Illinois General Assembly
State Government: Elected Officials | State Legislative Bodies
Recent News About Illinois General Assembly
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Did IL state lawmakers unconstitutionally borrow billions of dollars? IL Supreme Court to decide
Lawyers for the state and for one of Illinois' more prominent conservative taxpayers argued before the Illinois Supreme Court over whether taxpayers have the right at all to challenge state lawmakers' borrowing practices in court. -
Illinois legislature should strip Gov. Pritzker of his COVID emergency powers
The Illinois legislature’s biggest failure during the pandemic has been its complete abdication of responsibility over the management of the pandemic itself, Wirepoints argues in a new opinion piece. -
Cozen O’Connor’s Patrick Martin Named to Board of Directors of Rainbows for All Children
Patrick Martin, Principal and Midwest Director of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, has been named to the Board of Directors of Rainbows for All Children, a national non-profit organization based in suburban Chicago, focused on providing support for children navigating trauma or loss. -
'Bringing balance back': Reforms could be coming to IL biometrics law used to 'extort' IL employers, advocates say
A proposal to reform provisions in the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act used for years by lawyers to target employers over technical violations of the law, drew rare bipartisan support in an Illinois state House committee vote on March 9. -
Moody's report: Illinois pension debt reaches record high $317 billion
Illinois worst-in-the-nation public pension debt grew 19% year over year. It will continue hurting the state economy and job growth, driving more people out of Illinois, unless there are reforms. -
Cook County transportation taxes not subject to IL transportation lockbox amendment: Appeals court
A three-justice panel of the Illinois First District Appellate Court ruled the Safe Roads Amendment's limits on how transportation dollars can be spent doesn't apply to Cook County and other units of home rule local government in Illinois. -
Let’s not let this crisis go to waste
If anything good can be said about the COVID crisis, it may be that it has forced many of us to consider alternatives to the way we were living our lives, most especially with regard to how we do our jobs and how we educate our children. -
Welch 'steps back' from partner role at Ancel Glink, becomes 'Of Counsel;' What does change mean?
New Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch has taken on the role of 'Of Counsel' at the Ancel Glink law firm, but the continuing relationship with the firm that represents local governments across Illinois could raise questions. -
Compulsory political ideology for Illinois teachers moves closer to finalization
A proposal pending in Springfield could change the rules for Illinois teachers, forcing them to uphold and teach "woke" progressive political positions in Illinois classrooms or risk losing their licenses. -
Illinois lawmakers hand Pritzker another tax loss, pass Chicago pension hike
Lame duck session was busy even when House Democrats weren’t focused on replacing Mike Madigan as speaker. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s small business tax hike died as 23 bills were passed, including one making Chicago’s pension woes worse. -
Reform advocates hope change in IL Speaker's office brings more than just new tone
Those who represent businesses and employers in Illinois say they hope the switch from former Speaker Madigan to Speaker Chris Welch will help create opportunities for cooperation and reform, despite Welch's lockstep support for Madigan through his legislative career. -
IL Dems appear to prioritize 'gift' for trial lawyers over business COVID relief: ATRA
The American Tort Reform Association is asking Illinois lawmarkers and Gov. JB Pritzker to reject what it calls the attempt by Speaker Michael Madigan to dole out a "parting gift" to his trial lawyer friends while businesses struggle to survive amid COVID-19 and state restrictions. -
Illinois House passes bill increasing pre-judgment interest for personal injury plaintiffs
House Bill 3360, sponsored by Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and Rep. Marcus Evans, Jr. (D-Chicago), would lengthen the pre-judgment interest accrual period to when an alleged wrongdoer has notice of the injury versus when a plaintiff files suit. -
Madigan continues to rake in donations from trial lawyers, despite federal corruption probe
State campaign finance disclosures reveal trial lawyers, their firms and political lobbying groups have donated more than $175,000 to Madigan's two campaign organizations since Sept. 30. -
Citizens Utility Board, Edelson firm join class action court fight vs ComEd for Madigan bribery scheme
A federal judge granted CUB, with its lawyers from the firm of Edelson P.C., permission to gain a stake in any judgments or settlements offered by ComEd to resolve at least two class actions on behalf of the utility's customers, arising from the utility's role in a bribery conspiracy with the political machine of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. -
Springfield judge guts S. IL judge's order blocking Pritzker's COVID shutdown orders
The ruling undoes a court win secured by State Rep. Darren Bailey in his legal challenge against Gov. JB Pritzker's use of emergency powers in the name of fighting COVID-19. -
'Out in the cold, without legal redress:' Geneva restaurant asks IL high court to limit Pritzker's COVID shutdown powers
Owners of FoxFire restaurant in Geneva have asked the Illinois Supreme Court for permission to appeal a state appellate court's ruling that has been used to shoot down challenges to Gov. JB Pritzker's COVID-19 shutdown orders. -
Air monitoring for five Illinois cities to be considered by lawmakers at JCAR hearing
Illinois lawmakers will consider a requirement that ambient air in or around five cities be monitored for ethylene oxide levels during a meeting of the the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) Tuesday morning. -
IL Supreme Court to decide if taxpayer can sue state over constitutionality of $14B bond issues
The Illinois Supreme Court granted the Illinois Attorney General's petition to appeal a lower court's ruling that a taxpayer should be allowed to move ahead with a lawsuit accusing state lawmakers of borrowing $14 billion to pay pensions and overdue bills in violation of state constitutional limits. -
Split appeals panel says Deerfield assault weapons ban passes muster, can be enforced
The decision overturned a Lake County judge's ruling in favor of gun owners and Second Amendment rights groups, though it did still block the village from regulating "large capacity magazines."