Illinois General Assembly
State Government: Elected Officials | State Legislative Bodies
Recent News About Illinois General Assembly
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Pension payments likely to continue even in case of Illinois government shutdown
What could happen with pension payments in the aftermath of a government shutdown is the “law school hypothetical from hell,” said one labor lawyer in the wake of the Illinois attorney general's legal play to break the budget impasse. -
Reform or distraction: Chicago sports teams seek workers comp changes for athletes in budget deal
With the state's financial situation hinging in part on a deal to reform some state worker's compensation rules, Chicago's major pro sports franchises have jumped in, seeking a measure allowing them to stop paying workers comp to athletes at age 35. The teams say it's necessary to change rules that bear no resemblance to the realities of their business, and allow athletes who play for teams in other states with less generous workers comp systems the chance to "forum shop." -
Illinois' bailout bill for two Exelon power plants unique, unprecedented, needed more review, attorney says
In early December, Democrats and Republicans in Springfield, including Gov. Bruce Rauner, agreed on an energy bailout bill in the Legislature to keep two Exelon nuclear generator plants operating at a cost of as much as $4.54 per month per Illinois ratepayer. But a Chicago lawyer who has advised industrial businesses and governments on energy-related issues for more than two decades said the 503-page bailout bill, which rewrote major provisions of both the Illinois Public Utilities Act and the Illinois Power Agency Act, should have received a more thorough review before becoming law. -
IL Supreme Court mulls legality of hospital property tax exemptions; could await better test case
The Illinois Supreme Court could soon decide whether hospitals in Illinois should be allowed to avoid paying property taxes, or whether a state law used to grant them tax exemptions should be declared unconstitutional. Or the court could simply sidestep the matter for now, and instead await the arrival of a different case better suited for addressing the sticky legal questions. -
Appeals court: IL didn't overstep in cutting nursing homes' Medicaid pay; homes can't sue in Cook courts
A Chicago appellate panel has affirmed a lower court finding that a suit lodged by scores of nursing homes, alleging Illinois state government excessively cut its Medicaid reimbursements to the nursing facilities, should be pursued in the Illinois Court of Claims rather than Cook County Circuit Court, because the state did not overstep its authority as to how it calculated the reductions. -
IL appeals panel breaks with colleagues, says hospital tax exemptions constitutional
Even as they noted their decision conflicts with the findings of their colleagues in Springfield, a panel of state appeals court justices in Chicago has ruled the Illinois law exempting nonprofit hospitals from property taxes is, indeed, constitutional. -
Automatic voter registration bill dies in Illinois House after veto, but similar legislation could follow
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill that would automatically register voters across Illinois has held up in the General Assembly, leaving unclear whether such a bill can secure enough votes to become law amid the current political environment. -
Legislators may override governor's veto of plan to automatically sign up voters
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois legislators are looking to make voting even easier by overriding the governor’s veto of a bill designed to register voters when they apply for driver’s licenses. -
Voters OK'd term limits for their towns, but barriers make applying limits statewide difficult
On Election Day, four Cook County communities took action on an issue that many voters in Illinois want to see addressed on a much larger scale: term limits. -
Illinois employers could be fined for asking employee to like or retweet employer social media posts
Illinois employers who try to boost their social media presence by having employees participate in their Facebook, Twitter and other online activities should reconsider that practice, a labor and employment attorney said during a recent interview. -
IL Supreme Court rejection of law to reduce jury size sheds light on key legal, justice principles
As he was about to leave office, former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a bill, strongly supported by the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, that would have reduced the number of jurors in state civil trials from 12 to six. On Sept. 22, the Illinois Supreme Court rescinded the law in a unanimous 5-0 vote, declaring unconstitutional the law, which would have had deep implications for the state's civil justice system. -
Illinois governments would face large legislative hurdle to follow Detroit's path on bankruptcy, pension cuts
A federal appeals court in Ohio has upheld a ruling rejecting claims that Detroit retirees’ pensions were unfairly cut, demonstrating that declaring bankruptcy may be a viable, if extreme, way to deal with a city’s overwhelming pension obligation. -
Ex-Gov. Quinn joins legal actions to overturn state law letting mayor choose Chicago school board
Former Gov. Pat Quinn has joined state and federal lawsuits aiming to change the way Chicago Public Schools Board members are selected, saying state law giving the mayor of Chicago, and not voters, the power to select the Chicago Board of Education violates voters’ and taxpayers’ rights under the U.S. and Illinois constitutions. -
Election Day voter registration cleared for IL this November; judges refuse to rush appeal
Election Day voter registration will be allowed this November at all polling places in Cook County and Illinois’ other more populated counties, after a federal appeals court refused to speed up proceedings in the case, pushing briefing in the matter back to Nov. 10, two days after Election Day. -
Judge slaps down Illinois Election Day voter registration system, saying it dilutes rural citizens' rights
A federal judge has prohibited Illinois’ most populated counties from continuing to register voters at polling places on Election Day, saying the way the system is currently set up in the state violates the rights of people voting in Illinois’ more rural regions. -
New laws requiring greater accommodation of pregnant workers, may require employers to shift mindset
Pregnant workers are getting some relief as more states pass legislation to prevent discrimination in the workplace in addition to providing accommodations during their pregnancy. -
IL high court's remap rehearing denial erects 'roadblock that seems insurmountable' to reform: Dissent
Saying the Illinois Supreme Court missed out on an opportunity to provide helpful guidance to citizens seeking to exercise their constitutional rights, as well as to more fully explain its decision in light of longstanding precedent, the man who will serve as the court’s next chief justice, together with two of his colleagues on the state high court, teed off on the court majority’s decision to simply deny a request to rehear arguments over a proposed amendment intended to rewrite the ways Illin -
Karmeier selected to serve as next chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court
Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier will be the next chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. -
Campaign finance ruling to be appealed
A recent U.S. District Court ruling that denied a challenge to state limits on campaign contributions is being appealed. -
'Dennis’ Law' reinforces existing traffic rights of bicyclists under IL law, Chicago attorney, advocate says
Legislation signed into law last month reinforces the legal understanding that bicyclists have the same right-of-way traffic rights as any other vehicle - rights they already had, said a Chicago attorney who maintains a popular cycling advocacy website.