104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned Friday for the week, marking the first time since February 17 that both chambers were in session at the same time. The Senate was in session from Tuesday to Thursday, while the House was in session from Tuesday to Friday. Friday, March 27, was the deadline to pass substantive House Bills out of House Committees. It is anticipated that some deadline extensions will be granted.
Both chambers will take a one-week Spring Break next week. The House is scheduled to return to session on Tuesday, April 7, while the Senate will be off for two weeks and will reconvene on Tuesday, April 14.
Once again, there was no action this week in the House on HB 910 (Buckner), which creates a statewide Megaprojects Pilot tool that would help the Chicago Bears move to Arlington Heights and boost other large-scale projects. The legislation is pending before the full House.
Governor’s Legislative Agenda: Four pieces of the Governor’s agenda advanced this week in Springfield.
The House Judiciary Civil Committee approved, by a vote of 13-7, HB 5511 (Gong-Gershowtiz), which creates the Children’s Social Media Safety Act. The legislation would require social media companies to confirm a user’s age through the device’s operating system, prohibit companies from sending nighttime notifications to users under 18, establish default privacy settings protecting a minor user’s location data and profile information, and allow more parental controls. The measure now heads to the full House.
SB 2427 (Castro/Mussman), as amended, requires Illinois school districts to adopt policies by the 2027-2028 school year that ban the use of wireless communication devices, such as cellphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices, during school hours. The legislation would enact a complete ban on elementary and middle school students’ use of devices during school hours, while allowing districts the option to permit high school students to use their devices during lunch and passing periods. The measure also provides carve-outs for students with medical needs, caregivers for family members, and those who need their phone for English translation services. School officials can also permit device use if it’s for educational purposes. SB 2427 passed the House Education Policy Committee unanimously and now heads to the House Floor.
HB 228 (Morgan), which bans hidden junk fees in Illinois, advanced out of the House Consumer Protection Committee by a vote of 6 -3 and now heads to the House Floor. The measure is part of Governor Pritzker’s Affordability Agenda.
HB 5319 (Katz Muhl) authorizes community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in high-need workforce areas. The bill, which unanimously passed by the House Executive Committee, now heads to the full House.
Below are other highlights from this week’s action:
· HB 2564 (Vella) attempts to make it easier for school districts to compensate teachers who step in to fill gaps caused by staffing shortages. The measure passed the House Personnel and Pensions Committee 8 – 3 and now heads to the full House
· HB 5045 (Mayfield) allows the State Treasurer to establish and administer a non-profit investment pool. This is an initiative of the State Treasurer; a previous version of the legislation was vetoed by Governor Pritzker last year. The sponsor and Treasurer worked with the Governor’s staff to address their previous concerns. HB 5045 passed the Senate Executive Committee unanimously and moves to the full House.
· HB 4233 (Briel) limits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to determine a patient’s priority in a hospital emergency room. The bill passed unanimously out of the House Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee and moves to the House Floor.
· HB 4416 (Evans) permits non-teacher school employees to receive unemployment benefits during summer breaks. This is the first time unemployment insurance legislation has bypassed the longstanding “Agreed Bill Process,” which previously brought labor and business together for negotiations. The AFL-CIO opted out of this process last fall. HB 4116 passed the House Labor Committee along partisan lines and now heads to the full House for further consideration.
· HB 1443 (Syed) creates a prescription drug affordability board, which the sponsor contends will help lower drug prices. The board would be tasked with reviewing the prices of brand-name drugs, biosimilar medications, and generic drugs, as well as the upper payment limits for what Illinois consumers pay for medications. Opponents, including the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), testified that such boards often fail to address the real drivers of patients’ costs, such as insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. They also argue prescription drug boards put unelected state bureaucrats, many with little to no clinical experience, between patients and their doctors, possibly reducing access to critical treatment. With the impending committee deadline, the Chair noted she would allow the bill to advance so that discussions could continue. The sponsor noted that she anticipates drafting an amendment, which will be returned to the committee for consideration. After two hours of debate, the measure passed the House Health Care Affordability and Accessibility Committee 8-4 and now heads to the full House.
· HB 5151 (Grasse) establishes the Automated License Plate Recognition System Act, setting statewide standards and regulations for when and how law enforcement agencies and government entities may use ALPRs. The sponsor pledged to hold the bill on 2nd Reading and work to address law enforcement concerns. HB 5151 passed out of the House Executive Committee by a vote of 8-4 and heads to the House Floor.
