Rep. Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago) presents House Bill 1373 at a meeting of the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee Wednesday. 

The House Gun Violence Prevention Committee on Wednesday approved a bill to require law enforcement to track ownership of recovered firearms believed to have been used in a crime. The committee also heard subject matter on a measure to require school employees notify principals of threats of violence. 

Illinois House Republicans are hopeful their lawsuit to declare Illinois’ legislative map as unconstitutional will move forward in the Illinois Supreme Court.   

Gov. JB Pritzker presents a bill to allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees Monday at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. 

Gov. JB Pritzker is touting a bill allowing community colleges to offer some four-year degrees as a way to improve equity in higher education, grow the Illinois workforce and keep students in the state. 

Democratic congressional leaders are advocating against cuts to Medicaid and Medicare while state lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker look to provide some state-funded relief from healthcare costs. 

The House Personnel and Pension Committee and the House Appropriations-Pensions & Personnel Committee hold a joint meeting Wednesday to get an overview of the Illinois pension system. [BlueRoomStream] 

Illinois lawmakers are discussing possible Tier 2 pension reforms as the chance of “Safe Harbor” violations increases. 

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) answers questions at the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee Wednesday in Springfield. 

The House Gun Violence Prevention Committee heard subject matter on three bills Wednesday that would aim to increase transparency around gun violence, modify the firearm transfer fee and create a firearm insurance task force.  

A state medical debt relief program has relieved more than $345 million in debt for nearly 270,000 Illinoisans since its inception last year. 

Illinois’ municipalities are seeking changes to posting requirements, preservation of their authority to implement housing programs and expansion of municipality authority to implement a motor fuel tax. 

Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake) speaks at the Senate Education Committee Tuesday. [BlueRoomStream] 

The Illinois Senate is considering a bill which aims to reduce the number of redundant mandates in the Illinois School Code.  

Senate Bill 1740, sponsored by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake), would establish a Mandate Reduction Council, which would modify, combine or eliminate mandates if they are found to be outdated, redundant or unnecessarily burdensome. 

State lawmakers are considering legislation to increase Illinois' renewable energy implementation. 

Increasing energy efficiency, producing renewable energy battery storage and banning single-use plastics are all on the table this spring as the state looks to reach its climate goals.