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Archive for the ‘Capitol News Illinois’ Category

Cell-phone ban, loosening foreign language requirements among education bills to pass

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Education, School Districts, Springfield, Uncategorized on June 3, 2026| 1 Comment »

By Peter Hancock | Capitol News Illinois

Article Summary

  • Several educations measures were among the hundreds of bills that cleared the General Assembly before it adjourned on June 1.
  • Schools will have to adopt policies next year banning cell phones in the classroom under a bill Gov. JB Pritzker says he will sign.
  • Another measure allows students to fulfill foreign language requirements by taking career and technical education courses.
  • Lawmakers also expanded in-state tuition and amended child care licensing laws.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

Read the full article here.

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Illinois lawmakers fail to pass Bears bill despite goal line push

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield on June 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski | Capitol News Illinois

Despite a Hail Mary heave from the Illinois Senate in the final hours of the spring legislative session, state lawmakers ultimately failed to reach the end zone on a bill incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in Illinois.

The Senate voted to approve the amended measure 37-17 with bipartisan support around 3:30 a.m. Monday morning after working through the night. Acknowledging the late hour, Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, the bill’s sponsor, said just before the vote that “some of the best, most memorable victories have been in double or triple overtime.”

But across the rotunda nearly an hour later, the House adjourned without taking up the Senate proposal. House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, told members that “there’s a lot of work still ahead of us.”

“We’ll continue discussions on a number of issues, including our approach to the Bears stadium question, this summer,” Welch said.

In a brief interview with Capitol News Illinois after the House adjourned, Welch said he believes the legislature will tackle the stadium question “sooner than later,” but not in a special session. He also defended the decision not to move forward with a vote on the hastily crafted bill.

“I think our caucus is used to processes,” Welch said. “Our caucus is used to taking our time and doing it right.”

But in a statement released minutes later, the Bears said they have no plans to adjust their timeline for deciding on a future home. The team has a standing offer from Indiana to move across the state line to Hammond.

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POWER Act data center regulation won’t move forward this spring

Posted in AI, Capitol News Illinois, Data Center, Politics, Springfield on May 31, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, and Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, speak at a rally for the POWER Act, a bill regulating data centers, about the bill’s next steps after the session ends. | Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock

By Nikoel Hytrek and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR)

Article Summary

  • The POWER Act, an expansive bill to regulate data centers, will not pass the General Assembly this spring, but the bill’s leaders say the measure isn’t dead and negotiations will continue through the summer.
  • In the meantime, they and other lawmakers who have signed onto the POWER Act said the legislature should pause data center tax credits that have been in place since 2019.
  • According to a 2024 report, at least 27 data centers had received incentives totaling $983 million in estimated lifetime tax breaks and benefits.
  • Lawmakers said negotiations will include multiple stakeholders, from utility companies to energy advocacy groups, labor unions and the data center lobby.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

Read the article here.

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Illinois lawmakers pass “landmark” AI accountability bill

Posted in AI, Capitol News Illinois, Politics, Springfield on May 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove | Capitol News Illinois photo Jenna Schweikert

By Jenna Schweikert and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR)

Article Summary

  • Illinois House lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that would regulate how the largest artificial intelligence companies report on the capabilities of their models.
  • The bill, which passed the Senate last week, requires large developers to create and publish a framework detailing how to company handles model capabilities.
  • The bill is modeled after laws in New York and California, with Illinois lawmakers hoping to take the “de facto” national standard one state further as it heads to the governor.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

Read the full article here.

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Illinois lawmakers considering ban on guns like Glocks

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Politics, Springfield on May 21, 2026| 1 Comment »

AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File

By Ben Szalinski | Capitol News Illinois

Article Summary

  • One of the nation’s most popular types of firearms could be subject to a new Illinois ban.
  • Lawmakers unveiled a new bill that opponents say would focus on Glock pistols and other guns that have certain trigger bars.
  • Supporters of the bill say the guns are easily converted into “machine guns.”
  • A similar California law is already being challenged in court.
  • The measure still needs approval from both houses of the legislature and the governor.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

Read the full article here.

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Pritzker’s affordable housing plan gets Senate hearing as municipalities remain opposed

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Elections, Fat Bastard, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Unions, Village Code, Zoning Board on April 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »


New homes are shown under construction in Wheeling, Illinois, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

By Aidan Klineman and Medill Illinois News Bureau

Article Summary

  • The Senate Executive Committee heard nearly three hours of testimony on Gov. JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan for more affordable housing in Illinois.
  • Proponents of BUILD argued that the primary driver of the current housing affordability crisis is a lack of supply caused by legislative hurdles and different municipal priorities.
  • Opponents argued that BUILD infringes on local authority and imposes a “one-size-fits-all” approach to residential zoning.

Read the full article here.

Related: “Village of Barrington President shares perspectives on Pritzker’s BUILD plans,” “(Ignoring public opinion) Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers,” “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”

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Millionaire tax amendment fails to gain enough support from House Democrats

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Springfield, Taxes on April 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago | Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki

By Ben Szalinski | Capitol News Illinois

A “millionaire tax” proposal floated in the Illinois House failed to gain enough traction in Springfield this week, making it increasingly unlikely that voters will be asked to approve the measure in November.

