Supporters of the Invest in Kids scholarship tax credit rally inside the capitol on Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

A proposal to extend the Invest in Kids scholarship tax credit continues to grow more unlikely to pass in the final days of the year’s legislative session as those in support of the program make last minute pleas to divided Democratic lawmakers. 

Members from the Illinois State Police listen to public feedback at a hearing in Springfield last week on the agency’s proposed rules to implement the assault weapons ban. [Blue Room Stream]   

The bipartisan and bicameral Joint Committee on Administrative Review (JCAR) will meet on Tuesday as the Illinois State Police (ISP) continue to gather feedback and questions from members of the public on how the agency will enforce the state’s assault weapons ban when it takes effect on Jan. 1.

The Illinois Capitol 

A quiet first week of veto session last month has left many top issues unresolved as lawmakers return to Springfield on Tuesday for the final three days of session this year. By the time lawmakers are back in Springfield on a to-be-announced date in 2024, their reelection campaigns will be in full swing, and voters could be asking them about their position on issues discussed this week. 

Actress Courtney Rioux speaks during a House committee hearing on Thursday. [Blue Room Stream] 

The fast growth of generative artificial intelligence (AI) over the last year has Illinois lawmakers thinking about what actions they should take before the technology grows beyond the point of proactive regulation.  

Migrants take shelter and live inside of the Near West 12th police precinct in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 29, 2023. Credit: Jim Vondruska/Block Club Chicago   

State officials have also been making trips to the Texas border, including alongside officials from Chicago, as Illinois and the city try to find ways to deal with the ever-growing population of migrants arriving from Texas.  

Senate Democrats released new Chicago elected school board maps ahead of the final week of veto session. And Legislative Audit Commission co-chair Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) plans to call for a new audit into the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Illinois Supt. Tony Sanders speaks at a news conference at Streamwood High School in U-46 on March 3. [Gov. JB Pritzker/Facebook]  

Performance measures of schools and students in Illinois continue to improve since the pandemic as spending on K-12 public education continues to increase, new data from the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) annual School Report Card shows.    

Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez speaks at the party’s gala at the Field Museum on Friday. [Blue Room Stream] 

The Democratic Party of Illinois held their first gala fundraiser on Friday as the party gears up for 2024 and Chicago’s role as the host city of the Democratic National Convention (DNC).    

Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) speaks to advocates supporting Invest in Kids following session on Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Lawmakers passed the first week of veto session without taking any steps on resolving a number of major issues the General Assembly is expected to take up.    

The Senate takes a moment of silence on Wednesday to honor lives lost in the war between Israel and Gaza. [Blue Room Stream] 

Discussing the war between Israel and Gaza has been a heated topic on social media, among government officials and on the streets of Chicago. The Illinois Senate spent about a half hour on Wednesday hearing from four senators on how the war has impacted their constituents but avoided any heated debate on the topic.