partner, Springfield’s steps are too often intertwined with those from Washington, D.C.

From Capitol News Illinois: A new report about education in Illinois suggests that overall, the state has made significant progress in key areas, from readying toddlers for kindergarten to helping young adults earn college degrees or industry certificates

From Capitol News Illinois: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reported to a West Virginia federal prison on Monday to begin his 7.5-year sentence for public corruption

From Capitol News Illinois: The biggest unknown for a bill on electric utilities is whether it will include direct regulations on data centers’ use of electricity, something House Speaker Chris Welch said is possible

The Chicago Bears are poised to move to the suburbs. But are Illinois lawmakers – and local taxpayers – going to help them do it?

From Capitol News Illinois: State spending likely to increase significantly in coming years as Medicaid, SNAP requirements set in

Amid a looming shortfall and concerns about layoffs, Metra directors have released a tentative operating budget that includes fare hikes of up to 15%.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois lawmakers will return to Springfield next week hoping to resolve a major unchecked box from the spring: Keep the trains in Chicago running

From Capitol News Illinois: With 10 days until former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is scheduled to report to federal prison, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied the longtime Democratic power broker’s bid to remain free while he challenges his conviction

Former gubernatorial candidate and staunch conservative Darren Bailey launched a repeat campaign Thursday and once again chose a suburban running mate

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. Pritzker said the order is designed to combat federal policies by the Trump administration that are likely to increase costs on the state and put pressure on the economy

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois is among a growing list of states that are issuing their own vaccine guidelines that could supersede those of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois on Wednesday announced plans to release $18 million it received after successfully suing the Trump administration for withholding the funds that Congress had already allocated

From Capitol News Illinois: A legislative oversight panel formally objected Tuesday to a new administrative rule that temporarily allows the Illinois Department of Corrections to withhold mail from incarcerated people and instead deliver electronically scanned copies

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker said political leaders, starting with President Donald Trump, need to do more to condemn political violence. Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, has filed an impeachment resolution against Pritzker.

Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, who led the state from 1991 to 1999, has died. He was 79.

Sen. Bill Cunningham, one of the most powerful Democrats in Springfield, will not run for reelection in 2026.

At a Tuesday forum hosted by state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Cook County Democrat, said lawmakers will tackle regulating data centers during the upcoming fall veto session.

Darren Bailey plans to run for governor for a second time in 2026, Capitol News Illinois confirmed with sources close to the campaign.

Elburn Trustee Chris Hansen announced he will seek the GOP nomination in the March 17, 2026 primary for the State Senate 33rd District.

This summer marks a decade since Illinois’ budget impasse began, which ultimately dragged on for two years and decimated human services across the state.

Elgin Republican Cody Holt announced he’s seeking the nomination for the 33rd state Senate district, a seat currently held by Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles.

Opinion from Rich Miller: What the Chicago Teachers Union really wants is an immense expansion of the state tax base

Put another way: when everyone agrees there’s a loophole, why isn’t anyone tightening that string?

Illinois will allow health care professionals to prescribe certain medications over the next decade even if the federal government revokes approval for a drug under House Bill 3637

Insurance industry officials defended recent homeowners insurance rate spikes this week, blaming such factors as inflation and climate change while warning that attempts to regulate their ability to set rates would be bad for consumers.

How long can a political candidate’s decision to loan their campaign money allow them to take unlimited donations from donors? As long as four years for a state senator, according to Senate President Don Harmon’s attorney.

A group of former Obama administration officials and election lawyers announced Tuesday they are attempting to reform the way the state draws district maps for the state legislature.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Monday that he has joined a multistate lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from withholding federal funding to support crime victims in Illinois due to the state’s policy on immigration

The governor signed 266 laws on Friday, moving closer to finalizing his part in approving – or rejecting – over 430 laws sent to him by lawmakers this spring.

The U.S. Department of Justice is insisting Illinois election officials hand over the state’s entire computerized voter registration database, including sensitive information such as driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers.

Ted Dabrowski is joined by DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick in the race. Mendrick called Medicaid cuts signed by President Donald Trump “unsustainable,” but said he believes the president is doing a good job overall

Democrats across the country are searching for a winning message in the 2026 elections, but Illinois Democrats say they’re already found one

Police agencies in Illinois will soon be required to do more thorough background checks on prospective officers

Illinois’ superintendent of education says the strict standards result in schools being unfairly labeled as needing interventions and students being inaccurately labeled as not on track for college or a career.