by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois July 28, 2025 Article summary: Senate Bill 8 requires gun owners to keep their weapons secured and inaccessible to minors, people at risk of harming themselves or others, and people prohibited from possessing firearms. Violations can result in civil fines. House Bill 1327 requires […]
Author: Capitol News
Following state rep’s encounter, Pritzker signs ‘squatter bill’ into law
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 21, 2025 Article Summary A new Illinois law allows police to remove squatters from a person’s home for criminal trespassing. State law previously required property owners to go through a lengthy eviction process in court to remove squatters who claimed legal rights to […]
Pritzker calls Texas GOP’s remap effort ‘cheating,’ doesn’t rule out Illinois response
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 23, 2025 Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker is leaving open the possibility that Illinois lawmakers could redraw congressional maps with more Democrat-leaning districts. Texas lawmakers are meeting this week to consider President Donald Trump’s request to add more Republican-leaning districts in the state […]
Feds weigh in on lawsuit challenging how Illinois maintains voter registration rolls
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois July 23, 2025 Article Summary The Justice Department is supporting a lawsuit by private entities that challenges Illinois’ practice of putting local election officials in charge of maintaining voter registration rolls. The action appears to be part of a broader effort to exert more […]
Federal housing credit expansion could increase affordable rental units in Illinois: report
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 22, 2025 Article Summary The latest federal domestic policy plan increases funding for the Low-Income Tax Housing Credit by 12%. The expanded tax credit could allow construction of 34,700 new affordable housing units in Illinois, according one report. Supporters of the tax credit […]
Illinois bet on solar to meet its climate goals. Trump has the industry in his crosshairs.
by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois July 15, 2025 Article Summary Congress’ latest budget package slashed federal tax incentives for solar developments. Industry insiders said the latest federal policies create “a lot of uncertainty.” Illinois facilitates significant funding for the renewables industry, particularly for solar, which provides some insulation against […]
Pritzker signs executive order responding to impact of tariffs on Illinois
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 14, 2025 Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order requiring state agencies to come up with plans to respond to tariffs. President Donald Trump is set to implement new tariffs after previously pausing them for three months. The order requires agencies […]
Illinois hospitals fear massive cuts under Trump domestic policy law
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois July 10, 2025 Article Summary President Trump’s domestic policy bill contains massive cuts in federal Medicaid spending over the next 10 years. One analysis predicts $48 billion in spending reductions in Illinois over a decade. The cuts limit states’ ability to raise money through […]
Housing funding cut in Illinois budget as homelessness increases
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 4, 2025 Article Summary Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget reduced funding for programs serving homeless people by more than $14 million from the previous year. JB Pritzker’s “Home Illinois” initiative aimed at reaching “functional zero” homelessness saw a $26.6 million cut. That program […]
Federal food assistance changes threaten benefits for thousands of Illinoisans
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 8, 2025 Article summary The domestic policy law signed by President Donald Trump last week creates new work requirements that could jeopardize food assistance benefits for 360,000 Illinoisans. Illinois will be required to cover a greater portion of the administrative costs and benefits […]
