Illinois lawmakers have decided not to pursue a constitutional amendment on redistricting after a key U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday, which struck down a Louisiana congressional map, ruling that it was illegally gerrymandered based on race.
Ben Szalinski
Posted inState
Lawmakers grill Department of Corrections after audit shows dozens of failures
An audit of the Illinois Department of Corrections revealed 40 shortcomings, including violations of state purchasing rules, overtime pay for employees on leave, and a lack of tracking paroled inmates, which could cost the state millions of dollars and jeopardize public safety.
Posted inNews
Stratton defeats Krishnamoorthi with help from Chicago, downstate voters
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won the Democratic nomination for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat, defeating Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi with the help of Gov. JB Pritzker and an outsider message, while former Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy won the Republican nomination.
Posted inNews
Pritzker proposes $56B budget with minimal new spending, tax on social media companies
Governor JB Pritzker has proposed a $56 billion budget for fiscal year 2027, which includes a tax on social media companies, increased funding for education and pensions, and a ban on junk fees, as well as other policy initiatives.
Posted inNews
Illinois Braces for Bleak Budget as Federal Cuts Loom Large
Illinois is facing a tightening fiscal landscape due to federal cuts and changes, with the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget projecting a $2.2 billion deficit in the 2027 fiscal year if no changes are made to spending or taxing policies.
Posted inNews
Illinois to withhold nearly $500M in spending, citing federal uncertainty
Governor Pritzker has directed state agencies to reserve nearly $500 million in spending for the current fiscal year in response to the uncertainty over the economy and federal funding, with the reserves largely focusing on cost savings such as forgoing hiring in certain agencies.
Posted inNews
Illinois Houswee speaker calls Bears stadium ask ‘insensitive’ amid budget pressures
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has said that the state’s priority should be to reduce the cost of living, and not to provide financial aid for the Chicago Bears’ proposed new stadium in Arlington Heights.
Posted inNews
New laws: Gun storage, police background check changes take effect in 2026
Illinois has passed several new laws related to gun control, including a Safe Gun Storage Act, a bill requiring background checks for police officers, a path for first-time gun offenders to obtain a FOID card, and a law removing the statute of limitations on cases of human trafficking of minors.
Posted inPolitics
How Illinois’ Democratic U.S. Senate candidates plan to address economic issues
Candidates for the 2026 Illinois Senate election have released proposals to address housing, health care, and cost of living issues, with similarities in their plans but differences in how to achieve them.
Posted inState
Governor Pritzker Pushes for Tax Code Changes to Mitigate Impact of Federal Cuts
Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill to Gov. JB Pritzker that makes changes to the state’s tax code in response to federal tax policies that could reduce state revenue, potentially saving the state $250 million in FY26.
