104th ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly remains on summer break. Both chambers return in October for a two-week Veto Session.
Upcoming Committee Hearings: The House has scheduled two subject matter hearings for September. The House International Relations, Tourism, and Trade Committee will hold a hearing on September 16 at 12:30 pm in the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss how Illinois can respond and lead on tariff policy. The hearing will also be conducted virtually. The hearing can be accessed here.
The House Gun Violence Prevention Committee will hold a hearing on September 22 at 11:00 am in the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss gun violence prevention and community violence intervention.
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Illinois Braces for Federal Immigration Enforcement: Governor J.B. Pritzker indicates he is anticipating federal actions by the weekend as local officials prepare for the arrival of approximately 300 immigration agents. Local law enforcement near the Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago met with federal authorities, who briefed them on Wednesday morning about the agents’ impending arrival and the possibility of deploying the National Guard. Gregory Jackson, chief of staff for North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr., reported that the officers will be staying in hotels in Waukegan, Gurnee, and potentially other nearby communities. National Guard troops will be utilized, similar to their deployment in Los Angeles, to protect federal buildings, according to Jackson.
The Governor believes that immigration raids are being strategically timed to coincide with Mexican Independence Day celebrations. He advises attendees to be aware of their rights, exercise caution, and be prepared for potential ICE presence. He encourages people to document any raids using their phones and to protest against them, ensuring that the media is made aware of the situation. Read more here, here, and here.
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Illinois Financial Aid Law: The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and the state, arguing that offering in-state tuition and scholarships to undocumented students unlawfully discriminates against U.S. citizens. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “Under federal law, schools cannot grant benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens.” She added, “This Department of Justice has already taken action through multiple lawsuits to prevent U.S. students from being treated as second-class citizens — Illinois joins other states we are actively defending federal law against.” Read more here.
IDOL Opposes Federal Rollback of Minimum Wage Protections: The Illinois Department of Labor opposes the Trump administration’s proposed changes to federal minimum wage and overtime protections for home health care workers, which could lead to lower pay and greater wage disparities. On September 2, 2025, Illinois joined Pennsylvania and other states in opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to domestic service. The administration’s actions threaten to strip safeguards that ensure these workers receive at least the federal minimum wage in an industry prone to wage theft and exploitation. Read more here.
Funding Available to Address Emerging Contaminants: The Illinois EPA launched the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program, which offers over $40 million for projects that tackle emerging contaminants like PFAS or Manganese in drinking and source water. This funding is specifically designed to support small or disadvantaged communities with water safety-related construction projects. Read more here.
Gubernatorial Appointments: Governor Pritzker made two appointments to the Prisoner Review Board. Timothy Nugent and Tracy Buckley were both appointed to serve as members of the Prisoner Review Board. Pritzker also reappointed Michelle Gibson to serve as a member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
OTHER NEWS:
Election Update: Below are highlights from this week’s candidate announcements:
13th Congressional District: Dylan Blaha will challenge Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski in the Democratic primary. Blaha served 12 years in the Illinois Army National Guard.
33rd Senate District: Two more Republicans announced their plans to seek the nomination to replace retiring Republican Senator Don DeWitte. Cody Holt, a conservative activist and former U-46 School Board member, along with Elburn Trustee Chris Hansen, both plan to seek the Republican nomination in this open district.
47th House District: Republican Robert Vrankovich announced his campaign for State Representative in the 47th Legislative District, which is currently represented by Republican Representative Amy Grant, who is not seeking reelection. This will be a top target district. Grant won by just 292 votes in 2024.
52nd House District: Jesse Rojo, a U.S. Army veteran and policy advocate, announced that he is withdrawing from the Democratic primary race for the 52nd House District seat currently held by Republican Representative Martin McLaughlin. Rojo is endorsing Erin Chan Ding, a recently reelected member of the Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board. With Rojo’s departure, Chan Ding and Maria Peterson, the vice chair of the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals, remain as the two candidates in the Democratic primary.
53rd House District: Elizabeth Bauer will seek the Republican nomination for the 53rd District seat in March 2026. The post is now held by first-term Democrat Representative Nicolle Grasse.
112th House District: Republican Jimmy Ford, a community leader and small-business owner, announced he will challenge Representative Katie Stuart in the November 2026 election.
Chicago Board of Education Approves Budget: The Chicago Board of Education approved the Chicago Public Schools’ 2025-26 budget with a 12-7 vote and one abstention, rejecting a proposal to take out a $200 million high-interest loan despite Mayor Brandon Johnson’s push for borrowing to address a significant funding gap. Read more here.
Appeals Court Upholds Ban on Concealed Weapons on Mass Transit: A federal appeals court upheld Illinois’ ban on concealed weapons on public transportation, reversing a previous ruling that deemed the law unconstitutional. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asserted that the Second Amendment does not prevent lawmakers from implementing regulations to keep public transit safe from firearms. The case arose from a lawsuit filed in 2022 by four concealed carry permit holders who argued the law hindered their ability to defend themselves while using the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra. Read more here.
AG Raoul Files Brief Opposing No-Bond immigration Detention Policy: Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief against a new federal policy by the Department of Homeland Security that mandates the indefinite detention of many undocumented immigrants without the option for a bond hearing. The brief, submitted in the case Bautista v. Noem, argues that this policy violates due process and federal laws, and harms families and communities. Previously, immigrants in removal proceedings could request bond hearings, but according to the attorneys general, the new policy removes this right for those who entered without inspection, leading to prolonged confinement in poor conditions. Read more here.