A map shows where the Mahomet Aquifer traverses Central Illinois. [City of Champaign] 

A measure to prevent carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects from potentially tainting drinking water in Central Illinois has received approval from House and Senate committees Thursday. 

Meghann Burke, attorney for the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association, Chicago Stars forward Ally Schlegel and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher testify at the House Revenue and Finance Committee in December [BlueRoomStream]

An Illinois House committee unanimously approved a measure aimed to increase equity for women’s sports teams on Thursday. 

Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Lombard) presents her bill to create oversight on homeschool in Illinois to the House Education Policy Committee. [BlueRoomStream]

An Illinois House committee approved legislation adding some oversight of families who homeschool their children Wednesday, as protestors gathered at the Capitol to argue against the bill they claim is “government overreach.”

Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) presents Senate Bill 2264 to the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday. 

The Senate Executive Committee passed a series of measures Wednesday to regulate “crime-free housing” ordinances, streamline collection of the franchise tax and create an easier process for municipalities to borrow money for clean water projects. 

Anjanette Young speaks at a press conference Tuesday following the passage of the "Anjanette Young Act" out of the House Judiciary Criminal Committee. [BlueRoomStream] 

In 2019, Anjanette Young was getting undressed in her apartment while getting ready for bed when Chicago police officers broke her door down and raided her home. The officers were acting on a tip by an informant — but were at the wrong house.

Six years later, the House Judiciary Committee approved a measure Tuesday intended to regulate the use of so-called no-knock warrants in Illinois.

In 2017, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law expanding record-sealing eligibility to allow some ex-offenders with felony convictions to apply to have their records sealed. Nearly eight years later, more than 900,000 eligible Illinoisans are waiting to get their records sealed.  

The Clean State Act looks to fix this by making record sealing for nonviolent felonies automatic. The measure will be proposed this spring by Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria). 

The House Personnel and Pensions Committee meets Thursday in Springfield. 

The House Personnel and Pensions Committee approved a measure Thursday to codify existing federal merit requirements for some public sector employees into state law, a move intended to prevent privatization of government services. 

Advocates for an overdose prevention site bill speak after it passed committee Thursday in Springfield. [BlueRoomStream]

After years of work, a measure to create an overdose prevention site pilot program could make it to the governor’s desk this year. 

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at the Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly Thursday in Rosemont. 

Illinois is joining a lawsuit alleging mass layoffs within the Department of Education are part of a plan to unlawfully dismantle the department. 

The House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee meets Thursday in Springfield. [BlueRoomStream]

The House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee passed a measure Thursday to streamline two programs that provide medical assistance to non-citizens who are victims of human trafficking, torture or other serious crimes.