GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: The Governor signed three more of his legislative priorities this week. Now law, HB 5511, which creates the Children’s Social Media Safety Act to keep Illinois kids safe online by establishing comprehensive safeguards for children against the most addictive social media platform features and strengthening protections for minors. Read more here.
He also signed legislation (SB 714 and HB 4273) granting state regulators oversight to review, challenge, and block excessive home and auto insurance rate hikes. Read more here,
The Governor also signed over 80 bills into law last Friday. Read the full list here.
Governor Seeks Answers from Big Oil Companies: Governor JB Pritzker has written to the leaders of large oil companies, urging them to explain why Illinois families are facing high gas prices while these companies report record profits, which he attributes to the ongoing conflict in Iran. He emphasizes that families are struggling with increased costs and calls on the oil companies to either help alleviate this burden or take responsibility for their profit-making during the conflict. Pritzker demands transparency regarding how these profits affect Illinoisans and seeks actions to provide relief at the pump. Read more here.
Governor Demands Tariff Relief from Trump Administration: Governor JB Pritzker sent a follow-up letter to President Trump urging his administration to provide direct relief to working families in Illinois, who have faced higher prices due to tariffs. This letter follows an earlier “invoice” from Pritzker requesting over $8.6 billion to compensate Illinois households for these increased costs, highlighting the disparity between the financial support given to large corporations and the struggles of everyday families. Read more here.
Regional Site Readiness Awards Announced: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced $35 million in awards under the Regional Site Readiness Program to enhance site readiness at 22 locations throughout Illinois. This initiative aims to prepare sites for future industrial investment and job creation. To date, the state has allocated $115 million for 63 projects focused on site preparedness. The funding includes 11 Planning grants for due diligence activities and studies, as well as 11 Capital Ready grants for infrastructure improvements. Read more here.
104TH ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly stands adjourned until the call of the Presiding Officers. Veto Session is scheduled for November 17 – 19 and December 1 – 3.
Last Friday the Legislative Ethics Commission released the Legislative Inspector General’s report into sexual harassment allegations against former State Representative Harry Benton. Links to the various documents are here.
The Speaker reacted to the document release, stating, “This report reaffirms that our office acted with responsibility — adhering to legal guidance, honoring the wishes of those who came forward, and taking decisive action as new information revealed a pattern of misconduct.” He also committed to collaborating on strengthening laws, enhancing policies, modernizing practices, and continuing to build a General Assembly that is deserving of the trust of every employee, legislator, and Illinois resident we have the privilege to serve.
Representative Kelly Cassidy expressed disappointment with the Speaker’s response. She said, “The Speaker needs to show a genuine intention to mend the harm he has caused and to fix the flawed system we all operate within. So far, his response has not reflected that spirit. Instead, we have heard a series of justifications, victim-blaming, and a lack of public acknowledgment of the failures.”
On Wednesday, the Speaker created a House Culture and Accountability Working Group to recommend changes to the harassment complaint process, especially for district offices like the one involved in the Benton case. The Speaker noted the “Working Group will take the time necessary to examine how the House prevents, addresses and responds to misconduct while fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability and respect.”
The working group includes Representatives Dagmara Avelar (chair), Tracy Katz Muhl, Lisa Davis, Suzanne Ness, Amy Murri Briel, Theresa Mah, Kam Buckner, Daniel Didech, Gregg Johnson and Norma Hernandez.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, House Republican women legislators are calling for the Speaker to resign. The group issued a statement saying the inspector general’s report raised “serious questions” about Welch’s leadership and called for an independent investigation into his office.
Speaker Welch pledged to “lead the effort” to secure additional state funding for Chicago Public Schools during the upcoming Fall Veto Session. The Chicago Public Schools Board approved a budget that depends on the state providing an additional $150 million in the coming months. Note: all legislation with an immediate effective date, including supplemental appropriations or revenue bills, will require a three-fifths vote in both chambers during Veto Session. Read more here.
The House Special Investigating Committee charged with investigating the conduct of Representative Carol Ammons met for the first time Thursday. The committee voted unanimously to contact US Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Greg Gilmore for guidance to avoid taking any action that he would consider an interference with the ongoing federal investigation. The Committee will meet again after receiving a response from the US Attorney.