· HB 4725 (Hoffman) is an initiative of the Illinois Attorney General that strengthens the Attorney General’s Worker Protection Unit by granting it greater investigative authority, including powers to issue subpoenas, inspect workplaces, conduct employee interviews, and obtain search warrants to target businesses violating labor laws, such as wage theft or unsafe working conditions. The business community testified in opposition to the legislation, expressing concerns about the expansion of the power of the Attorney General’s Office. HB 4725 passed the House Executive Committee 8 – 3 and moves to the House Floor.
· HB 4966 (Cassidy)creates the SECURE Act, which enhances protections for youth in the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) care, including strengthening interstate placement procedures for youth aged 8 or older, prohibiting consent to conversion therapy, and ensuring access to lawful healthcare. The bill passed the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee by a vote of 8 -4 and moves to the full House.
· HB 4196 (DeLuca), as amended, requires local government boards (townships, park districts, municipalities, school districts, and community colleges) to vote to verify the validity of the itemized statement of all purchases made using an issued credit card in the preceding month. The legislation unanimously passed the House Executive Committee and heads to the full House.
· HB 5425 (Canty) creates the Natural Organic Reduction Regulation Act, legalizing and regulating “human composting” (natural organic reduction) as a funeral service. It establishes licensing for facilities, operational requirements, and procedures for turning human remains into soil. The sponsor pledged to continue working on a substantive amendment and to bring it back to the committee. The bill passed the House Energy and Environment Committee along partisan lines and now moves to the full House.
· HB 4263 (Tarver) provides that the regulation of the “tip credit” (a part of the hourly wage rate for tipped workers) is an exclusive power and function of the State, and that a home rule unit may not regulate it. The bill passed the House Labor Committee by a vote of 22-4 and now advances to the full House. The legislation is in direct response to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s attempt to regulate (and ultimately eliminate) the tip credit. Read more here.
· HB 3782 (Gonzalez) creates the Workplace Extreme Temperature Safety Act, which establishes statewide temperature-safety rules to protect employees who work in extreme temperatures. The bill passed the House Labor Committee along partisan lines and now heads to the full House.
· HFA # 4 to HB 2929 (Ford) establishes a pilot program for supervised overdose prevention sites (OPS) in Illinois, allowing individuals to consume pre-obtained substances under medical supervision to prevent fatal overdoses. The bill grants criminal and civil immunity to users and staff at these sites, aiming to connect users with treatment services. The House Mental Health and Addiction Committee approved the measure by a vote of 15 – 7, and the amendment now moves to the full House for consideration.
· HB 4039 (LaPointe) creates the Holistic Overdose Prevention and Equity (HOPE) Act, which attempts to bolster harm reduction in Illinois. The sponsor noted she is working on additional amendments to the legislation. The measure passed the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee by a vote of 15-7 and moves to the House floor.
· HB 1581 (Ammons) creates the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act, which establishes a new, data-driven funding formula to distribute state funds to public universities. The goal is to reduce funding disparities, increase accountability, and improve affordability for students by prioritizing funds for institutions with higher underfunded “adequacy gaps.” The bill passed the House Appropriations – Higher Education Committee 12 – 4 and moves to the full House. Read more here.
· HB 5070 (Williams) enacts a “federal backstop” in Illinois. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Illinois Pollution Control Board from adopting standards less stringent than existing state regulations and affirms the authority to enforce stricter standards than the federal EPA regarding air, water, and waste. The bill passed the House Energy and Environment Committee 18-9 and now heads to the full House.
· SB 2741 (Holmes) updates Illinois’ harassment laws to reflect today’s technology and the ways that technology is being used to harass victims. SB 2741 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee unanimously and moves to the full Senate.
Key 2026 Session Dates:
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:
Governor Hosts Housing Roundtable: Governor Pritzker gathered local officials, community members, and construction and business representatives in McLean County to discuss building more housing to lower costs. During the roundtable, the Governor heard from local leaders and discussed how his Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) proposal can help make renting and owning homes more affordable in one of downstate Illinois’ fastest-growing regions and throughout the state. Read more here.
IDOT Hosting Workshops: The Illinois Department of Transportation is organizing 11 workshops statewide to help local governments and communities understand and apply for funding from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. These workshops are part of IDOT’s Special Programs Assistance Conferences and will feature group presentations on the first day, followed by one-on-one appointments and networking sessions throughout the remainder of the event. Read more here.
