104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly remains on summer break. Both chambers return in October for a two-week Veto Session.
Energy Committee Hearing: Illinois lawmakers held a virtual committee meeting on Monday to discuss the rising energy prices. According to the Illinois Environmental Council, since June 1, Ameren prices across the state have increased by an average of $46 per month, while ComEd prices have risen by $8 per month. The committee heard testimony about the impact of data centers, which power AI technology and consume a substantial amount of electricity. A spokesperson for ComEd mentioned that they have received requests from data centers that could potentially draw gigawatts of energy from the grid.
The committee heard several ideas to address energy in Illinois, including the use of battery storage, the construction of additional nuclear power plants, and legislation that would require data centers to build their own power plants. More information is here.
Insurance Rate Hearing: The Senate Insurance Committee held a virtual hearing on homeowners’ and property insurance rates this week, during which industry leaders warned that state regulation could lead to higher costs and fewer consumer options. Former Illinois Director of Insurance Nat Shapo noted that Illinois has sound regulation with lower-than-average rates, attributing recent rate increases to an increase in claims filed by homeowners. Robert Gordon from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association highlighted the rising property losses resulting from inflation, severe weather, and the costs associated with state mandates. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias proposed banning insurers from using factors like age and credit scores to set premiums. State Senator Dave Syverson emphasized that Illinois insurers remain in the market due to confidence in the regulatory system, unlike in other states facing pullbacks. He suggested improving consumer information to facilitate easier rate comparisons.
Upcoming Committee Hearings: The House scheduled two subject matter hearings for September. The House International Relations, Tourism, and Trade Committee will hold a hearing on September 16 at 12:30 pm in the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss how Illinois can respond and lead on tariff policy.
The House Gun Violence Prevention Committee will hold a hearing on September 22 at 11:00 am in the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss gun violence prevention and community violence intervention.
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: Governor Pritzker signed 268 bills into law late Friday afternoon. Read the full list of new laws here.
The Governor also signed legislation this week to create the Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act and the Digital Asset Kiosk Act, as well as legislation to prevent schools from issuing monetary fines or fees, tickets, or citations as a disciplinary measure or for a municipal code violation on school grounds during school hours and another to protect media from SLAPP lawsuits. Read more here, here, and here.
Veto: Governor Pritzker vetoed SB 246, an initiative of the Illinois Treasurer, which would have allowed Frerichs’ office to create an investment pool for Illinois nonprofits. The treasurer’s office would invest the funds and provide the returns on those investments back to the nonprofits. The Governor vetoed the measure, saying it would have “had harmful unintended consequences” by potentially allowing extremist groups to take advantage of the program. Read the veto message here.
College Admissions: Illinois launched One Click College Admit, a new statewide direct admissions program for public universities and community colleges in the state. Under this initiative, high school seniors and community college transfer students in Illinois will automatically receive college acceptances to the state’s public universities by meeting a single criterion: their grade point average (GPA).
The program eliminates the need for applications, application fees, essays, and letters of recommendation. High school seniors can begin to receive automatic acceptances for enrollment in the fall of 2026 through “One Click College Admit” by creating a Common App account and entering basic biographical information along with their GPA.
Richardson Electronics to Expand Manufacturing Headquarters: Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Richardson Electronics, Ltd.—a prominent global manufacturer of engineered solutions, green energy products, power grid components, and microwave tubes—have announced that the company will expand its operations at its manufacturing headquarters in La Fox, Illinois. Richardson Electronics plans to make a capital investment of over $8.5 million over the next four years, supported by the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) program. The expansion will allow the company to retain nearly 200 skilled employees and create an additional 54 new full-time jobs in the region. Read more here.
CIJA Releases Statewide Violence Prevention Plan: The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) released the 2025-2029 Statewide Violence Prevention Plan. The Plan provides a framework for grantmaking that aims to foster more resilient, safe, and thriving communities. This plan aligns with the Governor’s objectives of breaking the cycles of violence stemming from years of ineffective criminal justice policies, overincarceration, and economic disinvestment in minority communities. Read more here.
Gubernatorial Appointments: Governor Pritzker reappointed Karima Douglas as the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.
OTHER NEWS:
2026 Election Update: Candidates continue to announce their intentions for the 2026 election cycle.
2nd Congressional District: Illinois State Senator Willie Preston announced he will join the crowded field vying for the Democratic nomination in the 2nd Congressional District to replace Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who is running for the open US Senate seat.
5th Congressional District: Chicago Police District Councilman Anthony Tamez announced he will run in the Democratic primary in the 5thCongressional District represented by fellow Democrat Congressman Mike Quigley. Tamez first ran for office and won in 2023. He made history as the second Native person to hold an elected office in Illinois and one of the youngest Native people to hold an elected position in the U.S.