OTHER NEWS:
COGFA July Revenue Report: Revenues in the State’s General Funds for FY 2027 started positively, with a $188 million increase (5.0%) compared to last July, mainly driven by significant gains in Corporate Income Tax and Sales Tax receipts. Sales Tax saw the largest increase, rising by $132 million (12.9%), attributed to higher consumer prices, while Corporate Income Tax receipts rose by $131 million (65.2%). Personal Income Tax receipts remained flat due to timing factors, with an overall growth of about 4% when considering both June and July together.
Contrastingly, receipts from All Other State Sources fell sharply by $104 million (25.6%), primarily due to a $79 million decline in Interest on State Funds and the lack of Corporate Bond proceeds that were received last year. Transfers In showed minimal growth of $1 million, with some increases offset by a decline in Other Transfers. Federal Sources contributed $360 million, exceeding last year’s figures by $55 million (18.0%), including notable one-time transfers from federal funds. Read the full report here.
Secretary of State Announces Campaign for Chicago Mayor: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias officially launched his campaign for Chicago Mayor. Announcing his candidacy at a rally in Bronzeville, Giannoulias promised an optimistic vision for the city’s future. He outlined progressive policy proposals, including universal pre-K and higher taxes on the wealthy. Giannoulias emphasized “competence” as a key aspect of his leadership style and expressed a willingness to engage with the White House, dismissing concerns about running for two offices simultaneously. Giannoulias faces Republican Diane Harris in the November Secretary of State’s race. The primary for Chicago Mayor is February 23, 2027.
Federal Judge Denies Trump Administration Access to Illinois Voter Data: A federal judge announced on Friday that Illinois is not obligated to provide its entirety of unredacted voter registration information, which includes sensitive personal data, to the Trump administration. In her 14-page ruling, Judge Colleen Lawless reached the same decision as judges in 18 other federal districts and one appellate circuit that have ruled on similar cases. She determined that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not grant the U.S. Attorney General the authority to request voter data under the premise of “general auditing power.” Read more here.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS:
AG Joins Coalition Suing Trump Administration Over Illegal Tariffs: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in suing the Trump administration for the third time over newly imposed tariffs. The lawsuit challenges the recent increase in tariffs on imports from 60 countries, which the administration justified by citing inadequate enforcement against goods produced by forced labor. The states argue that the administration is misusing trade law provisions and that the new tariffs reflect a broad policy rather than targeted measures allowed under Section 301 of the Trade Act. This follows previous court rulings that deemed earlier tariffs illegal. Read more here.
AG Sues to Block Trump Administration Access to TANF Recipients’ Data: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of 23 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over policy changes that would grant the government broad access to sensitive private information of families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. The lawsuit argues that these changes violate the law and aim to politically target those relying on TANF. Raoul emphasized the importance of protecting the privacy of these individuals, stating that the new policy would enable illegal sharing of their personal information. Illinois receives about $583 million annually in TANF funding, supporting over 65,000 residents in need. Read more here.
AG Reaches Settlement with POSH E-cigarette Maker: Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a settlement with the distributors of Posh, a popular disposable vape brand in Illinois, resolving allegations of violating the Illinois Youth Prevention Vaping Act. The settlement prohibits the sale and marketing of unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes aimed at youth and mandates a $20 million payment to support enforcement of state laws against illegal vaping. The entities are forbidden from selling Posh products in Illinois until they receive FDA approval and must avoid advertising that appeals to young people, such as using cartoons or influencers under 35. Read more here.
AG Joins Coalition Urging Congress to Preserve Federal Hemp Reforms: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general, urged congressional leaders to maintain the federal redefinition of hemp and reject any attempts to weaken reforms related to intoxicating hemp-derived products. In a letter to congressional leadership, they expressed gratitude for Congress’s efforts to close a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed unregulated hemp products to flourish. The coalition warned that reopening this loophole could lead to regulatory uncertainty, increased litigation, and the return of unregulated products. They emphasized the importance of preserving the November 2025 redefinition of hemp to ensure public safety and a consistent national approach to regulation. Read more here.
AG and City of Chicago Sue Pullman Innovations Over Air Quality: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago, filed a lawsuit against A-F Acquisition LLC, operating as Pullman Innovations. The lawsuit alleges that the company allowed excessive odors and illegal air pollution, constructed an unpermitted boiler, and violated its operating permit conditions at its Chicago facility, which processes a by-product of edible oil into animal feed. Located in an area of environmental justice concern on the Southeast Side of Chicago, the facility has sparked numerous complaints from local residents regarding foul odors resembling rotten eggs, garbage, sewage, and rotting meat. Read more here.