Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) speaks on the House floor on Dec. 1. [Blue Room Stream] 

After 14 years in Springfield, Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) is preparing to leave the Illinois House after suffering a tough primary loss in June.  

“I’m going to miss the job incredibly so,” Zalewski told The Daily Line. “I’m going to miss being down here… I love the job, probably too much, and it’ll be hard to leave it, but I’ve got some closure. I know it’s going to be good at the end of the day.” 

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) speaks at a news conference in Chicago Monday before a hearing on his proposed semi-automatic weapon ban. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, right, was also in attendance. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

A bill to ban semi-automatic weapons faced its first test in front of the House Judiciary- Criminal Committee Monday as Illinois lawmakers consider legislation that could make Illinois the ninth state to ban “assault weapons.”   

Monday’s hearing focused on the victims of gun violence and was the first of three subject matter hearings over the next week on the bill.  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) speaks to the Senate Executive Committee on Nov. 30. [Blue Room Stream]   

A bill that would provide more insight into how principals are hired in the Chicago Public Schools system is one step away from passage.  

Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) speaks on the Senate floor on Dec. 1. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Sen. Scott Bennett, a Democrat from Champaign and an eight-year veteran of the Illinois Senate, died Friday at age 45, according to WCIA-TV. 

Thursday’s City Club of Chicago panel on mental health resources for youth. [City Club of Chicago livestream] 

Illinois leaders used the backdrop of a City Club of Chicago panel Thursday to discuss the importance of mental health access for youth and touted legislation signed by Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this year that aims to ensure schools provide information on mental health resources. 

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) gives a farewell speech in the House on Dec. 1. [Blue Room Stream]   

One of Springfield’s more popular lawmakers will be leaving his House position to take a lobbying job at the end of the month, but Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) is at peace with his decision as he embarks on a new chapter in his political career.  

Gov. JB Pritzker said he believes the state’s cannabis license rollout is starting to move forward as he celebrated the opening a social equity cannabis dispensary Wednesday. Pritzker also said he supports Rep. Bob Morgan’s (D-Deerfield) bill banning “assault weapons” and hopes to sign a proposal in the coming months.  

Chelsea Laliberte Barnes of the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Commission speaks at a news conference in Springfield last week. [Blue Room Stream]   

Lawmakers and drug overdose prevention advocates are calling attention to the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs and asking the General Assembly to consider action to fight drug addiction and overdoses.  

The Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield.    

The Illinois State Board of Elections met Monday to certify the results of the 2022 general election and cement victories for candidates who won their races on Nov. 8.  

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) speaks on the Senate floor Thursday. [Blue Room Stream]   

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) announced Monday he would retire from the Illinois Senate at the conclusion of the 102nd General Assembly after a decade representing central Illinois.