Illinois General Assembly

For the second legislative session in a row, state Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago, is pushing to ban several chemicals from Illinois food items.

Foster care officials will have to prioritize placing children with their relatives under a new law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday.

Republican lawmakers put forward a proposal to expel students who sexually assault another student at school.

With prescription drug costs soaring, Illinois lawmakers announced legislation this week reviving efforts to create a prescription drug affordability board with the goal of capping the growing cost of medication.

It was a well-known aphorism during former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s record 36 years in power that while others in the state’s political realm were merely playing checkers, the longtime Democratic powerbroker was playing chess.

When shortform video platform TikTok shut down service earlier this month, the move surprised some Illinois politicians who use the app to educate, reach constituents and follow trends.

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin says he's interested in filling the Illinois Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dan McConchie, who has announced his plan to step down.

Jurors hearing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s trial are finally scheduled to begin deliberations Wednesday afternoon more than three months after testimony in the case began.

Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Illinois House thanks to illegally gerrymandered House districts, House Republicans allege in a new lawsuit filed with the Illinois Supreme Court Tuesday.

Illinois lawmakers kicked off their spring legislative session roughly three weeks ago, but lawmakers in the House have already filed more than 1,800 bills that could be acted on before the General Assembly adjourns in May.

Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods will resign effective Sunday, Feb. 2, after nearly nine years of service. Several Democrats are said to be eyeing his 26th District seat, which will be up for election next year.

Federal prosecutors continued their closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, accusing the longtime Democratic powerbroker of using Chicago Ald. Danny Solis’ positions of power “to gain private benefits.”

As prosecutors began their closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, they accused the longtime Democratic powerbroker of lying to the jury when he testified in his own defense earlier this month.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying less than the minimum wage to workers with disabilities.

When state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch was sworn in for another term as speaker of the Illinois House this month, he called on his colleagues to “rise to the occasion” and confront the moment that faced them.

McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman says state law limits his office’s ability to work with ICE on the mass deportations that President-elect Donald Trump has promised.

Revenue returns remain on track halfway through Illinois’ budget year, though it’s next year that is causing concern in the Capitol

Amid a $770 million budget gap facing Metra, Pace and the CTA, and a proposal to merge the three into a supersized agency, Regional Transportation Authority leaders have issued their own transit rescue plan.

With homelessness increasing in Illinois, a coalition of shelter providers and advocates is calling for a $100 million increase in state funding to prevent homelessness and provide shelter to people without homes

A measure awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature will help protect transgender people and victims of domestic violence who seek to change their names, according to its proponents

Illinoisans can now vote on whether they want a new state flag

Lawmakers in Springfield approved a measure that aims to protect warehouse workers whose workdays center on hitting quotas.

Lawmakers this week passed a bill aimed at boosting the development of renewable energy generation, but its proponents said the final measure was a “skinny” version of what they had hoped to pass

"Karina's bill" clarifies that local law enforcement must temporarily remove guns from a person who has an order of protection against them when the alleged victim successfully seeks firearm removal as a remedy in court

A bill soon heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk would direct foster care officials in Illinois to prioritize placing children with relatives

Illinois lawmakers in early January could consider easing requirements for residents to change their names, a move proponents say will reduce risks for victims of domestic abuse, transgender residents and others

Changes that would make Illinois pension systems compliant with Social Security by improving benefits for government employees hired since 2011 could be on the table when lawmakers return to Springfield in January.

Here are official results for the 2024 November election for the DeKalb County circuit clerk, coroner, state's attorney, as well as DeKalb County Board, local legislative races and referendums.

Here are official results for the 2024 November election for the Kendall County Board, circuit court clerk, state's attorney and local legislative races, as well as the Sandwich treasurer referendum.

Here are official results for the November 2024 primary for the La Salle County Board and its chairperson, the La Salle County auditor, and the Bureau County state's attorney and coroner, as well as local judicial races and referendums.

Here are official results for the November 2024 for the Kane County Board, countywide offices and local legislative races, as well as several referendum questions.

For the second time in the span of seven months, then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called up Chicago Ald. Danny Solis after reading about a proposed real estate development in the alderman’s ward.

Then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis had already been cooperating with the FBI for a little more than a year in June 2017 when he received an unexpected voicemail from powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

A long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying subminimum wage to workers with disabilities will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk after being approved by the Senate

An Illinois Senate committee hit pause on a bill to ban carbon sequestration injections near aquifers after more than an hour of debate Wednesday

Illinois lawmakers returned to Springfield Tuesday for the first time since May following news earlier this month that they’re facing a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1

Preliminary, unofficial election results show no seats in the state House or Senate have changed party hands, although a few races remained too close to call according to the Associated Press

McHenry County-area icumbent Statehouse members, both Republican and Democrat, were leading their respective challengers.

State Rep. Suzanne Ness’ fourth annual diaper drive is underway and runs through Monday, Nov. 4, with dropoff spots throughout the 66th District she represents.

What policies would you support to ease the burden on Illinois taxpayers? Amy Briel: The repeal of the Illinois grocery tax was a good start to easing taxpayer burden and I believe we can do more by expanding the childcare tax credit

Peter Janko, the challenger in the Illinois House 69th District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Joe Sosnowski, incumbent Illinois House 69th District state representative, is seeking reelection and answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Liz Bishop: I support the general concept of Karina’s Bill to remove rearms from the possession of anyone having an order of protection against them, as well as from anyone who has had a FOID card revoked for any other reason.

Mary Mahady, the Democrat challenger in the Illinois House, 63rd District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Steve Reick, the incumbent Republican in the Illinois House, 63rd District, answers questions from the Northwest Herald.

Four years after Speaker Michael Madigan's stunning political fall, he will spend the next two months in a Chicago federal courtroom watching as his long-awaited corruption trial unfolds to determine whether he picks up another moniker: convicted felon.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Suzanne Ness: The data shows that the new system is working as was intended: those most considered a threat are being held regardless of ability to pay, and those who are not a threat, are released until their trial

What policies would you support to ease the burden onIllinois taxpayers? Candidate Laurie Parman: I believe that a good start to easing the tax burden for Illinois retired citizens would be to make a no-tax policy on social security.

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Maria Peterson: While it is too soon to make definitive pronouncements about the success SAFE-T Act, based on the data so far, we can be somewhat optimistic

How would you assess the SAFE-T Act? Maura Hirschauer: We have seen that the changes made in SAFE-T Act are working. Dangerous people are being held and kept off the streets.