104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly is set to begin the 2026 Spring Session in January. The Illinois Senate will reconvene Tuesday, January 13, through Thursday, January 15. The House of Representatives will reconvene the following week, from Tuesday, January 20, through Thursday, January 22.
Deadlines will approach quickly in the new year. January 16 is the deadline to request a bill be drafted for spring consideration. February 6 is the deadline to file legislation.
Representative Marty Moylan submitted his resignation, effective December 16. Moylan abruptly announced he would not seek reelection just before the petition filing deadline, and his chief of staff, Justin Cochran, was the sole Democrat to file petitions to replace Moylan. Local Democrats will have 30 days to fill the vacancy.
Key 2026 Session Dates:
January 16: LRB Deadline — Both Chambers
February 6: Bill Filing Deadline — Both Chambers
February 18: Governor’s Budget and State of the State Address
March 13: Deadline — Substantive Senate Bills out of Committee
March 27: Deadline — Substantive House Bills out of Committee
March 17: Primary Election
April 17: Deadline — 3rd Reading Substantive Bills in First Chamber
May 8: Deadline — Substantive Bills out of Committee in Second Chamber
May 22: Deadline — 3rd Reading Substantive Bills in Second Chamber
May 31: Adjournment
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: Governor Pritzker signed comprehensive legislation to address immigration enforcement in Illinois. HB 1312 makes several changes, including:
Holding Federal Immigration Enforcement Accountable: The Illinois Bivens Act allows for civil legal action against any law enforcement officer who knowingly violates the Illinois or United States Constitution.
Protecting Immigrants at Illinois Courthouses: Creates the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act, prohibiting the civil arrest of anyone attending certain state court proceedings in and around courthouses. Allows for civil damages for false imprisonment, including statutory damages of $10,000 if the person knew or should have known the person arrested was attending a state court proceeding.
Ensuring Privacy at Hospitals: Creates the Health Care Sanctity & Privacy Law, preventing the unlawful release of protected health information. Requires all general acute care hospitals to implement a policy regarding interactions with law enforcement agents by January 1, 2026, and all other hospitals by March 1, 2026.
Protecting Immigrants at Universities: Amends the Public Higher Education Act, barring schools from taking certain actions regarding the actual or perceived immigration status of students, employees, or those associated with them, unless required by law. Requires Illinois schools to submit procedures for approving requests from law enforcement agents attempting to enter campus by January 1, 2026.
Safeguarding Children and Families at Day Cares: Amends the Child Care Act by prohibiting day care centers from sharing the actual or perceived immigration status of a child or associated person, unless required by law. Requires the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois Department of Early Childhood to provide know-your-rights materials, preparedness plans, and other resources to families online. Compels licensed day care centers to adopt a plan of action for interacting with enforcement agents and notifying parents if an agent requests a child’s personally identifiable information by January 1, 2026.
Electric Vehicle Charging: The Illinois Department of Transportation announced a funding opportunity through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, offering $65.6 million for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations. Applications are due by February 13 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Selected locations will feature at least four fast-charging ports capable of fully charging an electric vehicle in under 30 minutes. This round of funding has expanded eligibility to include projects along all U.S. routes and scenic byways, as well as those supporting medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles. Awards are expected to be announced in early 2026. Read more here.
Gubernatorial Appointments: Governor Pritzker appointed the following:
· Julie Morita will serve as a Member of the State Board of Health.
· Margarita Teran-Garcia will serve as a Member of the State Board of Health.
Other News:
Drug Price Fixing: Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a court has dismissed a motion from drugmakers to dismiss key elements of an antitrust case concerning drug price-fixing. Illinois and nearly all states allege that pharmaceutical companies conspired to inflate prices and limit competition for generic drugs, significantly impacting health insurance and taxpayers.
U.S. District Judge Shea found ample evidence supporting the states’ claims, noting that practices like sharing information and coordinating price increases were common. Read more here.
Gender Pay Equity Report: A new report from the University of Illinois’ Project for Middle Class Renewal reveals that Illinois has made progress toward gender pay equity since the 2021 Equal Pay Act amendment, yet notable pay disparities persist—especially for Black and Hispanic workers in low-wage jobs. Analysis of data from over 3.2 million job records shows women earn roughly 91–93 cents for every dollar men make in similar roles, with smaller gaps in professional and managerial positions. Black and Hispanic employees earn about 90-94 cents for every dollar earned by White workers, and while gender gaps have narrowed in higher-wage roles, they have widened for women in lower-wage occupations. Cook County fares better than other regions, but disparities remain more pronounced in craft and service jobs. The state’s efforts in employer accountability and transparency have been effective, and Illinois is positioned to further close the wage gap. Recommendations include improving data quality, enhancing transparency, increasing interagency cooperation, flagging employers with significant wage gaps, and supplying HR and business leaders with tools for pay equity. Read more here.
Violence Prevention Efforts: A new partnership among multiple governments and a leading non-profit has launched the NETWORK, a capacity-building hub for small organizations focused on preventing violence in their communities. This initiative offers free technical assistance and support to community violence intervention (CVI) organizations in the Chicago region, ensuring they have the necessary skills and infrastructure for long-term success.
The NETWORK is a key project of the Government Alliance for Safe Communities (GASC), involving the State of Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago, with UCAN serving as the anchor organization providing specialized support. Read more here.
Property Tax Sales: A federal judge has ruled that Cook County’s system for selling properties with unpaid taxes is unconstitutional, potentially exposing the county to significant financial liability. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly found that the process violates the Fifth and Eighth Amendments by allowing tax buyers to seize homes and keep profits from sales that exceed the debts owed. The case, Bell v. Pappas, includes about 2,500 homeowners who may qualify for compensation. Illinois remains the only state that has not updated its tax-sale law following similar rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more here.
AG Urges Congress to Reject Restrictions on Reproductive Health: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of 21 states, urged congressional leaders in a letter to reject attempts to disrupt negotiations for extending tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. They argue that linking these tax credits to restrictions on state insurance plans prohibiting abortion would violate state sovereignty, conflict with existing laws, and jeopardize residents’ access to essential healthcare. Read more here.
Attorneys General Secure Court Victory in Wind Energy Development: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of attorneys general, successfully challenged the Trump administration’s order to freeze federal permitting for wind energy projects. In May, they filed a lawsuit against the indefinite halt on federal approvals for both offshore and onshore wind energy projects. A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled in favor of the coalition, stating that the Trump administration’s actions were arbitrary and violated the law. Read more here.
Indiana Redistricting: The Republican-led Indiana State Senate overwhelmingly rejected a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts to help Republicans pick up two additional seats. Illinois leaders were watching the outcome and threatening to respond if the measure passed. Governor Pritzker praised Indiana lawmakers for not giving in to pressure from the President. Read more here.