104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly is set to begin the 2026 Spring Session in January. The Illinois Senate will reconvene on 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.
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
GUBERNATORIAL HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: Governor Pritzker signed the following into law:
HB 767 expands and codifies Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2025-04, which empowers the Illinois Department of Public Health to offer transparent, science-based vaccine guidelines through its expert Immunization Advisory Committee (IAC), while also expanding vaccine access. Read more here.
HB 1437 extends various sunset dates and makes minor changes to petition circulation timelines for certain local offices.
HB 1863 creates the Boards and Commissions Review Act. Establishes a process to eliminate defunct and inactive boards and commissions. Repeals over 50 defunct or inactive boards and commissions.
HB 2394 increases the weight limit for electric and hydrogen-powered trucks to align with federal regulations. Allows for electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles to exceed the current vehicle weight limitation by 2,000 lbs.
HB 3065 makes changes to several Illinois scholarship programs to update eligibility requirements and award prioritization.
SB 243 makes various changes to the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act.
Medicaid Now Covering Certain Home Visits: The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is now covering home visiting services for pregnant and parenting Medicaid customers. The services, which began on November 21, aim to improve health outcomes by providing support during a crucial time. Covered prenatal home visits will include health education, blood pressure monitoring, behavioral health screenings, domestic violence education, stress management, and service referrals, all based on recognized evidence-based models. Read more here.
IDPH Issues Maternal Mortality Report: The Illinois Department of Public Health has published its latest maternal mortality report, covering data from 2021-2022. The report indicates that an average of 110 women died annually during or within a year after pregnancy, with 43% of these deaths deemed pregnancy related. Notably, there was an increase in pregnancy-related mortality compared to previous years, with 91% of these deaths potentially preventable. The findings highlight the ongoing efforts to improve birth equity and address the issue of pregnancy-related deaths in the state, in line with Governor JB Pritzker’s Birth Equity Blueprint. Read more here.
EPA Issues Health Advisory: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a health advisory for 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTS) in accordance with state groundwater regulations. Health advisories are typically issued when a harmful chemical substance is detected, and there is no established numeric standard for groundwater quality. This advisory follows confirmation of its presence in a community water supply well through resampling. Read more here.
Job Training and Economic Development: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced an additional $10 million in funding for the Job Training and Economic Development (JTED) Program. This funding supports workforce training and wrap-around services to help Illinois residents secure meaningful employment. The JTED grants will focus on increasing employment in key economic sectors and will be awarded through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. Read more here.
Gubernatorial Appointments: Governor Pritzker reappointed the following:
· Susan Swider will continue to serve as a Member of the State Board of Health.
· Monica Hendrickson will continue to serve as a Member of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board.
· Larry Peterson will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Community College Board.
· Terrance McGann will continue to serve as a Member of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
OTHER NEWS:
Illinois Economic Policy Institute Report: A report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute suggests that recent cuts by President Trump’s administration could shrink Illinois’ economy by nearly $10 billion annually. The report highlights the negative impact of these cuts on job creation and state revenues, estimating a decline of $9.6 billion in the state’s gross domestic product by 2029, along with a loss of 86,000 jobs. Researchers Frank Manzo and Robert Bruno emphasize that state and local spending reductions won’t be enough to counteract these losses and urge policymakers to seek new revenue sources to support public schools and the economy. Read more here.
Congressional Redistricting: Eyes are on the Indiana Legislature this week as they take up efforts to redraw Congressional boundaries. Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, who initially said redistricting was off the table, has now promised a Senate vote next week on the House’s congressional map. A vote is expected in the House on Friday. The Senate meets on December 8.
If Indiana Republicans push for an even more favorable map, Illinois lawmakers may be pressured by national Democrats to redraw thelines to create additional Democratic seats. Currently, Democrats hold 14 of Illinois’ 17 congressional districts.
COGFA November Revenue Report: According to the latest report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, November saw strong revenue growth for Illinois’ State General Funds, with total receipts reaching $3.75 billion—an increase of $476 million (14.5%) over last November. This growth was driven by significant gains in income taxes (boosted by a Tax Amnesty program), transfers (especially a large one-time transfer from the Income Tax Refund Fund), and a record-high Estate Tax. Personal Income Tax grew 8.1%, and Corporate Income Tax jumped 111.9%, with the Tax Amnesty program contributing substantially to both. Transfers-In were up $260 million, providing a meaningful budget cushion above budget projections. The Estate Tax alone surged by $120 million—marking its highest single-month collection. While most revenue categories performed well, Sales Taxes and Federal Sources declined compared to last year, mainly due to timing factors such as the late Thanksgiving, which delayed “Black Friday” sales tax deposits into December. Overall, the fiscal year’s cumulative General Funds growth stands at $951 million (4.9%). Read the full report here.
2026 Election Update: Democrat Mayra Macias launched her campaign to run as an independent in the 4th Congressional District, which is currently held by retiring Democratic Congressman Jesus “Chuy” García. She notes that her decision to run was prompted by García’s sudden announcement that he would step down and pass the Democratic nomination to his chief of staff, Patty García.