Willis, Williams become latest House speaker candidates; Pritzker expands vaccine distribution eligibility; decreased COVID-19 mitigations on the horizon; Pritzker calls for Trump’s impeachment; Miller condemned for Hitler quote.

Days from the Friday start of the General Assembly’s lame duck session, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus offered a preview Wednesday of a multi-faceted legislative package that would license police officers, boost early childhood programs and form a commission to study reparations, among other measures.

During a nearly two-hour virtual town hall forum, members of the Black caucus, led by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), shared specific ideas that will be part of the legislative agenda, including plans to introduce bills that would create a reparations commission, implement police officer licensure requirements, establish funding formulas for early childhood and higher education and prohibit the closure of hospitals until 2023.

Rep. Tim Butler and Rep. Jackie Haas touted a new proposal Tuesday that seeks to change the redistricting process in Illinois.

A trio of House Republicans on Tuesday announced a new push to limit lawmakers’ influence on the redistricting process in Illinois.

Speaking during a virtual press conference, Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) announced a new bill that would create an 11-person bipartisan commission tasked with enacting so-called “fair” redistricting maps.

News in brief: Skillicorn, Weaver resign; Durkin requests nonpartisan parliamentarian

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Rep. Tom Demmer criticized House Speaker Mike Madigan and the Democratic majority on Monday for providing little detail about the forthcoming lame duck session.

With less than a week until lawmakers are expected to return to Springfield for a multi-day lame duck veto session, it remains unclear what exactly will be under consideration.

On Monday, three House Republicans held a virtual press conference in which they alleged Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and the Democratic supermajority would introduce a tax increase during the lame duck session.

News in brief: Sen. Andy Manar to resign, join Pritzker administration; House Democratic Women’s Caucus to hold speaker forum

Brady, Pizer resign from legislature; lame duck session expected to begin Jan. 8 

Most years, Jan. 1 marks the enactment of hundreds of new laws. But like with much that occurred in 2020, this year is different.

The start of the new year will initiate three new laws, all of which were originally introduced in 2019, while offering a reminder of Gov. JB Pritzker’s recently failed graduated income tax proposal, which would have taken effect on Jan.1 had voters approved it.

News in brief: Health officials stress effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine; state anticipates receiving 507,000 by end of December, outlines priority groups

Last week, when members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee gathered in Chicago for a special hearing, lawmakers were overwhelmingly focused on asking state officials about the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.