7th Congressional District: Danica Leigh, the former chief of staff of clinical affairs at the University of Chicago, joined the crowded Democratic primary race to replace retiring Congressman Danny Davis.
9th Congressional District: Sam Polan, a former policy adviser with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, joined the crowded Democratic field vying to replace retiring Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. He served in the Army Air Defense and was later selected for special operations, deploying three times to the Middle East.
17th Congressional District: Julie Bickelhaupt, a farmer and community leader, announced her candidacy on the Republican ticket for Congress in the 17th District. Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen now holds the seat.
36th Senate District: Retired State Police Master Sergeant Brad Beekman, a Republican, will challenge Senator Mike Halpin in the general election.
12th House District: The list of Democratic candidates seeking to replace Representative Margaret Croke continues to grow. Karim Lakhani, a Harvard-educated son of immigrant entrepreneurs, announced his candidacy this week. He runs the family business, Lakhani Hospitality, while also practicing law for small business owners. He’s served on Skokie’s Economic Development Commission and the South Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois. Also running are Litcy Kurisinkal, Mac LeBuhn, and Paul Kendrick, who has Croke’s endorsement.
21st House District: Republican Fitness Trainer Eric Su announced he will challenge Representative Abdelnasser Rashid.
111th House District: Alton City Council member Rosetta “Rosie” Brown announced she will challenge Republican Representative Amy Elik in the general election.
Redistricting Reform: A bipartisan group of former Obama administration officials and election lawyers wants to reform the state’s legislative redistricting process by introducing a constitutional amendment through a citizen ballot initiative in the 2026 general election. They argue that the current system leads to the overrepresentation of Democrats and fewer competitive districts, thereby diminishing politicians’ accountability to their constituents.
The initiative is led by former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican, and Bill Daley, a Democrat, with support from former State Board of Elections Chair Bill Cadigan and election lawyer Michael Dorf. The proposal aims to create a 12-member Legislative Redistricting Commission, appointed by the top leaders of each legislative chamber, to ensure fairer district mapping. The amendment will require approximately 320,000 valid signatures to appear on the November 2026 ballot. Read more here.
AG Raoul Seeks Court Order Blocking Trump Administration’s Attempt to Share Private SNAP Data: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 21 other state attorneys general and the state of Kentucky, filed a motion to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from compelling states to disclose personal and sensitive information about millions of recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This action comes while legal challenges to the USDA’s demand are ongoing. Read more here.
AG Co-leads Lawsuit to Block Conditions on Victims of Crime Grants: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with the attorneys general of California, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, co-led a multistate lawsuit challenging the illegal conditions imposed by the Trump administration on Congressionally authorized Victims of Crime Act grants.
Raoul and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general filed the lawsuit in response to the Trump administration’s recent decision, which dictates that states will not be able to access funds meant to support victims and survivors of crimes unless they comply with the administration’s stringent immigration enforcement demands. The lawsuit argues that the administration is ignoring both the letter of the law and the intent of Congress with this decision. Read more here.
AG Sues to Block Funding Cap for Energy Programs: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, leading a coalition of 19 states, filed a lawsuit to block a new funding cap imposed by the U.S. Department of Energy that threatens state-run energy programs. The states claim this cap jeopardizes their ability to operate essential programs, such as those focused on energy efficiency and resiliency. In Illinois, specific programs affected include the Public Water Infrastructure Energy Efficiency Assessment Program and training for construction professionals on energy codes. Additionally, the cap could hinder investments in the Illinois Clean Energy Innovation Fund, which supports emerging technologies for grid modernization. The coalition is seeking to restore the required reimbursement rates for these energy initiatives. Read more here.
AG Joins Bipartisan Letter in Support of National Youth Tobacco Survey: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 22 state attorneys general, submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services supporting the continuation of the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). The NYTS is an annual study that assesses the use of smoking and vaping among middle and high school students. According to the letter, the survey provides valuable insights into youth tobacco use and emerging products, and it has shaped efforts by attorneys general to reduce youth tobacco use for over two decades. Read more here.
AG Bondi Threatens to Send in Federal Law Enforcement and Cut Illinois Funding: Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to end their “sanctuary” policies immediately and comply with federal immigration laws. They have until August 19 to outline the measures they have taken to eliminate practices that hinder federal enforcement. Ann Spillane, general counsel to the Governor, responded that the state is following the law. Bondi indicated that non-compliance could lead to cuts in federal funding and federal law enforcement intervention, similar to actions taken in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.