104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly is set to begin the 2026 Spring Session next week. The Illinois Senate will reconvene Tuesday, January 13, through Thursday, January 15. No legislation is positioned for consideration in the Senate next week, and no committee hearings are scheduled.
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.
Local Democrats selected Justin Cochran as the new state representative for the 55th District, replacing Representative Marty Moylan, who resigned in mid-December. Cochran served as Moylan’s chief of staff.
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 the energy omnibus, SB 25, passed during the Fall Veto Session. Read more here.
Rural Healthcare Transformation: The federal government is allocating $193.4 million annually to Illinois for five years through the $50 billion Rural Healthcare Transformation Program to improve healthcare access in rural areas. The funding supports transforming rural healthcare delivery, overcoming geographic barriers of care, and building a resilient healthcare workforce. The Governor’s administration notes that while this funding aims to address barriers to care, it falls short compared to the anticipated $137 billion reduction in Medicaid funding for rural healthcare providers due to cuts in the federal budget bill. The RHTP will begin in fiscal year 2026, with $10 billion available each year for all states. Read more here.
HFS Allocates Funds to Planned Parenthood: The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is allocating $4 million to Medicaid family planning programs to mitigate the impact of federal defunding of Planned Parenthood. This funding will support essential services such as contraception, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screenings. In 2024, Planned Parenthood served nearly 35,000 Illinois Medicaid customers, and the state received about $4 million in federal reimbursement for family planning services provided at its clinics. Read more here.
Federal Government Freezes $1 Billion for Illinois Child Care Assistance: The federal government is withholding over $10 billion in family and childcare assistance funds from Illinois and four other states due to concerns about fraud and misuse. In Illinois alone, around $1 billion is affected, impacting programs that assist families with childcare costs and support childcare workers. Similar actions are also being taken against California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York. Governor Pritzker accused the Administration of targeting Illinois and the other states because they are led by Democratic Governors. Read more here.
ISP Welcomes New Troopers: The Illinois State Police graduated 21 new Troopers from Cadet Class 151 at a ceremony in Springfield. The new Troopers started their duties at various ISP Troop locations on December 21, 2025. Read more here.
IDPH Urges Flu Shots and Preventive Measures: The Illinois Department of Public Health advised residents to take precautions as influenza and other respiratory illnesses spread, with flu activity reaching a “very high” level. COVID-19 levels have also increased to “moderate.” The state’s first pediatric influenza death of the season has also been reported. Check out Illinois’ seasonal respiratory illness levels at IDPH’s Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard, updated weekly.
Manufacturing Training Academies: About $24 million in grant funding for six new Manufacturing Training Academies at community colleges in downstate Illinois is coming from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The goal: to expand training for high-demand manufacturing jobs. A competitive process will select the grantees, who can also use the funding for facility upgrades and equipment to train workers in priority industries such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy. Read more here.
ICJIA Grant Opportunities: ICJIA is providing $50 million in R3 Program grants to underserved communities: $35 million for reentry, economic development, and civil legal aid, and $15 million for youth development and violence prevention. More info here.
State Contracting Series: “Mastering the State Contracting Game” is a five-part webinar series being rolled out by the Department of Innovation & Technology, in partnership with the IT Procurement Office. The effort aims to familiarize IT vendors with how to effectively navigate the procurement process in Illinois. Read more here.
Gubernatorial Appointments: Governor Pritzker appointed the following:
· Kristi Jones will serve as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
· Dr. Donn Mendoza will serve as a Member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
· Brianne Hobbs will serve as a Member of the State Board of Health.
· Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler will continue to serve as a Member of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board.
· Nancy DePodesta will continue to serve as a Member of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board.
· Donald Wilkerson will continue to serve as Chair of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board.
· Kathleen Carolyn “KC” Stralka will serve as the Assistant Secretary of Project Management and Operational Excellence of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood.
· Jeff Mears will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Labor Relations Board.
· Steven B. Rice as the next Assistant Adjutant General – Air of the Illinois National Guard.
OTHER NEWS:
COGFA December Revenue Report: In December, strong performances in Personal Income Tax and Sales Tax helped offset weaker revenue sources, resulting in a positive close for the first half of FY 2026. Total General Funds revenues increased by $239 million, or 4.6%, compared to last December, while total revenues for the first six months rose by $1.190 billion, or 4.8%. The extra receipting day in December contributed significantly, boosting Personal Income Tax receipts by $271 million, or 8.9%. Sales Tax also saw a robust rebound, increasing by $142 million, or 13.0%, following a decline in November.
Notably, Corporate Income Tax revenues declined by $104 million, or 11.0%. Other revenue sources, including Insurance Taxes and Estate Tax receipts, saw increases, while transfers into the General Fund rose by $100 million, largely driven by Lottery Transfers. Federal Sources reported a decrease of $148 million compared to last December, with a significant portion of last year’s figure including one-time ARPA funds. Overall, December’s revenue results reflect a strong month for the General Funds. Read more here.
Appeals Court Upholds Permanent Injunction to Halt Defunding Research: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit upheld a ruling that prevents the Trump administration and related agencies from cutting critical funding for medical and public health research at universities. This ruling safeguards “indirect cost” reimbursements essential for supporting biomedical research activities. In 2025, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in a lawsuit against the funding cuts, leading to a temporary restraining order and subsequent injunction against the administration’s funding restrictions. The appellate court has now upheld this injunction. In Illinois, this decision protects around $67 million annually for the University of Illinois System and $4.5 million for other universities, benefiting vital research on diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Read more here.