Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) presents her bill on the House floor Monday night. [BlueRoomStream] 

The Illinois House passed its first bills out of the chamber Monday, including measures to codify federal merit-based hiring requirements, prohibit third-party reservation sellers and ensure medicated abortion remains legal in Illinois, even if there are federal attempts to revoke access.  

The Senate Executive Committee meets Thursday in Springfield. [BlueRoomStream] 

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee passed a number of bills Thursday, including gun storage requirements, cryptocurrency regulations and two measures stemming from the death of Sonya Massey at the hands of a Sangamon County police officer. 

The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee meets Friday in Springfield [BlueRoomStream] 

The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee approved bills Friday to create a thermal energy pilot program and make changes to a solar power interconnection working group.  

The Senate Transportation Committee meet Wednesday in Springfield. [BlueRoomStream]

As the Illinois General Assembly looks for a possible funding solution for a $771 million fiscal cliff Chicago-area transit is facing, the Senate Executive Committee heard from transit leaders Wednesday on how a bailout would be spent. 

The House Ethics and Elections Committee heard testimony Wednesday on measures to increase awareness of curbside voting, simplify the permanent mail-in voting process and decrease the number of required election judges at voting precincts.

The Senate Education Committee meets Wednesday in Springfield. [BlueRoomStream]

The Senate Education Committee approved measures Wednesday to limit suspensions and ban expulsions for preschool to second graders and prohibit student ticketing. 

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks with Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in January. [BlueRoomStream] 

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 21 other attorneys general are suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to stop the cancellation of public health grants. 

Advocates for House Bill 1598 speak in support of the legislation in Springfield. [BlueRoomStream]

The Illinois House is considering a bill to require certification for surgical technologists. 

As the Trump administration begins the process of dismantling the Department of Education, leaders from the Illinois General Assembly and Illinois’ colleges and universities could undermine enrollment gains made in recent years. 

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee’s Subcommittee on Procurement met Thursday to discuss bills to encourage state contracts with companies in the United States, incentivize state data to be stored in Illinois and ban the state from purchasing tropical hardwood.  

The Executive Committee wrapped up a week of subcommittee subject matter hearings, positioning them to pass measures more quickly when they return to Springfield April 1. All the measures have had their committee deadlines extended, allowing them to be called for votes.