Republican lawmakers say they’re thankful bills they opposed like medical aid in dying, transit reform and homeschool reform did not pass in the spring session but say they will remain “vigilant” as they expect measures to return in the fall veto and 2026 spring session. 

Stefan Kühn, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

As summer rate hikes go into effect across the state, Illinois lawmakers again punted on an energy omnibus intended to address rising energy rates and Illinois’ climate goals. 

Gov. JB Pritzker will consider measures to create a direct admissions program for Illinois students to attend state universities and codify protections for students regardless of citizenship status. 

As Gov. JB Pritzker prepares to testify before Congress next week, he called federal immigration actions in Chicago Wednesday “inappropriate.” 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) presents a transit reform and funding package on the Senate floor May 31. [Camryn Cutinello/The Daily Line]

The chair of the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee said he remains committed to passing transit reform and funding as soon as possible. 

The Illinois General Assembly passed a measure intended to improve behavioral healthcare in the state, as well as a scaled down version of the annual Medicaid omnibus bill. 

The Illinois state budget passed just before midnight on May 31, but transit reform and funding failed to meet the deadline, along with a number of other anticipated measures. Here’s a look at what the General Assembly did and didn’t pass this spring. 

Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) presents the state budget proposal Saturday night on the Illinois Senate floor. [Camryn Cutinello/The Daily Line]

The Illinois General Assembly approved a $55.2 billion budget Saturday night, supported in part by taxes on tobacco products, sports betting and corporations.  

The $55.2 billion in spending in Fiscal Year 2026 is supported by $55.3 billion in projected revenue.  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) presents transit reform on the Illinois Senate floor Saturday night. [Camryn Cutinello/The Daily Line]

A last-minute proposal to reorganize Chicago-area transit organizations passed the Illinois Senate just before midnight May 31 but stalled in the Illinois House Sunday morning. 

With two days to go before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment date, a Chicago-area transit reform package has been amended to include funding to fill a fiscal cliff. But labor unions and suburban counties say the measure isn’t ready.