The Illinois House of Representatives meets on April 7. [Ben Szalinski]

While lawmakers moved through a flurry of public safety bills and spent much of their time focused on tax relief during the final weeks of the spring legislative session, some notable bills that had been advancing through the General Assembly remained on the table when legislators adjourned early Saturday morning.

Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), right in pink, discusses extending the deadline for unemployment insurance trust fund negotiations in the Senate Executive Committee on Friday. [Blue Room Stream]

Negotiations between labor and business groups over what to do with the remaining $1.8 billion deficit in the unemployment insurance trust fund have reached an impasse at the end of the spring legislative session, the parties announced.

Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) speaks on the House floor Saturday morning. [Blue Room Steam]

After 4 a.m. Saturday morning, Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) called a bill for a vote he said was a clarification to the SAFE-T Act. The bill and Slaughter’s closing remarks set off a shouting match between Republicans and Slaughter as he accused Republicans of backing policies rooted in racism and not caring about inner-city violence.

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) debates the budget in the House while Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) argues next to the stack of budget papers in the Senate on Saturday morning. [Blue Room Stream] 

Lawmakers sent Gov. JB Pritzker a budget around 6 a.m. Saturday morning that will pay down debt and shore up state reserves along with a $1.8 billion tax credit package Democratic supporters said will help people who are stressed by inflation.

Illinois Retail Merchants Association President Rob Karr testifies in front of the Senate Executive Committee Friday. [Blue Room]

In their final acts before adjourning for the spring and beginning seven months of campaigning, lawmakers sent Gov. JB Pritzker a series of bipartisan bills on Friday night and Saturday morning designed to address public safety concerns and to incentivize police officers to stay on the job.

 Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) speaks during a Senate floor debate on Friday. [Blue Room Stream]

A controversial effort to rein in spending on judicial races, a bill to crack down on housing discrimination and an effort to alleviate nursing shortages were part of a burst of varied legislation the Illinois General Assembly sent to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk on the last day of the spring legislative session on Friday and early Saturday morning.

Gov. JB Pritzker announces a budget plan with House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) and Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) Thursday. [Blue Room]

Democrats will move forward with $1.8 billion tax relief plan after the House and Senate came to an agreement with Gov. JB Pritzker Thursday on a plan to redirect surplus revenue back to residents and pass a budget, they announced.

The Senate moved forward on several bills designed to bolster public safety and help police departments shoulder costs. Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) is pushing a bill that would cap contributions to judicial campaigns at $500,000 each. And the House passed a bill to expand voting capabilities to allow print-impaired voters to receive and cast ballots electronically through their own specialized equipment.

House Majority Leader Greg Harris speaks at a news conference Wednesday about his caucus’ budget proposal. [Ben Szalinski]   

Shortly before midnight Wednesday, House Democrats filed the largest budget proposal in state history with a plan to spend about $46.6 billion through the first half of 2023. The proposal includes investments in public safety but also attempts to reduce inflationary pressures for taxpayers by freezing some taxes and expanding tax credits.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart speaks at a news conference Springfield in support of carjacking legislation Wednesday. [Ben Szalinski]

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart wants lawmakers to pass legislation to help law enforcement agencies in the county track stolen cars shortly after carjackings so they can prevent more thieves from getting away.