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority: Governor Pritzker’s Lt. Governor running mate, Christian Mitchell, resigned from the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. Sol Flores was appointed to replace Mitchell. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Knight Impact Partners, a philanthropic organization that supports community-centered initiatives rooted in justice and equity in Chicago. Previously, Flores served as Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services in the Pritzker Administration, overseeing 10 state agencies and commissions with over 20,000 employees.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is relaunching the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience (I-COVER) Program to promote the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques and/or technology.
Illinois Department of Agriculture Launches I-Cover Program: The Illinois Department of Agriculture received a $7 million grant from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to initiate a new program. This initiative aims to provide financial incentives and cost-sharing opportunities for producers and landowners who are adopting cover crops for the first time or implementing new methods for earlier establishment of these crops. The I-COVER program will run for three years, focusing on cover crops planted in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Read more here.
OTHER NEWS:
Google Faces Class Action Lawsuit in Illinois: Google is facing a class action lawsuit filed in Cook County, Illinois, for violations of the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The suit, filed by McGuire Law P.C. on behalf of plaintiff John Adams, alleges that Google illegally scanned the faces of individuals in photos uploaded for editing through its Gemini AI platform. The attorneys are seeking to expand the lawsuit to potentially thousands of Illinois residents who have used Gemini since its launch three years ago. It claims that Gemini allows users to upload photos and modify them using natural-language prompts, without adequately informing users about how their biometric data would be collected and used. Read more here.
ICC Issues Supplier Diversity Report: The Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Diversity and Community Affairs’ 2025 Annual Report indicates that the state’s largest investor-owned utilities spent over $1.7 billion with diverse suppliers, representing nearly 35% of their total spending. Some utilities achieved up to 43% in diverse spending. The report analyzes data from a decade of reports from Illinois’ six largest utilities: Ameren Illinois, Aqua Illinois, Commonwealth Edison, Illinois American Water, Nicor Gas Company, and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas Company. These utilities are required by law to report their annual supplier diversity efforts and future procurement plans to the ICC. Read more here.
NITA Request for Proposal Issued: The Illinois Department of Transportation has issued a Request for Proposal for firms to assist with the transition to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA). The selected firm will provide expertise and guidance to centralize functions and improve efficiencies among the CTA, Metra, and Pace. Responsibilities include advising on the organizational design, assisting with the onboarding of NITA board members, supporting the search for an executive director, and creating an implementation roadmap for the NITA Act. The process will involve extensive stakeholder engagement and will culminate in a report with actionable recommendations for the governor and the General Assembly in 2027.
MARS Snacking Announces Expansion: Mars Snacking is expanding its global headquarters in Chicago, creating 600 new jobs and incorporating its North America Region, Accelerator Division, and Global Functions into the operation. This investment shows the company’s commitment to Chicago as a key hub for innovation and business growth. A new regional office will open in the Fulton Market district, accommodating over 1,000 Associates, while the Accelerator division will set up a global office in downtown Chicago. Overall, Mars Snacking supports more than 4,000 jobs in the region and boasts over 20 iconic brands alongside its Global Innovation Center. Read more here.
Attorneys General File Lawsuit Against USDA: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of 21 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for allegedly imposing illegal and unconstitutional conditions on USDA programs and funding related to immigration, diversity, equity, and gender identity. The lawsuit seeks to prevent these conditions from affecting essential USDA programs, including school lunches and food assistance, that serve millions of vulnerable residents in Illinois. In particular, TEFAP – The Emergency Food Assistance Program – is highlighted for providing nutritious food to those in need, especially in rural areas. Read more here.
CTA Red Line Extension: A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation must release over $3 billion that it had been withholding from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for the Red Line extension and other projects. The funds were frozen since last October while the government investigated the CTA’s contracting practices for discrimination. The CTA filed a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation, arguing that the funding freeze threatened the long-planned Red Line extension to 130th Street and the Red-Purple Line Modernization program, which had secured a legal commitment for $2 billion in federal funds before the end of the previous administration. Read more here.
ICC Approves Funding for Rail Safety Improvements: The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2027-2031) to implement life-saving safety upgrades at highway-rail crossings. The plan authorizes $376 million in funding for grade crossing safety improvements and highway-rail grade separations at approximately 387 crossing locations. More information is here.