Category: Illinois
Illinois Faces January 1, 2027, Deadline to Opt Into Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit Program
Illinois lawmakers have until Jan 1st, 2027, to include Illinois in the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC). According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the EFTC program does not divert funding from public schools. If Illinois opts in, it could unlock $1 billion in additional funds for Illinois public education. Married couples who
Chicago City Council Approves $2.53 Billion Deal to Sell Parking Meters to Stonepeak Partners, LLC
On September 29, 2026, the Chicago City Council approved an agreement to sell the city’s parking meter system to Stonepeak Partners, LLC for $2.53 billion. The council voted 46 to 3 in favor of the proposed transfer of Chicago’s parking meter lease between Chicago Parking Meters, LLC (Chicago Parking Meters) and New York-based firm Stonepeak
Illinois Flock Camera Use Raises Privacy and Surveillance Concerns
Flock cameras, a type of automated license plate reader, are a common policing tool in Illinois and across the nation. Illinois residents want increased transparency and stronger safeguards, and a federal appeals court will hear arguments this month on whether the state’s use of these cameras violates the US Constitution. Illinois residents are not the
The Importance of Fiscal Notes and their Role in Illinois Legislation
Of the 6,900 proposed bills in Illinois, lawmakers included estimated costs on just 32. Fiscal notes estimate the financial impact of proposed legislation, allowing lawmakers and taxpayers to see information about the bill’s potential cost. The primary function of a fiscal note is to deliver a reliable estimate of how legislation implementation will impact state
The Chicago Teachers Union Continues to Endorse Chicago School Board Candidates
All 21 seats on the Chicago Board of Education are up for election this year. This year also marks the first time the mayor will not appoint 11 of the 21 seats on the board, putting full decision-making power in the hands of Chicago voters this November. Illinois lawmakers divided Chicago into 20 separate voting
Aurora Voters Could Get Power to Recall Mayor and At-Large Aldermen
On July 31, 2026, members of Aurora for Change, an organization working to expand voter power, submitted petitions asking the city to place two binding referendum questions on the November 3, 2026, ballot: one would ask whether voters should be able to recall the mayor, and the other whether they should be able to recall
Illinois’ Public Pension Costs Continue to Raise Funding Concerns
Illinois’ public pension system has faced financial challenges for decades, and benefits paid to some of the state’s highest-earning retirees continue to draw attention to the system’s long-term costs. In 2025, 184 retirees across Illinois’ five state-run pension systems received enough in annual pension benefits to place them among the top 5% of income earners
Pritzker Rarely Uses Veto Power as Illinois Governor
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has rarely used his veto authority during his time in office, signing most of the legislation that reaches his desk. In 2025 alone, he issued just four vetoes while 436 bills were passed. That pattern continued in 2026, when nearly 400 bills passed during the General Assembly’s second regular session and Pritzker
Illinois Enacts the Chemicals in Cosmetic Products Act
Illinois has enacted new legislation that will impact manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of cosmetic and personal-care products. Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed House Bill 3409, creating the Chemicals in Cosmetic Products Act, which takes effect on July 1, 2028. Under the Act, businesses may not knowingly manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, or offer for sale cosmetic
Illinois Population Decline Forecast to Accelerate Through 2033
Illinois’ population decline is forecast to accelerate over the next several years, with the State losing an additional 600,000 residents (450,000 of whom are considered prime working age) by 2033. The population of Illinois residents under the age of 20 decreased by 6.8% between 2020 and 2025. In 2024, 83,000 Illinois residents left the state,