Chicago Considers Sweeping Tenant Protection Ordinance
Chicago’s City Council will consider a new proposed ordinance entitled the Protecting Renters Ordinance. The proposed ordinance will limit a landlord’s ability to refuse to renew or terminate a lease. Under the proposed ordinance, landlords may refuse to renew or terminate leases when the landlord has ‘just cause,’ such as non-payment of rent, a lease
Illinois’s first-in-the-nation “swipe fee” law has been delayed for at least another year and remains the subject of ongoing litigation, creating continued uncertainty for retailers, restaurants, banks, credit unions, payment processors, and consumers across the state. The law, formally known as the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, was passed in 2024 and was designed to prohibit
Last-Minute Amendments Transform Illinois Bills
As the Illinois General Assembly concluded the 2026 regular legislative session, lawmakers approved several significant amendments during the final days before adjournment, including extensive revisions to several high-profile bills. Many of these measures were advanced through the legislature using a process commonly referred to as “gut and replace,” in which the original contents of the
Chicago Minimum Wage Increases Could Reduce Opportunities
Chicago Minimum Wage Increases Could Reduce Opportunities Every year, on July 1, hourly pay in the City of Chicago increases per the Minimum Wage Ordinance. On July 1, 2026, Chicago’s minimum wage increased 45 cents, from $16.60 to $17.05 per hour, for employers with four or more employees. While the Ordinance and the wage increases
The Supreme Court Strikes Down Law That Limits Coordinated Spending by Political Parties in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission
The Supreme Court Strikes Down Law That Limits Coordinated Spending by Political Parties in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission In a decision issued on June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court loosened restrictions on the spending of political parties. In National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission, the Court found that a
The Supreme Court Upholds State Authority to Preserve Sex-Based Athletic Teams in West Virginia v. B.P.J.
On June 30, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued one of the most consequential Title IX and Equal Protection decisions in recent years, holding in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and the consolidated case Little v. Hecox that states may limit participation on girls’ and women’s sports teams based on biological sex. The Court ruled
The Battle Over Birthright Citizenship
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump issued Executive Order No. 14,160, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship”. This order declared that individuals born in the United States are not United States citizens at birth if their parents lacked sufficient legal status. This executive order ordered federal district agencies not to recognize citizenship claims
Illinois AFL-CIO Defers 2026 General Election Endorsements Amid Unresolved Labor Policy Issues
The Illinois American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (“AFL-CIO”), a statewide labor federation representing approximately 1.7 million union members, announced that it is deferring political endorsements for the 2026 General Election. The announcement follows the end of the recent legislative session and appears to reflect organized labor’s dissatisfaction with the pace and
Illinois May Require Paid Jury Leave
Illinois employers may soon face a new paid leave obligation when employees are called for jury service. House Bill 4844, which currently awaits Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signature, would require employers with more than 25 employees to compensate workers at their regular rate of pay while serving on a jury. While Illinois law has long prohibited
Illinois Tollway Proposes $26.5 Billion Capital Program Funded by Toll Increases
Illinois Tollway Proposes $26.5 Billion Capital Program Funded by Toll Increases The Illinois Tollway recently unveiled a proposed 15-year, $26.5 billion capital improvement program called “Driving Connections”. The initiative is designed to fund major transportation infrastructure projects across the Tollway’s service area in northern Illinois, including roadway reconstruction, bridge rehabilitation, interchange upgrades, and technology improvements.