Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, is suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers and minority-owned businesses nationwide.

State Sen. Robert Martwick, who has proposed legislation in the past and this year to change the teacher retirement benefits system, said it could get expensive for the state, local municipalities, and even school districts if the state’s pension systems do not comply with federal law. Martwick said the lower tier pension benefits could open school districts up to costly lawsuits — if teachers prevailed, settlements could eat into districts’ operating budgets.

The signing ceremony in the governor’s office was largely ceremonial because terms of the MOU were originally agreed to during Pritzker’s trade mission to the U.K. in 2023.

“This is a one-time ask for your information and then you are either identified as an adult or an underage person,” state Sen. Willie Preston said. “We’re not calling for anyone’s identity, we’re not calling for ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation… we’re just trying to identify children.”

Gov. JB Pritzker did not include funding for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program in this year’s budget proposal. Combined HBIA and Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors spending in fiscal year 2024 was $682 million. Since inception, the total HBIS and HBIA program has cost Illinois taxpayers more than $1.6 billion.

Republicans say since 2018, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services failed to produce incident reports for over 1,200 child deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries. “The Federal Department of Justice recently announced an investigation into the treatment of patients in developmental centers operated by IDHS,” a spokesman for state Rep. Bradley Fritts said, calling out the Choate, Jack Mabley and Samuel Shapiro developmental centers.

There was heated debate when lawmakers took up House Bill 3527 involving school mascots. State Rep. Maurice West’s bill would prohibit schools from using a name, logo, or mascot that is derogatory or representative of a disabled individual or group. The particular school that drew West’s ire is Freeburg High School and their mascot the “Midgets”, a community several hundred miles from his district.

The proposal by state Rep. Edgar González, Jr., would impose new rules when “excessive” weather conditions impact workplaces. The proposed regulations would apply when the wind chill is 40 degrees or lower and when the heat index is 80 degrees or more. Among other changes, employees could refuse to work and employers would have to make adjustments and accommodations.

The House voted 67-39 to advance House Bill 3637, which would put new protections in state law to safeguard health care licenses for providers who offer abortion cares. It also guarantees continued access to abortion medication even if the medication’s approval is rescinded by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

The House also approved legislation that would prohibit businesses in Illinois from manufacturing or selling cosmetic products containing certain chemical ingredients including formaldehyde and mercury.

While some municipalities may have reservations about relinquishing control over the units, HB 1813 strikes a balance by allowing local governments to implement reasonable regulations, provided those regulations do not effectively prohibit construction. For example, Chicago could still regulate the size of additional dwelling units, but they would no longer be limited to the five small pilot areas where the city now allows their construction.

Heavy regulations just push businesses into illegal status and add a financial barrier for people trying to work. Most of the country doesn’t put this burden on hair braiders. Illinois is one of 14 states that licenses hair braiders.

While the cost to the state board of education is minimal – less than $1,600 – it may cost local schools, school districts and regional offices an unknown amount of money. That would be another unfunded state mandate, but one where the cost is anyone’s guess.

A plan in Springfield could create a student investment program in the Treasurer’s office to help young people refinance their private student loans. It would also allow the Treasurer to work with financial institutions to expand loan options and lower interest rates.

The proposal would still allow the Secretary of State’s office to revoke a driver’s license, but people could then apply for a permit if they agree to use a BAIID device. Sponsors said this change would allow drivers to go anywhere they need to travel six days per week, twelve hours per day, and within a 200-mile radius of their home after they test for blood alcohol content.

Opponents, like Illinois Trucking Association Executive Director Matt Hart, argue the state of Illinois already has a well-functioning system in place to fund the construction of the state’s roads and bridges. “That’s why we supported the 2019 capital bill that has put us on the pathway to where we are today, with the state of Illinois having nearly $6 billion in road funds – $3.5 billion in the road fund and $2.3 billion in the state construction account,” he said.

Both House Bill 1387 and its companion, Senate Bill 144, seek to amend the Illinois School Code to create more regulations around who can be authorized to operate a charter school. They also restrict how charter schools spend their budgets and what a transition plan looks like for closing or consolidating charter schools.

“To understand the radicalism and destructive force of the public media, Chicago may be the best place to look, for no one knows the machinations of the angry beating heart of public media ideologues more than the hardworking police and prosecutors in Chicago.”

On April 4, U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston struck down as unconstitutional recently enacted Illinois legislation which altered the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act. The ruling finally declaring the law unconstitutional comes eight years after a different federal judge had slapped an injunction on the state, blocking Illinois from enforcing the law while the constitutional challenges to the measure played out in court.

“While joining politically motivated lawsuits over rent pricing software might make politicians feel good about themselves, they will do little to reduce the cost of rent. If our leaders were serious, they would focus instead on removing barriers such as restrictive zoning, excessive red tape, high taxes and outdated housing policies.”