Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Vice President Brad Tietz speaks at a news conference in Springfield Thursday. [Blue Room Stream]   

As the number and size of class action lawsuits involving the state’s Biometric Privacy Information Act (BIPA) grows, business groups are calling on lawmakers to change and clarify portions of the law to reduce the billion-dollar penalties piling up against companies operating in Illinois.  

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at Streamwood High School Friday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Staying focused on education, Gov. JB Pritzker is highlighting a funding proposal to recruit and retain teachers in Illinois as the shortage of teachers persists.  

Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights), middle, participates in the House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education Committee Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education Committee advanced a proposal Thursday that could be the first step toward making all-day kindergarten a reality in each of the state’s schools.  

Department of Revenue Director David Harris, far left, Department of Revenue chief economist Rubina Hafeez, middle, and Governor’s Office of Management and Budget Director Alexis Sturm speak to the House Revenue and Finance Committee Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Economists expect a recession at some point in 2023, but Illinois revenue officials explained to the House Revenue and Finance Committee Thursday they foresee minimal impacts to state finances.  

The House Public Health Committee approved a bill that would give designations to stroke centers based on the type of care they provide. The committee also approved a bill to make Narcan available at music venues.  

Rep. Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago), left, and Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), right, present in the House Elementary and Secondary Education committee Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

New lessons in financial literacy, nursing and phonetics could be options for kids in schools around Illinois under proposals advanced by the House Elementary and Secondary Education- School Curriculum and Policies Committee Tuesday.  

The House State Government Administration Committee advanced legislation championed by Comptroller Susana Mendoza to put more money into the Budget Stabilization Fund. The committee also passed a bill to place more limits on conversion therapy.  

Nuclear energy advocates saw a key step towards the lifting of the moratorium on new nuclear reactor construction pass out of the House Public Utilities Committee on Tuesday.

Lawmakers are worried the state’s long and sometimes complex hiring process hinders solving issues at the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). And the House Judiciary- Criminal Committee passed a bill expanding the definition of “coercive control.”  

Regional Transportation Authority Chair Kirk Dillard speaks at the City Club of Chicago on Feb. 22. [City Club of Chicago]   

Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Chair Kirk Dillard is beginning to make his pitch for more public funding for the RTA in the coming years as the agency faces a massive funding cliff when federal COVID-19 income runs out.