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.

Gov. JB Pritzker, seated, signs HB1167 Tuesday surrounded by lawmakers and teachers union leaders.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Tuesday giving fully vaccinated teachers more paid sick leave if they have to miss work for COVID-related reasons.

Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) speaks during a news conference Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski]

Five months ago, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) was held on the ground at gunpoint in Broadview as unknown assailants tried to take her car. On Tuesday, Lightford joined Democratic colleagues in the Senate to present legislation to combat the significant rise of carjackings.

Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria), left, and Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) sparred on Wednesday over criminal justice legislation.

House Democrats hit the gas pedal Tuesday on a flurry of bills designed to throw life rafts to struggling police departments and tamp down historically high crime rates across the state. Most Republicans joined their colleagues across the aisle to advance seven proposals out of the House Judiciary - Criminal Committee and through the House, but not before warning that the measures were little more than band-aid fixes.