Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) speaks during a news conference Wednesday.

House Republicans on Wednesday made another pitch for lawmakers to pass public safety legislation before session ends and continued to argue that legislation passed by the General Assembly last year is causing crime rates to rise in Illinois.

A bill that will bring vehicle emissions testing sites back to Chicago advanced to the governor’s desk on Wednesday. And volunteer firefighters are pushing lawmakers to a create a tax credit for them to help recruit more people to the profession.

Kenneth Tupy, left, Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville), center, and Oreal James, right, speak during the Senate Executive Appointments Committee Tuesday.

The Senate Executive Appointments Committee recommended four of Gov. JB Pritzker’s six nominees to the Prisoner Review Board (PRB) to the full Senate Tuesday about a year after they were first nominated by Pritzker. In a floor vote Tuesday afternoon, the Senate voted against one of the four members the committee recommended.

Senators advanced a series of bills designed to make it easier for retired teachers and student teachers to join the workforce. And a bill that would expand access to HIV care in the Black community advanced to the Senate floor for a final vote.

A map shows the new Illinois House districts across Chicago and much of northern Illinois. The 2022 Election is the first election using the new maps lawmakers passed in 2021. [Illinois House Democrats]  

Election Day is still more than seven months away, but the contest is already virtually over for nearly half the Illinois legislators up for reelection this year as 75 candidates — 74 of whom are incumbents — were the only person in either major political party to file to run for office.

Lawmakers are scheduled to be in session for all but two days through April 8.

Lawmaker are returning to Springfield Tuesday for the final three weeks of spring session and are looking to wrap up legislation in four key areas before they head home to begin their reelection campaigns.

This year’s session will end on April 8 , more than a month ahead of the traditional May 31 final day of session. After taking this coming weekend off, lawmakers will return on March 28 for 12 consecutive days of session.

Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) introduces legislation to prevent state investment accounts from holding assets based in Russia or Belarus.

The Illinois House is preparing to take up legislation that will allow the state to impose its own financial penalties on Russia and Belarus and to prepare for a potential influx of refugees from Ukraine.

Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island), left, and Illinois Manufactures’ Association CEO Mark Denzler, right, speak during the House Revenue and Finance Committee Thursday.

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to create an incentive package for microchip manufacturers in an attempt to attract the businesses to Illinois.

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) gives an update to reports Thursday about budget negotiations. [Blue Room]   

House Democrats are ready to begin crafting the state’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget, and their lead budget negotiator Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) said there are a lot of things Democrats like about Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal.

Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa), center, speaks during a news conference Thursday with Reps. David Welter (R-Morris), far left, Steve Recik (R-Woodstock) second left, and Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), right.   

It’s a problem that goes back years and multiple governor administrations, but House Republicans are unhappy Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration has not been able to significantly approve the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) — and the agency seems to face more problems.