Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) and House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) speak on the House floor Tuesday afternoon.

Lawmakers tried to make amends Tuesday and leaders pledged to foster a more civil tone in the House after last week's debate over mask rules that got personal at times and spilled into letters between House Democrats and Republicans over the weekend.  

However, Democrats continued to scold Republicans Tuesday for flouting the chamber’s mask-wearing rules, rekindling tensions over the issue as the state prepares to lift its indoor mask mandate next week. 

Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), left, and Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), right, speak during committee Tuesday.

Proposals to allow electronic signatures on ballot petitions, randomize ballot name order in some elections and make Election Day a permanent state holiday are among changes lawmakers are proposing to Illinois election laws as the state prepares to vote later this year.   

The House Ethics and Elections Committee held a subject matter hearing on several proposals Tuesday. Lawmakers are proposing several pieces of legislation aimed at clarifying details about the election process and bolstering the ability to vote.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at an event in October 2021.

The 2022 elections are expected to be more expensive than ever in Illinois, with two of Illinois’ wealthiest people already pouring in more than $100 million this year into political accounts.

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), right, and Waukegan activist Eduardo Flores speak during the Illinois Environment Council’s virtual lobby day Friday.

Clean energy advocates joined some state lawmakers Friday during the Illinois Environmental Council’s virtual lobby day to call on the General Assembly to pass environmental legislation prioritizing social justice and health in poor communities and communities of color. 

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) and Speaker of the House Chris Welch (D-Hillside) speak on a resolution to nominate a new legislative inspector general Thursday.

The House confirmed the nomination of former U.S. District Judge Michael McCuskey to be the state’s new legislative inspector general Thursday. But instead of focusing on McCuskey’s qualifications, the debate raged over whether lawmakers were following the correct process for the nomination. 

Rep. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) requests nine Republicans be removed from the House Thursday for not wearing a mask. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), left, and Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock), right, voice their objections.

After three days of trying, Rep. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) successfully removed nine House Republicans from the chamber Thursday after the members refused to wear masks as required by House rules.  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) and Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) present bills in the House Revenue and Finance Committee Thursday.

The House Revenue and Finance Committee advanced several proposals to the floor Thursday in the committee’s last meeting before Friday’s deadline to move House bills out of committees. The committee took action on matters adding leniency to the state’s property tax levy law, regulating cryptocurrency and reshuffling rules for education scholarships.

Secretary of State Jesse White made his much-anticipated endorsement in the Democratic primary to fill his seat Thursday by endorsing City Clerk of Chicago Anna Valencia. And lawmakers passed a controversial bill aimed at curbing sexual acts inmates display toward females correctional employees. 

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering (left) and Palos Park Mayor John Mahoney (right) speak during a news conference Wednesday.

Suburban mayors say it’s becoming even more important state lawmakers increase funding for the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) as residents demand a high quality of service from their local governments, but the cost of providing those services is increasing. They face a deadline for the House the advance a bill out of committee on Friday. 

Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), right, and Julia Strehlow from the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center speak during the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policies Committee Wednesday.

A bill that would require parents to opt their children in to participate in sexual education classes in school narrowly failed to pass in the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policies Committee Wednesday.