Minors under 13 may be held accountable through a community mediation program or other court-ordered intervention services. The plan also calls for a youth nonviolent crime resource program, where the state would provide mentoring, educational resources, employment opportunities and behavioral health services.

Under the agreement, Jones would pay a fine and likely see his three charges — including bribery, wire fraud and lying to the FBI — dropped a year from now. The senator was accused of agreeing to take bribes from red-light camera entrepreneur-turned-government cooperator Omar Maani in exchange for holding back legislation he’d introduced that was harmful to the red-light camera industry.

Gun owners in Illinois must take new steps in 2026 to secure their firearms in their homes, particularly when children are present.

The tollway hikes were not needed but rather a gift to reward labor unions for supporting the Regional Transportation Authority bailout of Chicago area mass transit. Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch said the toll hike was the price Illinoisans had to pay for labor union support.

HB 3363 created the Office of the State Public Defender and made it subject to FOIA, the first time an element of the judiciary is subject to the statute in Illinois. Three otherlaws passed this year weakened FOIA by either adding or extending exemptions.

Illinois Democratic Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet filed the House Bill 4224 Wednesday that would allow individuals in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections to obtain remote employment with approved businesses and companies that choose to participate in the yet-unnamed program.

University officials are investigating the threats and gave chapter president Jacob York accommodations to finish the semester virtually, Fox News reported. The chapter’s vice president, Mara Hudson, was also advised to go home. “The first death threat that I received was anonymous through Instagram,” York said. “It said that someone was going to come in the middle of the night and slit my throat.”

A spokesperson for the governor’s office said in a statement, “Gov. Pritzker strongly condemns the ongoing politicization of our brave servicemembers by the Trump Administration and remains unwavering in his opposition of federalizing members of the National Guard against the wishes of the Governor. The State of Illinois will continue to fight this blatant overreach to the fullest extent in the courts.”

The finance chair said the general fund’s biggest cost is county employees, projecting nearly $34 million in personnel expenditure.

The Freeport Republican said deporting immigrants would leave behind vacant housing that could reduce demand and boost supply, potentially lowering costs and reducing pressure on the housing market.

Illinois officials, including Governor JB Pritzker, who approved the (6.5 percent base pay) raises, argue that higher pay will help attract and retain talent in government. The state is part of a broader progressive push to phase out part-time citizen legislators in favor of a full-time professional governing class.