Top left: Gov. JB Pritzker signs the assault weapons ban into law on Jan. 9. Top right: Supporters of ending cash bail celebrate outside the Cook County Jail on Sept. 18. Bottom left: Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) speaks with Invest in Kids advocates on Oct. 26. Bottom right: Advocates protest reductions to a healthcare program for undocumented immigrants at a rally in Chicago in September. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Illinois took historic steps in 2023 to become the ninth state to ban assault weapons and first state to completely eliminate cash bail. The year was also filled with several controversial decisions in the state legislature and new pressure on the state budget.  

Here are some of the top stories of 2023 in Illinois politics:  

The Illinois Capitol   

Study up — Illinoisians will have 318 new laws to follow when they ring in 2024. The laws include new prohibited activities such as vaping indoors and having video calls while driving and new requirements for units of government to solve carjackings and uphold abortion access. 

Rep. Nicole La Ha (R-Homer Glen) is sworn into office on Wednesday afternoon in Lemont. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Republicans in the southwest suburbs selected Nicole La Ha to be the new state representative for the 82nd House District Thursday. La Ha is the third person to hold the seat since the start of 2023.  

The Illinois Capitol   

Illinois business groups are sending letters to federal officials worried about the economic effects from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) decision to close two rail crossings into Texas to reduce illegal entries into the United States.  

The Democratic Party of Illinois 

Democratic Party leaders are happy with the results of new initiative by the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) for the 2024 election that aimed to recruit more Democrats to run for down-ballot races in hopes of building up the party’s bench of prospective candidates.  

From left to right: Geary Yonker, Dr. Dave Nayak, Graciela Guzman, and Sen. Natalie Toro (D-Chicago).  

A crowded Democratic primary in the 20th Senate District is emerging with Sen. Natalie Toro (D-Chicago) and opponent Graciela Guzman distancing themselves from their opponents in the fundraising race with the help of big financial backers.   

But new self-funding efforts by Dr. Dave Nayak lifted contribution limits in the race on Monday, setting the stage for an even more expensive race.  

The Illinois Capitol 

State lawmakers are urging the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to develop a broadband plan that provides quality internet to all residents and is also affordable. 

ComEd and Ameren both submitted four-year grid plans and rate hikes over $1 billion to the Illinois Commerce Commission earlier this year.  

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) dealt a major blow to Illinois’ two largest electricity providers and denied their grid upgrade plans for failing to be transparent and follow the state’s statutorily defined clean energy goals.  

Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) will resign from the House on Monday. [House Republicans] 

Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) will still be involved in advocating for improvements and growth in his district, but in a new role after Monday, when he resigns from the House to take a job leading a local economic development organization in Vermilion County.

Former Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) is pictured during a previous year in the Illinois House. [House Democrats] 

A closely watched House race in the Metro East region got off to a hot start that could prematurely end it after former Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) had her signatures challenged as she attempts to win back her seat.