Posts Tagged ‘capitol news illinois’
New year, new laws
In 2025, Illinois lawmakers passed over 460 new laws. Courtesy of Capitol News Illinois and illinoislegalaid.org, below are several key laws going into effect in 2026. Unless otherwise noted, these…
Read MorePantries brace for SNAP shutdown
An abrupt end to SNAP benefits amid the federal government shutdown has sparked concerns for food-insecure households throughout the country, with food pantries nationally and locally preparing to shoulder as…
Read MoreMany towns enact local grocery tax
Illinois will stop levying a statewide grocery tax on Jan. 1, but millions of people throughout the state will continue paying it locally. Data compiled by the Illinois Municipal League…
Read MoreBost challenges mail-in voting
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this month in a case that could decide whether political candidates have the right to challenge Illinois’ vote-by-mail law in court. U.S. Rep.…
Read MoreDarren Bailey to run for governor
Darren Bailey plans to run for governor in 2026, Capitol News Illinois reported Tuesday. The former state senator and farmer from Clay County would become the highest-profile Republican to enter…
Read MoreNew gun safety, tracking laws in Illinois
Gun owners in Illinois will soon be required to take additional measures to keep their weapons out of the hands of children under a new law signed July 28 by…
Read MoreSchool mental health screenings coming soon
Illinois public school students could soon receive free mental health screenings each year. Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1560 on July 31, which would require the Illinois State Board…
Read MoreFederal spending law makes waves
The massive domestic policy law known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, and as much of the act’s…
Read MoreHuman trafficking an added LPR focus
A bill passed in this year’s legislative session would rewrite the definition of a “forcible felony” to allow Illinois State Police to use images obtained from automatic license plate readers…
Read MoreState passes $55B budget
Giving almost no time for public review, Illinois Democrats pushed through a budget for next fiscal year late Saturday, bolstering state coffers with new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products…
Read MoreSen. Durbin retiring
Longtime Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. Senate, announced last Wednesday he will retire after his term ends in January 2027. “I truly love the…
Read More‘Right to Play’ bill advances in Springfield
The Illinois House gave its approval recently to legislation that would give high school athletes a limited right to compete in non-school events or on non-school teams during the same…
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