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, confirmed to reporters on Wednesday night that the constitutional amendment proposed by Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, was not going to be called for a vote this week. The House is not scheduled to be in after Thursday before the May 3 deadline to put constitutional amendments on the November ballot.

“Everyone knows it needs a lot more work,” Welch said. “There were a lot of questions that people had and they deserve to have those answers to those questions.”

Increasing taxes on millionaires was a priority for Welch and many progressives in Springfield, but the speaker said it didn’t have the votes to pass the House. Constitutional amendments require a 71-vote super majority in the chamber and the proposal was deeply unpopular with Republicans, meaning at least 71 of the House’s 78 Democrats would need to push it out to the Senate.

“We were very close, very close,” Welch said. “But close is not enough and we’re committed to getting it right. We’re going to continue to work towards it.”

It could be a few years before lawmakers revisit the concept. The next deadline for approving constitutional amendments is early May 2028, six months ahead of the presidential election.

Article continues here.

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License suspension or speed control? Lawmakers explore alternative for reckless drivers

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Politics, Springfield, Taxes on April 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A LifeSafer intelligence speed assistance device installed in a vehicle. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)

By Ben Szalinski | Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois drivers who have their license suspended for speeding or reckless driving violations could have an alternative under legislation being considered in the Statehouse.

Rep. Marti Deuter, D-Elmhurst, is pushing a bill that would allow drivers to have a speed control device installed in their car rather than having their license suspended.

“Speeding is a chronic problem on our streets and is a threat to public safety,” Deuter told a House committee last month. “Speeding is a factor in nearly half of all deadly crashes. Risk of fatality increases as speed increases.”

Under House Bill 4948, drivers who have their license suspended following two infractions within 12 months for either reckless driving or speeding 26 mph or more over the speed limit would qualify to apply for a permit with the secretary of state’s office to join the program. If approved, they’d have to pay a $30 monthly fee to have the device installed in their car. Drivers would be required to use the device for one year after their first suspension, two years after their second suspension and three years after three or more suspensions.

Participants would still be subject to some prohibitions, however, such as driving a commercial vehicle or school bus.

“We know that the primary penalty for extreme or repeat speeders, which is license suspension or revocation, doesn’t work,” Deuter said. “Data indicates that about 75% of the people whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.”

The bill was approved unanimously by the committee but is still being negotiated before getting a full vote in the chamber.

Article continues here.

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Illinois lawmakers begin days of deep dives on data centers

Posted in AI, Capitol News Illinois, Data Center, Politics, Springfield on April 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Environmental advocates rally for greater data center regulation in Illinois at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)

By Nikoel Hytrek and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR)

SPRINGFIELD —Illinois lawmakers are digging deep on data centers, with a House committee hearing from mayors, labor groups, and agriculture representatives about the facilities’ local impacts in the first of three planned meetings.

Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, the chair of the House Executive Committee, said she wanted to hear about the benefits and challenges of data centers as the General Assembly considers regulations like the POWER Act.

“Whatever we do here, we have to put people first,” she said. “We have to put communities first. Data’s important, business is important, revenues are important, but people must come first.”

Water use, energy use, noise and how community benefit agreements are constructed were the primary concerns lawmakers wanted to address on Wednesday.

Generally, the speakers acknowledged data centers are part of a growing economy and are needed to support technology like AI, cloud computing and data storage used by various industries, from education to health care.

Some cautioned against regulation, saying it could dissuade companies from investing in Illinois while others aired different concerns they’ve encountered.

An Illinois Senate committee has two data center-related hearings scheduled for later this week as well. Environmental advocates on Wednesday also lobbied in the Capitol for data center regulation.

Story continues here.

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Waymo begins testing in Chicago as bill seeks to legalize autonomous vehicles

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, New Normal?, Public Safety, Unions on April 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A Waymo vehicle drives through Chicago’s Near North Side on March 20 as the company begins testing and mapping the city. (Medill Illinois News Bureau photo by Georgia Epiphaniou)

By Jacques Abou-Rizk and Medill Illinois News Bureau 

CHICAGO – In downtown Chicago, people have been spotting Google’s Waymo automated vehicles testing and mapping the Windy City’s streets. For now, the autonomous vehicles must be driven by a human, as the industry seeks the endorsement of state lawmakers.

For the last year, legislators in Springfield have been trying to work through a variety of issues raised by skeptics of the autonomous vehicles, known as AVs. Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said AV legislation has a long road ahead to address constituent concerns over safety, insurance and job losses for rideshare and cab drivers.

In January, he introduced the Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act, which would open counties in Illinois with over 1 million residents, as well as the counties of Sangamon, Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe, to automated commercial vehicles. But the bill has since been held up in the Rules Committee, an early step in the process that means it’s far from passage, especially in the current legislative session. Other bills supporting the industry also have yet to get the necessary support.

While Waymo has started testing its vehicles with safety drivers in Chicago, the company has not yet announced plans to bring the robotaxis to counties other than Cook, according to Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli.

Article continues here.

 

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