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: