Category: State News

Illinois wage inequities improve slightly, persist despite transparency efforts: report by Jenna Schweikert, Capitol News Illinois January 15, 2026 Article Summary A 2021 amendment to the Equal Pay Act mandates certain Illinois businesses to report biannual wage and demographic data…

Downstate Road Districts to Suffer From Recently Passed “NITA” Bill The 2025 Illinois transit bill, known as the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act (SB 2111), was signed into law on December 16, 2025. The bill impacts downstate road districts primarily…

OSF HealthCare to withdraw Ottawa replacement hospital permit and begin fresh planning process  December 8, 2025 (Ottawa, Illinois | December 8, 2025) – OSF HealthCare announced today the withdrawal of its current permit application (#24-011) to replace the OSF Saint Elizabeth…

Lawmakers approve $1.5B transit funding package without statewide tax increases by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois October 31, 2025 Article Summary A new transit funding bill passed Thursday night raises $1.5 billion for public transportation agencies, mostly in the Chicago…

Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid package by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 1, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal…

Pritzker signs order to protect personal autism data in response to federal action by Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois May 8, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker issued an executive order Wednesday that bars…

  Advocates push for mandatory minimum nurse staffing ratios at Illinois hospitals by Grace Friedman and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois May 5, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Health care unions continue to rally for legislation to address understaffing they…

Proposal stalls to strengthen law mandating foster kids move placements with luggage, not trash bags by Erin Drumm and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois March 18, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Four years ago, the General Assembly unanimously approved a…

Cell phone ban legislation clears Senate committee by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois March 19, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Legislation that would prohibit public school students from using cell phones and other wireless communication devices during class time cleared a Senate…

Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois March 4, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — The Trump administration has stopped reimbursing Illinois for a program designed to help farmers and supply fresh food to Illinois food…

Illinois bill aims to add more oversight of homeschooling  Following a ProPublica and Capitol News Illinois investigation, an Illinois lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require families to tell their public school districts if they are homeschooling. By Molly Parker…

Pritzker says federal funds still being withheld; warns of further spending cuts 770K Illinoisans could lose health coverage under GOP federal budget plan By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker accused the Trump administration this…

House Republicans ask state Supreme Court to toss out legislative map by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Illinois House thanks to illegally gerrymandered House districts, House Republicans…

House Republicans ask state Supreme Court to toss out legislative map by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Illinois House thanks to illegally gerrymandered House districts, House Republicans…

Local journalism tax credit application window opens by Bridgette Fox and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois January 6, 2025 News organizations in Illinois can now apply to receive tax credits for journalists that were on their payroll…