Grace Kinnicutt – Capitol News Illinois

Illinois House Republican Floor Leader Mark Batinick, a self-described “policy guy,” came to Springfield with the goal of pushing good policy.

House Majority Leader Greg Harris, the number two Democrat in the Illinois House of Representatives, said he never imagined landing the role of state representative — or that he would leave office feeling that he has been successful at it.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Friday that is aimed at cracking down on high-profile “smash-and-grabs” and other organized retail theft.

“It’s long past time for this nation to codify Roe into federal law,” Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday. “Basic rights of women to control their own bodies are about to be stripped away.”

Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats warned of an “end to the constitutional right to privacy” if a leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the 1973 landmark decision in Roe v. Wade becomes finalized as precedent.

House Bill 1091, which will still need approval from the governor to become law, defines “organized retail crime” in state law with the intent of reducing offenders’ ability to avoid prosecution.

Illinois Senate Democrats unveiled legislation Tuesday to address the increase in carjackings by protecting victims and providing additional resources to law enforcement in targeting and capturing offenders.

The Illinois House advanced a measure that aims to ensure nursing home patients have a right to visitors even amid a public health emergency.

Illinois law already protects the right to an abortion as health care, but the bill is aimed at protecting health care providers who practice in multiple states

Offenses of organized retail crime could be sentenced at various felony that could include restitution, according to a new bill in the Illinois House

Gov. JB Pritzker announced the launch of an initiative to improve behavioral and mental health services for children.

The bill would provide a living wage job creation program for up to 20,000 formerly incarcerated workers for the duration a five-year pilot incentive period, which would begin on March 1, 2023

The Illinois House amended COVID-19 protocols Tuesday, lifting face covering requirements following weeks of pushback from Republican members who sometimes refused to wear masks and delayed the start of session on several occasions

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly outlined the department’s efforts and a proposed response to expressway shootings during a Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force hearing

The Illinois House passed a bill that would reimburse public school teachers for tuition and mandatory fees paid to a public institution of higher education.