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.

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) speaks at a virtual news conference in March about her bill to expand the earned income tax credit.

After Senate Democrats announced a $1.8 billion tax relief package Friday that included a small expansion of the earned income tax credit, proponents of legislation to significantly boost the credit say the Senate proposal is not enough to help low-income workers and families.

Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford) is joined by Democrats from the House and Senate and leaders of law enforcement groups for a news conference Monday. [Ben Szalinski]

House and Senate Democrats presented legislation Monday they say shows support for the sacrifices members of law enforcement make to keep communities safe.

Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) presents Senate Democrats’ tax credit package in a news conference Friday. [Blue Room Stream]

Senate Democrats presented a proposal they say would save Illinois residents a combined $1.8 billion in taxes by sending checks to residents, creating a sales tax holiday and creating new tax credits.

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is joined by fellow Democratic lawmakers and advocates for a news conference Friday. [Blue Room] 

With surging crime the hot-button issue heading into the 2022 campaign, Democrats in the House and Senate presented legislation Friday to make investments in communities and protect witnesses as “proactive” approaches to stopping crime.

Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park), left, and Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole, right, speak during the House Ethics and Elections Committee Thursday.

Municipal leaders throughout Illinois are grousing over changes lawmakers made to the statements of economic interest that public officials throughout the state must fill out, saying the new rules havecaused confusion and raised concerns about disclosing private information.

A bill that would allow Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigators to carry pepper spray moved to the House floor after hitting a bump in committee. The House passed a bill creating a task force to explore safety at warehouses in response to the deadly Edwardsville tornado in December. And the House sent the governor a bill requiring local units of government to study consolidation every 10 years.