GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Department of Insurance Releases 2027 Plan Year Marketplace Rates: The Illinois Department of Insurance released 2027 rates for the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace. Illinoisans can choose among five health insurers. The statewide weighted average rate increase for individual plans is 14.1%, down from 28.8% last year. The ACA Illinois rates posted online are not the premiums consumers will actually pay. Insurer rates are used to calculate premiums after applying each consumer’s selected benefits. Read more here.
Illinois Marketplace Offers Special Enrollment: Illinois immigrants who lost Medicaid coverage on October 1 because of changes in federal law may enroll through a special enrollment period ending December 31, 2026. Eligible customers may also qualify for premium tax credits. Read more here.
Medical Debt Relief: Two years after launching the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program, the initiative has eliminated over $1.4 billion in medical debt for nearly 700,000 residents statewide. Illinois has exceeded its original goal of erasing $1 billion in medical debt by more than $400 million. The initiative has spent less than $10 million in state funds. Read more here.
National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $17 million to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for the expansion of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC). This funding includes $15 million from the State of Illinois and $2 million from the Illinois Corn Growers Association. The investment aims to enhance NCERC’s capacity, support bioproduct development, foster research partnerships, and stimulate workforce development in downstate Illinois. It is expected to boost the regional economy by creating jobs and stimulating construction, while also promoting growth at University Park at SIUE. Read more here.
IDNR Awards Stewardship Grants: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources awarded $697,816 in grants to support 14 stewardship programs managed by land trusts on land protected by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Read more here.
OTHER NEWS:
ICC Approves $139 Million Cut to Nicor Gas Rate Request: The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a settlement reducing Northern Illinois Gas Company’s proposed natural gas delivery rate increase by $139.2 million. The agreement cuts Nicor’s initial $221 million request by about 63% and sets its return on equity at 9.48%, below the requested 10.35%. Read more here.
Judge Dismisses Chicago Mayoral Candidate Court Case: Chicago mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan announced he will appeal a Cook County Circuit Court ruling in Quinlan v. Giannoulias, et al. His lawsuit seeks to prevent Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas from running for reelection on November 3 and for mayor of Chicago at the same time. Judge Eve M. Reilly found the claim premature and did not decide whether Illinois law permits candidates to seek two incompatible offices at the same time. Quinlan said the ruling addressed timing rather than the substance of his claim. He plans to appeal and seek a definitive decision before voters cast ballots on November 3. Read more here.
AG Sues U.S. Department of Labor for Halting Funding for UI Systems: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of 14 states, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Labor over its decision to terminate over $45 million in funding aimed at improving unemployment insurance systems and preventing fraud. Raoul emphasizes that Congress approved this funding to help states strengthen their programs and better combat fraud. The lawsuit targets a May 2025 decision by the Trump administration’s Department of Labor, which claimed the funding no longer aligned with its priorities. The Illinois Department of Employment Security had intended to use the funds for various improvements, including a user-friendly claims process and new anti-fraud measures. Read more here.
Judge Rules in Pullman Innovations Case: Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a temporary order halting odor-producing operations at the Pullman Innovations plant on Chicago’s Southeast Side, an area of environmental justice concern. The facility converts a commercial edible-oil by-product into ingredients for animal feed. In August, Raoul, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city of Chicago sued A-F Acquisition LLC, which operates as Pullman Innovations, alleging excessive odors, illegal air pollution, operation of an unpermitted boiler and violations of the facility’s operating permit. A Cook County Circuit Court judge granted a temporary restraining order suspending odor-producing operations until the next hearing on January 14, 2027, unless the facility first controls the odors and complies with environmental law. Read more here.
AG Seeks Consumer Protections in Charter.AI Bankruptcy: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general, filed a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the chatbot company Character.AI. Raoul’s filing raises concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and calls for protections for children and consumers in any sale of the company’s business or assets. Read more here.
AG Asks Court to Find Martin Shkreli in Contempt of Court: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of seven states and the FTC, has asked a federal judge to hold Martin Shkreli in contempt of court for violating a 2022 order barring him from participating in the pharmaceutical industry. Shkreli, who was convicted for illegal practices as CEO of Vyera Pharmaceuticals, is accused of trading pharmaceutical stocks and sharing his views on industry companies since his release from prison in May 2022. Read more here.
AG Opposes Revised Attempt to Loosen National Clean Water Protections: Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 18 attorneys general in opposing a proposed federal rule that would narrow Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands. The coalition argues that the proposal conflicts with federal law, applicable case law, and administrative requirements. Read more here.
Endeavor Health and Rush Announce Proposed Merger: Endeavor Health and Rush University System for Health plan to merge, potentially creating one of Illinois’s largest health systems. Under the proposed merger, all hospitals would incorporate “Rush” into their names by early 2027, pending regulatory approval. The combined system would include 12 hospitals, over 46,000 employees, and more than 400 care sites. Rush President and CEO Dr. Omar Lateef said the merger would improve patient care statewide, while Endeavor President J.P. Gallagher said the merger would increase access to care and add more outpatient sites. Read more here.
104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly remains adjourned un
til the call of the Presiding Officers. Veto Session is scheduled for November 17 – 19 and December 1 – 3.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any
or concerns.