by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois June 30, 2025 CHICAGO — Illinois students won’t need to fill out applications for most state universities to be admitted — if they have high enough grades. With his signature, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday approved a bill creating the direct admissions program. Along […]
State of Illinois
‘I have work to do,’ Pritzker says in launching third-term reelection bid
by Ben Szalinski and Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois June 26, 2025 CHICAGO — In a hot gymnasium on Chicago’s South Side, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday morning he’s running for a potentially historic third term as governor. In his announcement speech, Pritzker said he is running to “protect” the […]
Attorney General Raoul joins lawsuit challenging Trump’s termination of federal grants
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 25, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced this week he has joined another multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to withhold billions of dollars in federal funds that had previously been approved for states and other grantees. The complaint, filed […]
Advocates await action on bill protecting rights of immigrant students in Illinois
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 20, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Immigration rights advocates in Illinois are anxiously awaiting the governor’s signature on legislation aimed at protecting K-12 students who may be in the country without legal authorization from being denied access to a free public education. House Bill 3247, […]
Governor Pritzker Signs Bill Delaying Illinois Interchange Fee Ban
Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a measure that delays the implementation of Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) by one year into law, pushing its effective date to July 1, 2026. The bill aims to provide additional time for legal challenges and industry adjustments before the law takes effect. The […]
Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700M of new taxes
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 16, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget into law Monday, taking shots at President Donald Trump’s budget management to defend hard choices state lawmakers were forced to make this year. The $55.1 billion spending plan set to take effect […]
Illinois Gas Tax Set to Increase on July 1
Illinois motorists will see higher prices at the pump starting July 1, as the state’s annual adjustment to the motor fuel tax takes effect. This increase, part of a broader infrastructure funding strategy, will impact both gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as alternative fuels such as LPG, LNG, and […]
Pritzker defends Illinois’ immigration laws in theatrical congressional hearing
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 12, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker spent hours Thursday defending his governing record and Illinois’ immigration policies as he was peppered with questions from members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Pritzker and Democratic governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of […]
Illinois to Expand Opioid Antagonist Access in State Agencies Starting July 1
A new Illinois law aimed at combating the opioid crisis will take effect on July 1, allowing state agencies to make opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, available at workplaces and shielding employees who administer these life-saving drugs from civil liability. Under House Bill 5028, state agencies may provide opioid antagonists […]
Illinois Hotels Face Major Change as Single-Use Plastic Bottle Ban Takes Effect July 1
Beginning July 1, 2025, Illinois will become the first Great Lakes state to enact a sweeping ban on small, single-use plastic bottles in hotels with 50 or more rooms. The law, officially known as the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act (SB2960), was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker last August and […]