The House Executive Committee approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that would change the parameters by which Illinois’ state legislative districts are drawn, making racial makeup a factor lawmakers consider when drawing the maps.

It’s a change Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Chicago) said is intended to preserve a provision of the Voting Rights Act that the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey fundraising lagged well behind his self-funded opponent in the first quarter of 2026.

The Illinois House of Representatives sent 58 bills to the Illinois Senate Friday, including a measure legalizing “human composting” as a burial method. 

Illinois’ legislative leaders shared dueling views on business development and the state economy but largely aligned on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Chicago Bears megaprojects bill while speaking to business leaders Thursday. 

The Illinois House of Representatives advanced a measure Thursday that aims to protect children from addictive social media feeds. 

The Illinois House of Representatives sent several bills to the Illinois Senate Wednesday, including measures codifying a utility discount program for low-income residents and allowing for families to petition for homicide cold cases in Cook County to be reopened. 

Gov. JB Pritzker advocated for his housing plan and pushed back on concerns that it would overturn local control, concerns Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Chicago) said are valid. 

The Illinois House of Representatives passed 52 bills Tuesday, including measures amending the state’s gambling losses statute and preemptively prohibiting work requirements to receive rental assistance. 

The Illinois House sent several bills to the Senate last week, including a measure prohibiting companies from hiding costs on items such as concert tickets. 

Following spikes in energy bills and concerns about water usage, the Senate AI and Social Media Committee held a hearing Friday on legislation to regulate data centers in Illinois.