More than 114,000 Illinoisans file new claims in one week By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — More than 114,000 workers in Illinois filed first-time unemployment claims in the week ending March 21 as the United States saw its biggest one-week spike in recorded history. 3.2 million workers filing for […]
State of Illinois
Illinois daylight savings discussion stalled at House
BY DANI TIETZdani@mahometnews.com Groggy workers and students on Monday in Illinois are left wondering if Senate Bill 533, the bill that would end the state’s biannual change of the clock known as daylight savings time, will ever pass and become law. As of Nov. 19, 2019, the measure had passed […]
75-mph speed limit up for consideration in Illinois
Senate Bill 2565 and Senate Bill 2564, filed by State Sen. Jim Oberweis (Republican-25th District), seeks to increase speed limits across rural Illinois. The bills have been assigned to the Senate Subcommittee on Special Issues, which currently has no members. Should the bills pass, Senate Bill 2564 would change the […]
Local governments call for increase in state revenue sharing
By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A local government advocacy group laid out its legislative agenda Monday and called on lawmakers to fully fund a program that shares state income tax revenue with local municipalities. The Illinois Municipal League’s “Moving Cities Forward” agenda also includes efforts to: protect local […]
Proposed bill would mandate K-12 sex education
BY DANI TIETZdani@mahometnews.com Senate Bill 2762 could mandate “inclusive, medically accurate, and culturally appropriate comprehensive sex education” for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade if it becomes law. Presented by sponsors Senator Ram Villivalam (Democrat District 8) and Representative Kathleen Willis (Democrat District 77), the bill would require the […]
First month’s legal marijuana sales generate $7.3 million in tax revenue
photo by Jerry Nowicki – Capitol News Illinois By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Revenue reported Monday that the first month of legalized adult-use cannabis sales in the state generated $7.3 million in cannabis tax revenue for the state, plus another $3.1 million in retail […]
Proposed bills add sexting and e-cigs to school curriculum
By JERRY NOWICKIand PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Two bills that would add the risks of e-cigarette use and sexting to public school curriculum will head to the full Illinois House of Representatives after unanimously passing a committee Wednesday, Feb. 19 The House education curriculum committee heard testimony about House Bills 4007 and 3928, […]
Pritzker paints two budget pictures: One with graduated tax, one without
By JERRY NOWICKIand PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has tied his second-year state budget proposal to the unfinished marquee policy initiative of his first year – a constitutional amendment that allows the state to impose higher income tax rates on higher income earners. If voters approve […]
Municipal Gas Tax Bill proposed
Illinois Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18th District) has proposed a new gas tax bill. Senate Bill 2978 seeks to amend the Illinois Municipal Code to provide that municipalities may impose a motor fuel tax on top of the 38-cent state tax (19-cents previously) that was imposed in July 2019. Cunningham’s proposal […]
Proposed bill would require sixth-grade Illinois students to get HPV vaccine
The Illinois Rules Committee is currently reviewing HB4870, which would amend the Communicable Disease Prevention Act to require students entering sixth grade in the State of Illinois to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and requiring confirmation that the student has completed the series of HPV vaccinations upon entering the […]