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.

A car street races on South Loomis Street in Pilsen. [Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago]

This article was first published in Block Club Chicago.

Two lawmakers have proposed a law that would lead to more fines and criminal charges for people street racing on state roads, including DuSable Lake Shore Drive and major expressways.

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), seated in back row, presents a bill in the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday. 

A bill forged by union leaders and Gov. JB Pritzker to give vaccinated teachers paid sick leave if they need to miss work for reasons related to COVID-19 advanced to the Senate floor Wednesday, putting it one step away from reaching Pritzker’s desk.

Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) speaks to reporters alongside Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), right, and students from Springfield.

Illinois leaders should be doing more to keep students in the state for college, and cutting down on the cost of textbooks could be a major incentive for students, Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) said in a news conference Wednesday.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Illinois has paid off its remaining bill backlog from the state’s 2015-17 budget impasse. And House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) is using the latest Senate votes on Prisoner Review Board nominees to renew his call to reform the board.