GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: Governor Pritzker has completed action on all bills passed during the 2026 Spring Legislative Session. The General Assembly passed 395 bills (229 House Bills/166 Senate Bills). The Governor signed 394 of those bills and issued a line-item/reduction veto to the budget bill to correct drafting errors.
Below is a list of the final bills approved by the Governor in the past week:
HB 2955 establishes the PFAS Wastewater Citizen Protection Committee to monitor PFAS-related developments.
SB 0807 delays changes to the Unemployment Insurance Act until January 1, 2029, and requires an employer with 75 or more employees to notify the Illinois Department of Employment Security if it plans to lay off 50 or more employees at a single employment site.
SB 2524 allows driver’s license applicants to request an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder designation on their driver’s license.
SB 2645 deletes language that permits permanent cessation of pay under the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act and authorizes the Office of the State Fire Marshal to award grants to not-for-profit fire departments.
SB 2951clarifies that any debt secured by a mortgage or deed of trust is subject to a 10-year statute of limitations, ensuring consistency across mortgage-secured products.
SB 3049 revises the process for the Illinois Universal Newborn Screening Advisory Committee to review new health conditions added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel.
SB 3086 allows the State Treasurer to invest in the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, which focuses on building and preserving affordable and workforce housing, creating union construction jobs, generating returns for investors, and fostering community development.
SB 3111 amends the Counties Code’s provisions on the operating hours of county law libraries in counties with more than 2,000,000 inhabitants.
SB 3211 amends the Dental Practice Act to allow dental hygienists to perform specified procedures under a dentist’s supervision and to allow dentists to use teledentistry to assess acute pain, injury, or infection.
SB 3213 requires pharmacies to transfer prescriptions to another pharmacy, upon a patient’s request, if the prescription has been received but not yet filled.
SB 3258 requires insurance companies to provide a notice of rental vehicle coverage when applying for auto insurance or renewing a policy.
SB 3321 amends the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards Act, allowing local governments to use their procured payment processing system.
SB 3403 establishes that, if the State Board of Investment’s external auditor does not timely complete its annual statutorily required audit opinion, then, in turn, ISBI shall not be liable for being late in preparing its own annual report. Also increases disability pension benefits for a category of deceased firefighters.
SB 3465 requires construction sites to provide sanitary working conditions for individuals who menstruate or lactate.
SB 3484 establishes tiered compliance and regulation requirements for e-bikes, gas-powered bicycles, and motor-driven cycles.
SB 3707 enforces fee transparency for vision benefit managers and ensures choice and access for vision care providers.
SB 3731 creates the First 2026 General Revisory Act, which makes only technical changes and corrections to existing law.
Northern Illinois Transportation Authority: Governor JB Pritzker appointed Bashir Qaasim, Nedra Sims Fears, Nirali Shah, Rosa Ortiz, and Vanessa Uribe to the newly created Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Board and reappointed Neema Jha to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board. NITA will replace the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and oversee CTA, Metra, and Pace, with a focus on improving regional coordination, integrating fares and service, strengthening public safety and accessibility, and ensuring effective use of public resources. Read more about the appointees here.
Illinois Receives Credit Upgrade: Illinois has received its 11th credit rating upgrade since 2021, with Moody’s raising the State’s general obligation bonds to A1, the highest rating since December 2011. Moody’s attributes this upgrade, the second in the past year, to the State’s ongoing financial improvements, strong governance, and effective management. Key factors in their decision include eight consecutive balanced budgets, a negligible increase in discretionary spending, the elimination of the bill backlog, the growth of the rainy-day fund to nearly $2.5 billion, and efforts to reduce pension liabilities. Read more here.
Governor Continues to Push for PJM Reform: Governor JB Pritzker continues to advocate for reforms to PJM, the grid operator, by collaborating with other governors to submit recommendations to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The proposed changes aim to enhance state representation in PJM decision-making, increase transparency and accountability, and streamline the stakeholder process for quicker solutions. These initiatives come in response to recent severe storms that have disrupted power across the region. Pritzker has also emphasized improving reliability and protecting consumers by reducing utility profit margins and linking profits to performance, along with efforts that could save ratepayers $13.4 billion over the next 20 years. Read more here.
IDPH Adds New Qualifying Conditions to Medical Cannabis Program: Two new conditions have been added to the list of debilitating medical issues that can qualify an Illinois resident for participation in the Medical Cannabis Patient Program. IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra approved the addition of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) with chronic pain and sickle cell disease after a thorough review by the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board (MCAB) and IDPH staff.
The orders adding the two new conditions are effective immediately, and providers are now able to begin certifying patients with those conditions for treatment with medical cannabis. Read more here.
Broadband Expansion: The State of Illinois has been approved to receive $1.04 billion in funding through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This funding aims to support high-speed internet access throughout the state. By 2031, it is expected to connect approximately 350,000 residents, including homes, businesses, and community institutions across Illinois. When combined, private investments, previous public funding, and the new BEAD funding will bring the total investment in broadband to exceed $2 billion. Read more here.
Illinois Clean Ports: The Illinois Clean Ports Program is hosting a series of in-person meetings for stakeholders and nearby communities to discuss plans to decarbonize ports through cleaner vehicle technologies and energy infrastructure. The meetings will be held on the following dates:
· September 22, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Quincy, IL for the Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District.
· September 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Havana, IL for port districts within the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission.
· September 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Savanna, IL for the Upper Mississippi River International Port District.
For more details and registration, visit illinoiscleanports.org. Read more here.
Illinois Opportunity Zones 2.0: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity launched Illinois’ Opportunity Zones 2.0, aimed at identifying new federally designated Opportunity Zones to attract private investment in low-income communities. This initiative is designed to promote job creation and economic development. The updated program includes new reporting requirements and additional incentives specifically for qualifying Rural Opportunity Zones, ensuring that investments provide significant economic benefits to communities throughout Illinois. Read more here.
Illinois Reports First Human Case of West Nile Virus: The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state for 2026. This confirmed case involves a resident of Piatt County. Additionally, the department has identified three other probable human cases of WNV in northern Illinois. Read more here.
Gubernatorial Appointments: Governor Pritzker appointed the following:
· William Hobert will continue to serve as Chair of the Illinois Finance Authority.
· Erik Mahan will serve as a Member of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
· Julie Rodriguez will serve as a Member of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.
· Sarah Biernat will serve as a Member of the Children and Family Services Advisory Council.
OTHER NEWS:
Court Issues Restraining Order in CDL Database Lawsuit: A U.S. District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from requiring the creation of a database of state-owned records that includes the sensitive personal information of 17 million drivers. The order also blocks the administration from cutting over $10 million in federal funding to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) if it does not comply. Read more here.
TRO Issued in Latest Assisted Suicide Case: Illinois state officials have temporarily agreed not to require Catholic hospitals and doctors to refer patients for medically assisted suicide, pending a court ruling on a challenge to a new state law. A U.S. District Judge issued a temporary restraining order following a lawsuit filed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, along with other religious groups and physicians, against the End of Life Options Act. The law, scheduled to take effect September 12, requires that all medical professionals, regardless of their religious beliefs, provide such referrals. Read more here.