Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) introduces legislation to prevent state investment accounts from holding assets based in Russia or Belarus.

The Illinois House is preparing to take up legislation that will allow the state to impose its own financial penalties on Russia and Belarus and to prepare for a potential influx of refugees from Ukraine.

Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island), left, and Illinois Manufactures’ Association CEO Mark Denzler, right, speak during the House Revenue and Finance Committee Thursday.

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to create an incentive package for microchip manufacturers in an attempt to attract the businesses to Illinois.

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) gives an update to reports Thursday about budget negotiations. [Blue Room]   

House Democrats are ready to begin crafting the state’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget, and their lead budget negotiator Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) said there are a lot of things Democrats like about Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal.

Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa), center, speaks during a news conference Thursday with Reps. David Welter (R-Morris), far left, Steve Recik (R-Woodstock) second left, and Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), right.   

It’s a problem that goes back years and multiple governor administrations, but House Republicans are unhappy Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration has not been able to significantly approve the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) — and the agency seems to face more problems.

Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich), left, and Libertyville resident Kellie Sheridan, right, speak to the House Human Services Committee Wednesday.

A bill that would require hospitals and nursing homes to let patients and residents receive visitors even during a pandemic was moved to the House floor Wednesday.

Gov. JB Pritzker is pictured in September 2021.

Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on the Senate to hold confirmation hearings on his nominations to the Prisoner Review Board after some nominees have waited nearly three years for a hearing.

The House Transportation: Vehicles and Safety Committee advanced a bill to the floor that aims to resolve Chicago’s lack of vehicle emissions testing sites. New Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey said his office is almost ready to start tackling investigations. And a bill to limit standardized testing in elementary school met more opposition.

Acting Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Kristin Richards speaks to the Senate Appropriations- Business Regulations and Labor Committee Tuesday.

After a tumultuous two years that saw people wait months for unemployment assistance and others become victims of fraud, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is seeing the state’s job market recover from the pandemic and boosting the department’s services, acting Director Kristin Richards told lawmakers Tuesday.

Denise Avant from the National Federation of the Blind for Illinois, left, and Ray Campbell from the Illinois Council of the Blind, right, speak to the House Ethics and Elections Committee Tuesday.

Illinois is not doing enough to make voting accessible to people with print visibility difficulties, advocates say, arguing an amendment to a bill expanding accessibility to voting by mail is necessary to ensure voting is also more accessible to blind people.

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) speaks to supports of her income tax credit bill Monday.

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) said she is hopeful her proposal to expand the state’s earned income tax credit will be included in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget as part of what she said was an important fight to reduce costs for families and fight poverty.